In a rare move, Biden taps two career diplomats for senior State Department roles
March 27, 2021, 10:50 am

In a rare move, Biden taps two career diplomats for senior State Department roles

US President Joe Biden speaks about foreign policy at the State Department, on February 4, 2021. (AFP)

US President Joe Biden announced Friday his intention to nominate career diplomats to become regional assistant secretaries - a move welcomed by members of the State Department after political appointees were favored for senior positions.

Career diplomats who hone their skills in the Foreign Service have become discouraged in recent years as the number of political appointees picked to head senior posts has increased, past and current State Department members said.

Assistant secretary positions, which are considered just under the secretary of State, are typically split between political and career appointees when a new administration takes office.

During his first trip to the State Department as president, Biden told Foreign Service members, “You are the heart and soul of what we do as a country.”

This was interpreted as a sign to boost the morale of those sidelined by the Trump administration's political appointees and an effort to encourage new applicants.

The State Department building in Washington, DC. (File Photo: AP)

But since taking office, Biden’s has filled most of the senior positions with political nominees or former career diplomats who served under the Obama administration and later retired.

Wendy Sherman, a key part of the Obama team that negotiated the now-defunct Iran nuclear deal, is awaiting confirmation to become the deputy secretary of State. Victoria Nuland, a retired career foreign service officer, has been nominated to be the third-highest ranking State Department official.

Barbara Leaf, former US ambassador to the United Arab Emirates under Obama, was appointed as the senior director for the Middle East at the National Security Council. But recent reports suggest she will be moved over to head the Near Eastern Affairs bureau at the State Department, the top US diplomat for the Middle East.

Another example is the expected appointment of Jeffrey Feltman as Biden’s special envoy for the Horn of Africa. Feltman was a foreign service officer for more than 25 years but retired in 2012.

Friday’s announcement that two career diplomats were nominated to head the East Asian and Pacific Affairs bureau and the Western Hemisphere Affairs bureau provided a sense of optimism to the Foreign Service members.

Daniel Kritenbrink was nominated to serve as assistant secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, while Brian Nichols was selected to serve as assistant secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. The third nominated was Brett Holmgren to serve as an assistant secretary of State for Intelligence and Research. Holmgren is not a State Department career diplomat.

One senior career diplomat who has served as the US ambassador to several capitals abroad said the overall approach for those waiting to be appointed was now “wait and see.”

Tim Lenderking has been one of the few career diplomats given a top post by Biden after he was tapped to be the president’s special envoy for Yemen.

State Department spokesman Ned Price takes a reporter's question for Special Envoy for Yemen Timothy Lenderking, Feb. 16, 2021. (Reuters)

Ricardo Zuniga, another career member of the Senior Foreign Service, was recently appointed to become the special envoy for the Northern Triangle.

Biden overlooked career diplomats for other posts, such as the deputy assistant secretary (DAS) for Israel and Palestinian Affairs and special envoy for Iran. The US president also nominated Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a retired career diplomat, to be the next US ambassador to the UN.

And with ambassadorships vacant in major capitals worldwide, it remains to be seen whether Biden will opt to fill them with career diplomats or political appointees. Some of the embassies that remain without a US ambassador are the United Kingdom, UAE, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Japan, Israel, India, Germany, France, Bahrain and Afghanistan.

source: Joseph Haboush

Image source: AFP

Levant

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.