Ambassador-at-large

An ambassador-at-large is a diplomat, a secretary, or a minister of the highest rank who is accredited to represent a country and its people internationally.

Unlike an ambassador-in-residence, who is usually limited to a country or embassy, the ambassador-at-large is entrusted to operate in several usually neighboring countries, a region or sometimes hold a seat in an international organization like the United Nations and the other international organizations. In some cases, an ambassador-at-large may even be specifically assigned a role to advise and assist the state or a government in particular issues. Historically, presidents or prime ministers have designated special diplomatic envoys for specific assignments, primarily overseas but sometimes also within the country as an ambassador-at-large.

Honorific title

According to international protocol, ambassadors and ambassadors-at-large are officially styled and addressed as His/Her Excellency, or Mister/Madam Ambassador. The title may be abbreviated in official correspondence as H.E.^[1]

United States ambassadors-at-large

The US president appointed the first official who specifically bore the title of ambassador-at-large on 12 March 1949 under the authority vested in Article II, Section 2 of the US Constitution to deal with specific foreign policy issues, which have been frequently spelled out in their commissions.

Ambassador-at-large positions in the diplomatic corps of the US State Department include:

Notable ambassadors-at-large

Asia

Princess Masna Bolkiah, Brunei's Ambassador-at-Large and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Mehdi Samii, Iranian ambassador-at-large for Economic affairs and Advisor to the Prime Minister for International Financing (1971–1973)^[2]
Lon Non, Ambassador-at-Large for the Khmer Republic
Mohammad Ziauddin, Ambassador-at-large of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Javed Malik, Pakistan's Ambassador-at-Large to the Persian gulf Region
Carlos P. Romulo, President of the United Nations General Assembly (1949–1950), Secretary/Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador-at-Large under three Philippine Presidents: Elpidio Quirino (1950–1952), Diosdado Macapagal (1963–1964) and Ferdinand Marcos (1968–1984)
León María Guerrero III, Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs under Ramon Magsaysay (1953–1954) and Ambassador-at-Large under four Philippine Presidents: Ramon Magsaysay (1954–1957), Carlos P. Garcia (1957–1961), Diosdado Macapagal (1961–1965) and Ferdinand E. Marcos (1965–1980)
Chan Heng Chee, Ambassador-at-Large representing Singapore and former ambassador to the United States from 1996 to 2012^[3]
Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large of Singapore
Ong Keng Yong, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore and former Secretary-General of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Gopinath Pillai, former Ambassador-at-Large of Singapore^[4]
Gene Loh, Ambassador-at-Large of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 1997 to 2001^[5]
Audrey Tang, Cyber Ambassador-at-Large of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and former Minister of Digital Affairs^[6]
Ahmet Davutoğlu, Formerly Ambassador-at-Large of Turkey; he subsequently served as Foreign Minister and Prime Minister

Europe

Charles Aznavour, Franco-Armenian singer, Armenian Ambassador-at-Large to Switzerland, then to the United Nations Organization
Petri Salo, Finland's Roving Ambassador for the South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia)^[7]
Stavros Lambrinidis, Ambassador-at-Large of Hellenic Republic, Vice President of the European Parliament and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece
Georg von Habsburg, Ambassador-at-Large of Hungary^[8]
Dame Nuala O'Loan, of Ireland. Roving Ambassador for Conflict Resolution and Special Envoy to Timor-Leste^[9]
Jaroslaw Pijarowski, Ambassador-at-Large of International Human Rights Organization for Poland^[10]
Jacques Valade, Ambassador-at-Large of France for decentralized cooperation in Asia, from 2008 to 2015.

Africa

Nicolas Kazadi, Ambassador-at-Large for the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Amina Mohammed, Ambassador-at-large representing Kenya
Lineo Ntoane, Kingdom of Lesotho Ambassador-at-large
Princess Esther Kamatari, Ambassador-at-large representing Burundi

Americas

Chavano "Buddy" Hield, Ambassador-at-Large for The Bahamas^[11]
Robyn Rihanna Fenty, Ambassador-at-Large for Barbados^[12]^[13]
Attallah Shabazz, Ambassador-at-Large for Belize
Oscar de la Renta, Ambassador-at-Large of the Dominican Republic^[14]
Wyclef Jean, Ambassador-at-Large for Haiti
Barbara Carrera, former Ambassador-at-large for Nicaragua, appointed by then-president Arnoldo Alemán
Suzan Johnson Cook, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
Henry A. Crumpton, Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the Department of State^[15]
Eric Goosby, United States Global AIDS Coordinator (Ambassador-at-Large for HIV and AIDS)^[16]
John Hanford, former United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
Philip Jessup, former United States Ambassador-at-large under President Harry S. Truman
Strobe Talbott, US Ambassador-at-Large and Special Advisor to the Secretary on the New Independent States^[17]

References

^ The Guide of the Modern Diplomatic Protocol
^ Milani, Abbas (2008). Eminent Persians: The Men and Women who Made Modern Iran, 1941-1979. Vol. 1. Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press. pp. 766–767. ISBN 978-0815609070.
^ "CHAN Heng Chee". 9 October 2015.
^ "Live Mint". Live Mint. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
^ Chu, Monique (18 April 2002). "Veteran diplomat tells it like it was". Taipei Times. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
^ Scanlan, Sean (8 October 2024). "Taiwan President Lai Ching-te appoints new ambassadors-at-large". Taiwan News. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
^ "Roving Ambassador for South Caucasus –". Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. 18 October 2012. Archived from the original on 23 May 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
^ "The Habsburgs' new empire: The princess and the bear". The Economist. 20 February 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
^ "New Roving Ambassador Nuala O' Loan to Travel to Timor". Irish embassy. 10 March 2008. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
^ "International Human Rights Organization". yt.com. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
^ "Chavano "Buddy" Hield Appointed Ambassador At-Large For Sports And Cultural Development". mofa.gov.bs. 16 February 2024.
^ "Rihanna's officially titled 'right excellent,' named Barbados national hero". PBS NewsHour. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
^ "Rihanna appointed ambassador for her native Barbados". The Guardian. Press Association. 22 September 2018. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
^ Mower, Sarah (2002). Oscar: The Style, Inspiration and Life of Oscar De La Renta. New York: Assouline. p. 12.
^ "Biography: Henry A. Crumpton". US Department of State Archives. 3 August 2005. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
^ "Goosby, Eric". State. 23 June 2009. Archived from the original on 15 July 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
^ "Strobe Talbott: Richard von Weizsäcker Distinguished Visitor – Class of Spring 2009". American Academy in Berlin. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.

[1] The Guide of the Modern Diplomatic Protocol

[2] Milani, Abbas (2008). Eminent Persians: The Men and Women who Made Modern Iran, 1941-1979. Vol. 1. Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press. pp. 766–767. ISBN 978-0815609070.

[3] "CHAN Heng Chee". 9 October 2015.

[Live_Mint-4] "Live Mint". Live Mint. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2014.

[TaipeiTimes20020418-5] Chu, Monique (18 April 2002). "Veteran diplomat tells it like it was". Taipei Times. Retrieved 27 October 2012.

[TaiwanNews20241008-6] Scanlan, Sean (8 October 2024). "Taiwan President Lai Ching-te appoints new ambassadors-at-large". Taiwan News. Retrieved 11 October 2024.

[7] "Roving Ambassador for South Caucasus –". Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. 18 October 2012. Archived from the original on 23 May 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2013.

[8] "The Habsburgs' new empire: The princess and the bear". The Economist. 20 February 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2013.

[9] "New Roving Ambassador Nuala O' Loan to Travel to Timor". Irish embassy. 10 March 2008. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2013.

[International_Human_Rights_Organization-10] "International Human Rights Organization". yt.com. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2020.

[11] "Chavano "Buddy" Hield Appointed Ambassador At-Large For Sports And Cultural Development". mofa.gov.bs. 16 February 2024.

[12] "Rihanna's officially titled 'right excellent,' named Barbados national hero". PBS NewsHour. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2023.

[13] "Rihanna appointed ambassador for her native Barbados". The Guardian. Press Association. 22 September 2018. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 August 2023.

[14] Mower, Sarah (2002). Oscar: The Style, Inspiration and Life of Oscar De La Renta. New York: Assouline. p. 12.

[US_Department_of_State_Archives-15] "Biography: Henry A. Crumpton". US Department of State Archives. 3 August 2005. Retrieved 3 March 2019.

[16] "Goosby, Eric". State. 23 June 2009. Archived from the original on 15 July 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2013.

[17] "Strobe Talbott: Richard von Weizsäcker Distinguished Visitor – Class of Spring 2009". American Academy in Berlin. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.

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