While the Trump Administration closed the Subnational Diplomacy Unit at the State Department, this author argues that by empowering cities to engage internationally in pragmatic ways, foreign policy implementations can shift downward, smoothing local-global engagement while advancing broader security and diplomatic aims.
This Foreign Service Journal article features a conversation with Ambassador Nina Hachigian, the first U.S. Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy, reflecting on her office’s work before January 2025. It highlights how cities and states are shaping global diplomacy on issues like climate change, migration, and economic development.
This article traces the evolution of U.S. subnational diplomacy: once episodic and domestically focused, U.S. cities and states have transformed since the early 21st century into global actors engaging through multi-stakeholder frameworks that include philanthropy, academia, think tanks, and business. The report also highlights efforts by Ambassador (ret.) Nina Hachigian as part of a broader strategy to integrate local governments into the U.S. diplomatic apparatus amid rising urban influence and geopolitical competition.
