MESSAGES SHOULD GO BOTH WAYS
It remains to be seen if Dr Sinha will have a similar mandate as US Ambassador to Singapore. Given their relatively unknown profile and Mr Trump’s vague post announcing the nomination, the chance of a big mandate is admittedly slim.
Nonetheless, even without specific goals, there are opportunities for Dr Sinha to leave a positive mark on the US-Singapore relationship. To achieve this, we need to understand the dynamics behind Mr Trump’s ambassadorial nominations.
Mr Trump’s list of ambassadorial nominations contains some individuals with diplomatic experience, including Mr Pete Hoekstra, the nominee to Canada, and Mr Ronald Johnson, nominee to Mexico. Both served as ambassadors during Mr Trump’s first term.
Beyond them, however, most of his nominees have little diplomat experience. Some are political figures or donors who supported Mr Trump’s 2024 campaign, while others are members of his extended family. Their common characteristic appears to be their political support for him.
It is not unusual for non-career diplomats to be selected as ambassadors. Data compiled by the American Foreign Service Association indicates that 30 per cent of ambassadors since the 1980s have been political appointees.
Yet the sheer number of such appointees suggests that Mr Trump, first and foremost, wants ambassadors that he can trust to convey his messages. Already, Mr Trump’s ambassador nominees are promising to work on reducing trade deficits with Japan and leaving the option open for military strikes on cartels in Mexico.
What does all of this mean for Singapore?
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