US State Department restricts diplomats from commenting on foreign elections

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed American diplomats worldwide not to publicly comment on the fairness or integrity of elections held in other countries, according to an internal State Department cable obtained by Reuters on July 17.

The directive, marked "sensitive" but not classified, was circulated to all U.S. diplomatic posts and signals a departure from Washington’s traditional role of actively promoting free and fair elections abroad. It states that the Department will no longer issue election-related statements or social media posts unless there is a "clear and compelling" foreign policy interest.

"When it is appropriate to comment on a foreign election, our message should be brief, focused on congratulating the winning candidate and, when appropriate, noting shared foreign policy interests," the cable says. It further instructs diplomats to avoid expressing opinions on the legitimacy, fairness, or democratic values associated with any electoral process.

The cable mandates that election-related comments should be made only by the Secretary of State or the Department’s spokesperson and prohibits diplomats from issuing such statements without explicit approval from senior leadership.

The guidance references President Donald Trump’s May 13 speech in Riyadh, where he criticised what he termed "Western interventionists" who tell Middle Eastern countries how to govern themselves. The administration emphasised that Washington would prioritise forging strategic partnerships over promoting democratic values abroad.

"While the United States will hold firm to its own democratic values and celebrate those values when other countries choose a similar path, the President made clear that the United States will pursue partnerships with countries wherever our strategic interests align," the directive states.

A State Department spokesperson confirmed the cable’s content, underscoring that the new approach aligns with the administration’s focus on respecting national sovereignty.

By Vugar Khalilov