Diplomacy and International Politics

The essence of global politics today, said career diplomat and Harvard professor Nicholas Burns in a speech at Bates College, is that no country can go it alone.

Issues like climate change, public health crises, the threat of chemical and nuclear weapons, and cyber attacks are transnational problems requiring transnational solutions. But while a global mindset is more necessary than ever, the United States’ highest leaders are drawing back from the world.

“We’re led by the first president since the 1920s who doesn’t believe that the United States has a fundamental responsibility to help the world be knit together, to be the first responders, to cope with the big problems and the small problems,” Burns said to a Bates audience on March 29.

Staffing gaps and significant personnel changes at the State Department have raised concerns about the direction of U.S. foreign policy, especially amid public statements by President Donald Trump concerning American alliances and positions on issues around the world. Ambassador Cameron Munter invites Ambassador Nicholas Burns to share his insights and ideas, including on timely topics such as the U.S.-Russia relationship following the re-election of Vladimir Putin, Transatlantic relations and changing perceptions about the future role of NATO, and a possible meeting between President Trump and his North Korean counterpart on nuclear nonproliferation and security.

Ambassador Burns was Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs under President George W. Bush. Prior to that assignment, he was also U.S. Ambassador to NATO. Currently, Burns is the Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and also director of The Future of Diplomacy Project.

Nicholas Burns tells CNNi, “There has to be a concerted response now by the West.”

Amb. Nicholas Burns, former ambassador to NATO, discusses CIA Director Mike Pompeo replacing Rex Tillerson as secretary of State.

Rex Tillerson's firing and a profile of the CIA director who replaces him. Where now for US foreign policy? Ambassador Nicholas Burns discusses on BBC's Newshour programme. 

What was Rex Tillerson’s impact on the State Department and American diplomacy, and what will global ripple effects will his successor, current CIA director Mike Pompeo, face? Judy Woodruff gets reaction and analysis from Nicholas Burns, former U.S. ambassador to NATO, David Ignatius from The Washington Post and David Shedd, former acting director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

From day one, Rex Tillerson was one of the most controversial choices for President Donald Trump's cabinet as secretary of state. On Tuesday, the White House announced it would be replacing Tillerson with CIA Director Mike Pompeo. What can we expect under Pompeo's leadership? The World's Marco Werman interviews Nick Burns, former undersecretary of state for political affairs and former ambassador to NATO, serving under George W. Bush.

CNBC's Eamon Javers reports from the White House on the press conference with Swedish Prime Minister, Stefan Löfven, and President Donald Trump. With CNBC Contributor Larry Kudlow; Nicholas Burns, Harvard's Kennedy School; and CNBC's Mike Santoli.

Will talks with North Korea work this time around? Nicholas Burns says "the devil will be in the details," on BBC World News America.