Ambassador-at-large

An ambassador-at-large is a diplomat of the highest rank or a minister who is accredited to represent his country internationally. This is sometimes (unofficially) referred to as a "roving ambassador".

Unlike an ambassador-in-residence who is usually limited to a country and/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 European Union. 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.

United States Ambassadors-at-Large

The US President appointed the first official specifically to bear the title of ambassador-at-large on Mar 12, 1949, under the authority vested in Article II, Section 2 of the U.S Constitution to deal with specific foreign policy issues which have been frequently, but not always, spelled out in their commissions.

Some Ambassadors at Large

• H.E. Dame Nuala O'Loan [1], of Ireland. Roving Ambassador for Conflict Resolution and Special Envoy to Timor-Leste
• H.E. John V. Hanford [2], US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
• H.E. David Scheffer [3], US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crime Issues
• H.E. Strobe Talbott [4], US Ambassador-at-Large and Special Adviser to the Secretary on the New Independent States
• H.E. Dr Dumitru Ciausu [5], Romanian Ambassador-at-Large
• H.E. Dr Bishhma K. Agnihotri [6], India's Ambassador-at-Large for Non-Resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin
• H.E. Javed Malik, Pakistani Ambassador-at-Large
• H.E. Hassan Abouyoub, Moroccan Ambassador-at-Large
• H.E. Dr Vinod Singh, Antarcticland Ambassador-at-Large in India and neighbouring Countries
• H.E. Mr. Petri Salo [7], Finland's Roving Ambassador for South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia).

Examples in the diplomatic corps of the US State Department include(d) :

• Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues
• Ambassador-at-Large for Counterterrorism
• Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom

References

• US State Department