US Diplomat Wendy Sherman, Who Played a Key Role in Relations with China and Iran, Set to Retire

Introduction

Wendy Sherman, a key US diplomat who played a significant role in negotiating the Iran nuclear deal and shaping US policy towards China, has announced her retirement. Sherman served as the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs during the Obama administration and was the lead negotiator in the talks that led to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran in 2015. She also served as the Deputy Secretary of State during the Clinton administration and was a key player in the US-China relationship during that time.

Background

Sherman’s retirement comes at a time when US-China relations are at a low point, with tensions rising over issues such as trade, human rights, and Taiwan. During her time as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Sherman was a key player in shaping US policy towards China, including the Obama administration’s „pivot to Asia“ strategy. She also played a role in negotiating the US-China Cyber Agreement in 2015, which aimed to curb cyber espionage between the two countries.

In addition to her work on China, Sherman was also instrumental in negotiating the Iran nuclear deal, which lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear program. The JCPOA was a major foreign policy achievement for the Obama administration, but it has been a point of contention for the Trump administration, which withdrew from the agreement in 2018. Sherman has been a vocal defender of the JCPOA and has criticized the Trump administration’s approach to Iran.

Impact

Sherman’s retirement is a loss for the US State Department and for US diplomacy more broadly. She was a skilled negotiator and a respected voice on foreign policy issues, particularly on China and Iran. Her departure comes at a time when the US is facing significant challenges on the global stage, including a rising China and a resurgent Russia.

Sherman’s retirement also raises questions about the future of US policy towards China and Iran. With tensions between the US and China at an all-time high, and the Trump administration taking a hardline approach towards Iran, it is unclear how the US will navigate these complex relationships without Sherman’s expertise. However, her retirement also presents an opportunity for new voices and fresh ideas to shape US foreign policy in the years ahead.

In conclusion, Wendy Sherman’s retirement is a significant loss for US diplomacy, but it also presents an opportunity for new voices to shape US foreign policy. Her legacy as a skilled negotiator and a respected voice on China and Iran will continue to influence US foreign policy for years to come

Original article Teaser

Wendy Sherman, key US diplomat on China and Iran, to retire

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who managed delicate relations with China and earlier led painstaking negotiations with Iran and North Korea, said Friday she would retire, exactly 30 years after her first State Department job. The 73-year-old fixture of Democratic Party foreign policy circles said she would step down at the end of June. Her successor, who will need Senate confirmation, was not immediately announced. “As deputy secretary, I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done to address an astonishing array of challenges — Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, challenges in the Indo-Pacific, Covid-19 — while uniting allies and partners to advance our shared vision of a brighter future,” she wrote on Twitter. Secretary of State Antony Blinken

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