I’m sure we’ve all missed times when the spouse of the vice president was sent solo to an important nation to forge ties or strengthen ties, right? Because I cannot remember a time when this has happened. This person is not an official. They are not elected and not appointed, and are not there to perform important functions
Emhoff will become the highest-profile US official to visit Samoa as US makes a Pacific islands push
Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, next week will become the highest-profile U.S. official to visit Samoa, as the Biden administration steps up its outreach to Pacific island nations.
Emhoff will meet with government officials, community leaders and female entrepreneurs during his July 23-24 visit to Samoa’s capital, Apia. His communications director, Liza Acevedo, said Wednesday he will be the first White House principal to visit the country. His visit comes as the U.S. is aiming to deepen diplomatic and economic ties to Samoa and other countries in the region.
The renewed focus on the Pacific islands is part of a yearslong strategic shift in U.S. focus toward the area. It is meant in part to counter China’s efforts to significantly expand its military, economic and diplomatic influence across the Pacific.
If it’s so important why are they sending Emhoff? That fails to send the signal “you are important.” It’s more like “everyone else has better things to do.”
Emhoff will visit Samoa after he leads the official U.S. delegation to the opening of the Women’s World Cup in Auckland, New Zealand. The State Department has announced that Samoa will soon receive a dedicated ambassador on the island, among other diplomatic expansions in the region.
So, it’s simply a convenient attempt after Doug does something else. Hey, he might be a wonderful and charming guy, but, he’s the VP’s spouse, and Samoa (part of which is an American protectorate) will surely perceive this as the Biden admin not thinking too highly of the nation. A meaningless visit. Heck, Samoa might consider this a diplomatic slight and more further into China’s sphere of influence. China and Samoa signed a bilateral agreement of “collaboration” last year, and then here comes nobody Emhoff with a satchel of greenbacks, begging to be friends again.
Read: Huhwhat? Brandon Regime To Send Doug Emhoff To Visit Samoa »