The U.S. State Department has adopted a new approach to foreign elections, announcing it will only make public comments when there is a “clear and compelling” American interest involved. According to a memo obtained by Fox News Digital, the policy change is part of a broader directive by Secretary Marco Rubio aimed at aligning diplomacy with national sovereignty and strategic priorities.
The memo advises diplomats to avoid making statements about the fairness or legitimacy of foreign elections and to steer clear of promoting democratic values. Instead, the Department will focus on protecting U.S. foreign policy goals and maintaining relationships where strategic interests align, regardless of a country’s democratic record.
Embassies and consulates may still release congratulatory messages following elections, but only if the outcome is not disputed. In cases where an election involves violence or alleged fraud, public criticism will require approval from high-ranking officials and will be permitted only in rare situations.
The document also includes a set of clear instructions: use election-related statements to support specific U.S. goals and avoid ideological messaging. Diplomats are urged to consider whether a statement aligns with the kind of language the president would use.
This shift comes amid a broader reorganization of the State Department, which includes consolidating or eliminating over 300 offices. The change reflects a growing preference for pragmatism over principle in U.S. foreign policy.
While the Biden administration has signaled support for human rights and democracy, this adjustment mirrors former President Donald Trump’s 2020 declaration in Saudi Arabia that the U.S. would no longer interfere in other nations’ internal politics. However, Trump has occasionally acted against that principle, such as when he recently imposed a 50% tariff on Brazil after prosecutors accused former President Jair Bolsonaro of attempting to reverse the 2022 election results through a coup plot.
This revised policy may have significant effects on how opposition groups and human rights activists perceive U.S. support, particularly in politically unstable regions.
