THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MARCH 2025 29 FEATURE SUBNATIONAL DIPLOMACY A Conversation with Special Representative Nina Hachigian ISTOCKPHOTO/SERGEYRYZHOV AFSA President Tom Yazdgerdi: Cities, states, and local governments are increasingly significant actors in international engagement, and that’s especially true managing the effects of global challenges such as climate change and migration. What does this mean for our national foreign policy and what has the U.S. government been doing about it? To talk about this, and more, we are pleased to welcome Nina Hachigian. Ambassador Hachigian was previously the first deputy mayor for international affairs for the city of Los Angeles. Prior to that, she served as the second U.S. ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Ambassador, thank you for taking the time to share your insights with us and take our questions. Ambassador Nina Hachigian: Hi Tom, and thank you for having me. Thank you to AFSA for all that you do. AFSA: “Subnational diplomacy” has been a popular term of late. Could you please help us define it and explain why we need subnational diplomacy? NH: Subnational diplomacy refers to the official interactions of cities, counties, states, and regions across international borders. This could be, for example, a state-to-region or state-to-nation AFSA was delighted to host an “Inside Diplomacy” online conversation on Dec. 3, 2024, with the first U.S. special representative for city and state diplomacy at the State Department, Ambassador Nina Hachigian. She served in this position until Jan. 20, 2025. The virtual audience of 139 included members of the Foreign Service community, journalists, students, and the public at large. AFSA President Tom Yazdgerdi facilitated the discussion along with Deputy Director of Communications and Outreach Nadja Ruzica. The following is excerpted from the transcript of the event, which has been lightly edited for clarity. Find the entire discussion at https://bit.ly/Inside-Diplomacy-Hachigian.
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