THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2025 17 Devaluing FSOs What I see emphasized in this list of promotion criteria, is there’s not a single thing in it [about] developing regional expertise, language expertise, knowledge of complex issues, informing and helping shape the dialogue in a responsible way. There’s nothing like that. It’s all about loyalty, implementing whatever D.C. says. Are we completely devaluing our Foreign Service officers for their development of expertise that can help enlighten our own policy agenda? —Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), in a Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing, “Reforming the State Department to Compete in the 21st Century,” on July 16. deeper civil nuclear cooperation—an example that the United States is prepared to be a partner with any nation ... that clearly is not geared towards weaponization or threatening the security of their neighbors.” Foreign Minister Al Zayani described the MOU as “a further step forward” in the strategic relationship between the two nations. “There is no doubt that cooperation on nuclear technology will be a vital contributor to our shared responsibility and prosperity in the years ahead,” he said. The agreement builds on ongoing cooperation through the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program and follows a similar civil nuclear deal signed with Malaysia. It reflects a potential broader push by the Trump administration to enhance global energy security and expand U.S. influence in the Gulf region. n This edition of Talking Points was compiled by Mark Parkhomenko.
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