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Donald Heflin

Donald Heflin

The Conversation

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Missing ambassadors, inexperienced appointees – is Washington dropping the diplomatic ball?

Missing ambassadors, inexperienced appointees – is Washington dropping the diplomatic ball?

Almost half of US ambassador jobs remain vacant. Meanwhile, political appointees are outnumbering career diplomats being put forward.

07.10.2026 7

The Conversation

Donald Heflin

US ceasefire with Iran: What’s next? A former diplomat explains 3 possible scenarios

Both countries seem tired of the costs of war and ongoing risks, but successful negotiations will have to overcome deep distrust by both sides.

10.04.2026 10

The Conversation

Donald Heflin

Operational secrecy kept the US from making evacuation plans – and that means Americans in the Mideast could wait days

A longtime diplomat explains how the State Department normally encourages and helps Americans to leave countries amid political instability and war...

05.03.2026 30

The Conversation

Donald Heflin

Top diplomat on Middle Eastern regime change as a losing game: ‘U.S. history in that area of the world is not good with this’

You may recall that during the Gulf War of 1990-1991, the U.S. basically encouraged the Iraqi people to rise up, then didn't advance on Baghdad.

01.03.2026 20

Fortune

Donald Heflin

Despite massive US attack and death of Ayatollah, regime change in Iran is unlikely

President Trump has appealed to Iranians to topple their government, but a popular uprising is unlikely to defeat current leadership or the...

01.03.2026 20

The Conversation

Donald Heflin

Massive US attacks on Iran unlikely to produce regime change in Tehran

President Trump has appealed to Iranians to topple their government, but a popular uprising is unlikely to defeat current leadership or the...

01.03.2026 20

The Conversation

Donald Heflin

Trump’s Greenland ambitions could wreck 20th-century alliances that helped build the modern world order

How the US treats its allies has been a crucial question for every president. What evolved over the centuries into an official embrace of friendly...

19.01.2026 30

The Conversation

Donald Heflin

Peace plan presented by the US to Ukraine reflects inexperienced, unrealistic handling of a delicate situation

In a war that’s lasted almost four years, a former diplomat says it’s not realistic to say, ‘In the next week, come up with a very complicated...

25.11.2025 30

The Conversation

Donald Heflin

Trump-Putin summit: Veteran diplomat explains why putting peace deal before ceasefire wouldn’t end Russia-Ukraine  war

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with President Donald Trump in the aftermath of an inconclusive summit just days before. A veteran...

19.08.2025 30

The Conversation

Donald Heflin

Trump-Putin summit: Veteran diplomat explains why putting peace deal before ceasefire wouldn’t end Ukraine War

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with President Donald Trump in the aftermath of an inconclusive summit just days before. A veteran...

18.08.2025 30

The Conversation

Donald Heflin

The Trump-Putin summit is amateurish and politically driven

A veteran diplomat explains the problems with Trump's upcoming meeting with Putin

12.08.2025 20

Salon

Donald Heflin

This isn’t how wars are ended − a veteran diplomat explains how Trump-Putin summit is amateurish and politically driven

A former US ambassador and career diplomat says that history indicates that the possibilities for a lasting peace coming out of the Trump-Putin summit...

11.08.2025 30

The Conversation

Donald Heflin