US retreat from values-based diplomacy creates risks and opportunities for smaller nations: Malinowski, former Obama official

The United States' departure from its traditional values-based foreign policy is creating a complex landscape of both challenges and opportunities for smaller nations, according to a former high-ranking US official.

Tom Malinowski, who previously served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour under the Obama administration, articulated this concern at a dialogue event in Nepal. He specifically pointed to countries like Nepal as examples of nations that will navigate this evolving international dynamic.

Malinowski's remarks suggest a significant shift in how the US engages with the world. This pivot away from prioritizing democracy and human rights in its diplomatic approach could lead to altered geopolitical alignments and new avenues for smaller states to assert their interests on the global stage.

“

The United States is moving away from its traditional values-based foreign policy, creating both challenges and opportunities for smaller countries such as Nepal.