The Duties & Roles of a US Ambassador

Communicate with the State Department

The main concern of a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is to keep the State Department properly informed of events occurring at the U.N. Events may include tense interactions between other countries, proposed international laws and the status of any proposed diplomatic or military actions. The ambassador communicates with the State Department and the president to determine the country's stance on international issues and if the U.S. will participate in any diplomatic, political or military initiative around the world. The ambassador may recommend a course of action based on his findings from meetings at the U.N.

An ambassador to the U.N. is sometimes able to play the role of advocate for streamlining overstuffed security council budgets. An ambassador can also use U.S. clout to push for important votes on U.N. resolutions and even assist in blocking proposed U.N. officials from ascending to particular U.N. positions. The ambassador's actions must remain in lockstep with the foreign political message of the White House.

An ambassador stationed in a foreign country acts as the primary diplomatic liaison between the foreign nation and the United States. The ambassador is tasked with communicating the status of the foreign nation's government to the United States, assisting refugees entering the embassy or fleeing other countries for the nation where the ambassador is stationed and promoting the safety of U.S. citizens in the foreign nation and the surrounding territory.

It is the duty of an ambassador to mediate any talks between the country where he is stationed and any rival nation to help prevent war. An ambassador also has a duty to promote democracy and work to eliminate any human rights violations occurring in the country where he is stationed. If the ambassador is unable to negotiate an end to hostilities with other countries or an end to human rights violations, he may report his findings to the United Nations or the United States for further diplomatic action. The ambassador's report could be integral in helping the U.S. or the U.N. decide whether to pursue purely diplomatic actions against a nation or to use military force.