blinken-appoints-mull-to-oversee-us-presidential-transition

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has appointed former diplomat Stephen Mull to oversee the transition process within the State Department from President Joe Biden's administration to that of President-elect Donald Trump. This appointment was confirmed by the State Department, which announced Mull's role in ensuring a smooth transition of power.

 

Mull is a seasoned diplomat with experience in both Democratic and Republican administrations. His most recent position at the State Department was as Acting Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs during President Donald Trump's first term, where he served briefly for about three months between June and August 2018. Prior to that, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to Poland from 2012 to 2015 under President Barack Obama’s administration.

 

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that Mull’s primary responsibility will be to work closely with the Trump transition team to guarantee a seamless handover of responsibilities.

 

He emphasised the importance of a successful transition, stating, "The peaceful transfer of power is an essential element of our democracy that is vital to our nation’s security." The department’s aim is to conduct a transition that is smooth, efficient, and professional to maintain continuity in American foreign policy and security matters.

 

Mull, who began his duties immediately, will attend meetings and help coordinate the process of the transition. Although the Trump team has yet to make formal contact with the State Department, this is expected to follow the formal process that needs to be completed before the two sides can engage fully.

 

Interestingly, Mull will be working alongside Brian Hook, a former U.S. special representative for Iran during the Trump administration, who has been named as Mull's counterpart on the Trump transition team.

 

This connection is notable because Mull had previously held the role of Coordinator for Iran Nuclear Implementation, a position he described in a past interview as one of the most challenging in his career as an American diplomat. Mull held that position from 2015 to 2017, during which he played a key role in negotiating the Iran nuclear deal.

 

After his tenure in government, Mull transitioned to the academic sector. In 2018, he joined the University of Virginia as the Vice Provost for Global Affairs, a role he still holds today.