Cultural attaché
Diplomats |
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A cultural attaché is a diplomat with varying responsibilities, depending on the sending state of the attaché. Historically, such posts were filled by writers and artists, giving them a steady income, and allowing them to develop their own creative work while promoting their country's culture abroad. However, many countries’ cultural attachés serve a different purpose.
Purposes
Gulf countries
The purpose of the
sent by the ministry of foreign affairs to serve the relations between the host country and the sending country, a cultural attaché in the Gulf is the head of mission sent by the ministry of education to oversee the education of the nationals of the sending country in the host country. This head-of-mission-status gives the Gulf states' cultural attachés high-ranking diplomatic status as opposed to other countries in which the role of cultural attachés is not as important nor vital.For instance, the
United States
American cultural attachés have historically been known to be spies posing as diplomats.[4][5][6] While this tactic was used primarily during the Cold War against Eastern European states allied with the Soviet Union, the United States has sent spies posing as diplomats to Latin America, the Middle East, and North Africa.[6] This is a highly effective intelligence tactic because cultural attachés have a very broad purpose and are covered by diplomatic immunity, protected by international law should they be accused of espionage.
References
- ^ a b "The Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau (SACB) in Canada". Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau in Canada. Archived from the original on 2015-06-22. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
- ^ "Kuwait Cultural Office Canada". Archived from the original on 2020-10-20. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
- ^ "United Arab Emirates Cultural Division | Cultural Division Contact Information".
- ^ "The Long History of Spies Posing as Diplomats Abroad". Bloomberg.com. 2018-03-26. Retrieved 2021-10-01.
- ^ Feuer, Alan (23 October 2007). "A Dead Spy, a Daughter's Questions and the C.I.A." The New York Times.
- ^ a b Mazzetti, Mark (28 November 2010). "U.S. Expands Role of Diplomats in Spying". The New York Times.