21st Century Statecraft Month: Digital Engagements January 30-31

The U.S. Department of State has designated January 2012 as 21^st Century Statecraft month. Twenty-first Century Statecraft complements traditional foreign policy by harnessing and adapting the digital networks and technologies of today’s interconnected world. The U.S. Department of State and U.S. Missions abroad have developed a range of initiatives to showcase U.S. diplomatic leadership in leveraging digital networks and technologies in service of their foreign policy goals.

Throughout the month of January, U.S. officials in Washington, DC, and at U.S. Missions abroad are participating in digital engagements across multiple social media platforms on a wide array of issues to directly connect with the public on foreign policy issues that matter to them.

Next week’s engagements include the following events:

• On Monday, January 30, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder will hold a Twitter Q&A at 12:00 p.m. EST. Submit questions to @USAmbNATO using the hashtag #AskIvo.
  
• On Tuesday, January 31, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Daniel Baer will participate in a Live at State web chat with bloggers and journalists from around the world at 9:30 a.m. EST. Video of the web chat will be available on video.state.gov.
  
• Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Ann Stock will participate in a Twitter Q&A at 09:30 a.m. EST on Tuesday, January 31. Assistant Secretary Stock will discuss the role of technology and social media in English language programs, exchanges, and cultural diplomacy initiatives. Submit your questions to @ConnectStateGov and @AnnatState using the hashtag #AskAnn.
  
• On Tuesday, January 31, U.S. Ambassador to France Charles H. Rivkin will answer questions on foreign policy and U.S.-French relations on Facebook. You can submit your questions on the embassy’s Facebook page in English or French until Monday evening.
  
• The U.S. Mission to NATO and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs are launching their Twitter accounts. Follow @USNATO and @State_IO for updates on multilateral issues and transatlantic relations as the U.S. gets ready to host the NATO Summit this May in Chicago.

Stay tuned to www.state.gov, the DipNote blog, @StateDept on Twitter and the U.S. Department of State’s official Facebook page, as additional engagement opportunities will continue on our social media platforms throughout 2012.