Deputy Secretary of State

The Deputy Secretary, John Negroponte serves as the principal deputy, adviser, and alter ego to the Secretary of State; serves as Acting Secretary of State in the Secretary's absence; and assists the Secretary in the formulation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy and in giving general supervision and direction to all elements of the Department. Specific duties and supervisory responsibilities have varied over time.

U.S-China Relations Deputy Secretary Negroponte (Jan. 8):  "I first visited China in June of 1972 on a delegation led by Dr. Henry Kissinger at a time when our two countries had lived in political, economic and diplomatic isolation from each other for more than two decades. The changes in our relationship since that time have been truly dramatic. Our two countries have interactions and exchanges across the entire spectrum of human activity on a scale and depth that simply could not have been imagined when we first established diplomatic ties in 1979."  Full Statement | More on Travel

Dedication Ceremony for New U.S. Embassy in Baghdad Deputy Secretary Negroponte (Jan. 5): " Looking out on this wonderful gathering and this magnificent new embassy, I look with great confidence to the future of United States-Iraq relations.  Today marks the beginning of a new page in those relations, one that will build on and benefit from the legacy of those consular and diplomatic officers who have gone before". Full Text | View Video | Statement |  Photos

Marriott Bombing Memorial Plaque Ceremony Deputy Secretary Negroponte (Dec. 11): "The three men we commemorate today are heroes who have lost their lives serving our country. Their loss is felt by their families and their friends, their colleagues and their country. Each of these men represents a singular story, a unique constellation of relationships, accomplishments, and aspirations cruelly destroyed by terrorism. But these men shared more than a tragic fate." Full Text | Statement in India