The Divorce of Nations

A Diplomat’s Inside View as the Global Order Collapses

An inside perspective to global diplomacy from one of the world’s foremost diplomats

‘Who better to guide us through the chaotic world of the last 25 years than one who had a ringside seat for much that went on, and who writes about it with such insight and skill? This is a must read book.’ - Sir Anthony Seldon, author of Truss at 10

'In my time working on Europe, João Vale de Almeida was the most important name in my address book: a view I suspect was widely shared.’ – Lord Kim Darroch, former British ambassador to the United States

'This is a superb book: provocative, witty, erudite, sober - and sometimes sobering - but ultimately wise in its prescriptions.’ - Sir Ivan Rogers, former UK Permanent Representative to the EU

'This book is a rare opportunity to look behind the diplomatic curtain and see events and the people who inspired them up close and personal.' - Baroness Catherine Ashton, former High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs

Today we are witnessing one of the most dangerous geopolitical situations of modern times, heralded by loud populist and nationalist voices, and steeped in uncertainty. But how did the nations of the world come to find themselves in such a predicament? Is the international liberal order condemned?

Drawing from decades of experience in Brussels, Washington, New York and London, one of the world’s foremost diplomats lifts the veil on modern foreign affairs and enables us to trace how countries have been sleepwalking towards the ‘Divorce of Nations’, and the steps we can take to fix it.

Having met the most consequential global leaders since the turn of the millennium, Ambassador Vale de Almeida’s insightful account features personal observances of figures such as Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Tony Blair, Boris Johnson, Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy, Emmanuel Macron, Hu Jintao and Donald Trump. He also recalls the numerous times he met Vladimir Putin and the early warning signs and grievances the Russian leader aired in the run up to his incursions into Georgia and Crimea, which ultimately were the precursors to the full-fledged invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Other key moments in his compelling narrative relate to the global response to the Great Financial Crisis, how the world shifted in the aftermath of 9/11, the opening up of China and how the world reacted to the Covid pandemic. The book also includes a personal and colourful account of the first 1,000 days of Brexit – the ultimate act of separation so far.

Based on contemporary notes and further reflections, The Divorce of Nations is a necessary and important book that enables us to move forward with better awareness and understanding of the current volatile and fragmented scene, at both national and global levels.

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