The office of the US State Department which negotiates scientific and technological agreements could be upset as part of a reorganization of agencies, which raises concerns among analysts that such a decision could weaken American scientific diplomacy and international research collaboration.
“Yesterday, I learned that my office in the US State Department – the Science and Technological Cooperation Office – will be eliminated within the framework of the reorganization of the Department, as of July 1,” published Elmer Zapata -Mercado, foreign affairs officer last week.
“As a result, I and my exceptional colleagues will be separated from the department,” he added, suggesting that he was hunting for work.
Zapata-Mercado did not respond to a request for comments. A spokesperson for the State Department refused to say if the office would be eliminated.
The STC office advises administration on national and economic security guarantees in scientific and technological cooperation while keeping the bidirectional flow on open basic search. Eliminating it could further undermine American-Chinese relations and between the United States and other countries.