Ricardo Zúñiga Explained

Caption:	Ricardo Zúñiga in the White House, 2014
Alt:	Photograph of Ricardo Zúñiga facing away from the camera in the White House
Office:	Special Envoy for the Northern Triangle
President:	Joe Biden
Term Start:	March 22, 2021
Term End:	July 28, 2023
Predecessor:	Office established
Office2:	Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
President2:	Joe Biden
Term Start2:	September 16, 2021
Term End2:	July 28, 2023
Predecessor2:	Hugo Rodriguez
Successor2:	Mark A. Wells
Office3:	Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
President3:	Joe Biden
Term Start3:	August 3, 2021
Term End3:	September 15, 2021
Status3:	Acting
Predecessor3:	Julie Chung
Successor3:	Brian A. Nichols
Birth Place:	Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Alma Mater:	University of Virginia (BA)

Ricardo Zúñiga is the former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State.^[1]

Zúñiga was appointed as Special Envoy for the Northern Triangle on 22 March 2021.^{[2] [3]} The Special Envoy engages with regional governments, including but not limited to Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, on a range of issues in order to seek to improve conditions in Central America. He also held regional governments accountable for their commitments to address root causes of migration and the increase in arrivals of unaccompanied children at the U.S. southern border.^{[4] [5] [6]}

In August 2021, he was appointed Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. He succeeded Julie Chung as acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs until President Biden's nominee, Brian A. Nichols, was confirmed in the Senate.^[7] He left office on July 28, 2023.^[1]

From 2015 to 2018, he was the U.S. Consul General serving at Sao Paulo, Brazil. From 2012 to 2015, he served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council.^[8] He also played a key role in normalizing relations with Cuba.^{[9] [10]}

Early life and education

Zúñiga was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Affairs and Latin American studies from the University of Virginia.

External links

Ricardo's biography

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ricardo Zúniga. 2021-09-25. United States Department of State. en-US.
2. Web site: Mars . Amanda . 2021-12-15 . Ricardo Zúñiga, enviado de EE UU para Centroamérica: "La respuesta a una democracia imperfecta es más democracia, no el populismo" . 2023-08-23 . El País . es.
3. Web site: Guatemala . U. S. Embassy . 2021-03-22 . Anuncio de Ricardo Zúñiga como Enviado Especial para el Triángulo Norte . 2023-08-23 . Embajada de Estados Unidos en Guatemala . es-ES.
4. Web site: Ricardo Zúñiga Wilson Center. 2021-06-07. www.wilsoncenter.org. en.
5. Web site: 2021-03-22. Announcement of Ricardo Zúñiga as Special Envoy for the Northern Triangle. 2021-06-07. U.S. Embassy in Guatemala. en-US.
6. Web site: Briefing with Special Envoy for the Northern Triangle Ricardo Zuniga on Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts to Address the Root Causes of Irregular Migration from Central America. 2021-06-07. United States Department of State. en.
7. Web site: 2021-08-05. Ricardo Zuñiga will lead Western Hemisphere Affairs at State. 2021-09-25. La Política Online.
8. Web site: 2021-06-07. Ricardo Zuniga Special Envoy for the Northern Triangle. Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs..
9. Web site: RICARDO ZUNIGA, Director, National Defense University International Student Management Office, U.S. Department of State. 2021-06-07. International Student House Washington DC. en-US.
10. Web site: "Crisis of Capitalism": Roberto Lovato on How U.S. Policies Fuel Migration & Instability. 2021-07-09. Democracy Now!. en.