Dozens of U.S. citizens and permanent residents are unjustly imprisoned around the world. If confirmed as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Special Envoy on Hostage Affairs, Adam Boehler will be tasked with the mission of securing their release. According to Voice of America correspondent Cristina Caicedo Smit, this will be a significant challenge for Mr. Boehler.
Adam Boehler is a graduate of the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the founder and managing partner of the healthcare investment firm ‘Rubicon’ and an expert on the Middle East.
If confirmed by the Senate, he will take on the role of Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, at the rank of Ambassador.
The 45-year-old Boehler is a well-known figure in the U.S. government. He served in the final administration of President Trump, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was the first CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
In that role, Mr. Boehler accompanied former White House senior adviser Jared Kushner on diplomatic trips.
“We came here because we saw your commitment to making changes and because of our belief in the region’s potential,” said Boehler.
Mr. Boehler was also part of the negotiating team for the Abraham Accords, which helped normalize relations between Israel and several Arab nations.
If confirmed by Congress, Mr. Boehler will head the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, which works with both the government and private sector to ensure the release of Americans held hostage or detained unjustly abroad.
In interviews, Mr. Boehler has spoken about the tough approach that the new Trump administration will take, stating that countries must release American hostages or “we will take action.”
Russia, China, Cuba, and Afghanistan are among the countries where many U.S. citizens and permanent residents are held by government authorities or non-state groups, according to the Foley Foundation report.
Nonprofit organizations such as “Hostage Aid Worldwide” have welcomed Boehler’s appointment on hostage issues, stating that a comprehensive approach is needed to address this matter.
“If this issue is not effectively addressed, we may face an increase in the problem and potentially see it used as a tool of warfare, as we are seeing now,” says Ali Arab from “Hostage Aid Worldwide,” which assists hostages.
“Hostage Aid Worldwide” is currently on the ground in Syria searching for former journalist and Marine Austin Tice, who has been held for over 12 years.
“One of the main challenges in Damascus is that over time, restrictions on access to prison buildings have increased. We are forced to use different methods to enter the prison buildings,” says Nizar Zaka from “Hostage Aid Worldwide.”
A key demand from nonprofit organizations for the Special Envoy on Hostage Affairs is better communication with families and civil society partners throughout the process of safely returning Americans home. /VOA
