Vice President JD Vance’s Diplomatic Mission
In an upcoming diplomatic mission that intersects sports and international relations, Vice President JD Vance is set to embark on a weeklong journey, first to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, and subsequently to Armenia and Azerbaijan. This trip, which may be among the limited international engagements for Vance this year, reflects the Trump administration’s current emphasis on domestic priorities as the midterm elections approach, according to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Winter Olympics Delegation
Vance will represent the United States in a delegation led by President Donald Trump at the Winter Games’ opening ceremony, scheduled for Friday. Accompanying him will be a notable group, including his wife, second lady Usha Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and U.S. Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta. The delegation will also feature a roster of distinguished former Olympians such as hockey players Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando, as well as speed skating star Apolo Ohno and figure skater Evan Lysacek. Before the opening ceremony, Vance intends to attend a preliminary match between the U.S. women’s hockey team and Czechia.
Historical Context
This diplomatic initiative aligns Vance with his predecessors—Joe Biden attended the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010, and Mike Pence represented the U.S. in Pyeongchang in 2018. However, Kamala Harris did not participate in the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing due to a diplomatic boycott over human rights issues.
Peace Efforts in Armenia and Azerbaijan
Following the Olympic festivities, Vance’s agenda shifts to Armenia and Azerbaijan, where he aims to advance a peace deal brokered by the Trump administration to mitigate decades of conflict. This agreement enhances America’s role in a region undergoing a shift as Russian influence wanes. Under the terms of the deal, both nations are set to restore key transportation links and increase collaboration with the U.S. in various sectors, including energy and technology. A notable aspect of this agreement is the establishment of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, which will connect Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave, separated by a narrow stretch of Armenian territory.
Broader Diplomatic Engagements
Vance’s role in promoting this peace agreement mirrors his recent trip to Israel, where he reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to stability in the wake of a ceasefire with Hamas. His international engagements over the past year have also included visits to Europe and India, highlighting a pattern where vice presidents often take on diplomatic tasks that may not align directly with traditional presidential agendas.
Vice Presidential Diplomacy
As foreign travel for presidents typically centers on meetings with well-established allies, vice presidential trips can lead to less conventional destinations. This has been observed with Biden’s trip to Mongolia in 2011 and Pence’s visits to Georgia and Estonia, where he reinforced NATO alliances.
According to Marc Short, who served as chief of staff to Pence, these foreign trips reflect not just the vice president’s role but also the broader demands on the president’s time and responsibilities, making representation by the vice president an essential aspect of U.S. diplomacy abroad.
