A diplomat is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or international organizations. Diplomats work to represent and protect the interests and policies of their home country, and their roles and responsibilities are immensely varied. Some of the key functions of diplomats include:

• Representation: Diplomats represent their home country and its interests in foreign countries and international organizations.

• Protection: Diplomats protect the interests and nationals of their home country, including citizens who are traveling or living abroad.

• Negotiation: Diplomats initiate and facilitate strategic agreements, treaties, and conventions, and negotiate on behalf of their home country.

• Information: Diplomats promote information, trade, and commerce, and build mutual understanding and support for their home countrys policies by engaging directly with people in foreign countries.

• Management: Diplomats are responsible for all embassy, consulate, or diplomatic mission operations, from real estate to people to budget.

Different types of diplomats have different roles and responsibilities. For example, an ambassador is the Presidents highest-ranking representative to a specific nation or international organization abroad, and is responsible for coordinating the activities of Foreign Service Officers and staff serving under them, as well as representatives of other U.S. agencies in the country. A diplomatic services officer specializes in the practical side of diplomatic work and deals with foreign policy and service delivery overseas. Economic officers work with foreign governments to secure internet freedom, fund scientific advances, protect the environment, or negotiate new trade laws. Public diplomacy officers build mutual understanding and support for U.S. policies by engaging directly with people in foreign countries.

Overall, diplomats play a crucial role in protecting and maintaining a peaceful global community, and their work has a wide-ranging impact on international relations and foreign policy.