President Obama Sends Message to NATO
On the day of his inauguration, as he prepared to be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, President-elect Barack Obama sent a message to the NATO Secretary General and the Members of the North Atlantic Council reaffirming U.S. commitment to the common security and shared democratic values of the transatlantic Alliance. In his message, read by Ambassador Kurt Volker to an informal gathering of the NATO Secretary General and Permanent Representatives, President-elect Obama said, “The lesson of the 21st century is that the security of our nations and our people is shared. We face an extraordinary set of challenges, and must meet them together. That is why we must renew our alliance, respect every nation’s contribution, and strengthen our capacity to meet the challenges of our young century.”

• President Obama’s Letter to NATO
• President Obama’s Inaugural Address
• NATO Secretary General Congratulates President Obama

Richard Holbrooke Named as U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan 
On January 22, President Obama joined Secretary of State Clinton to announce former Senator George Mitchell as his special envoy to the Middle East peace process and Ambassador Richard Holbrooke as his special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan — moves that underscore the new administration’s commitment to renewing America’s leadership through reinvigorated diplomacy. more

• Remarks at the Announcement of Special Envoys Video - Transcript 

President Obama Inaugurated
On January 20, Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America. President Obama has chosen Robert Gates to continue as Secretary of Defense and nominated Senator Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. On January 21, the U.S. Senate confirmed her nomination as Secretary of State. more

• Secretary Clinton’s Statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee