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Dozens of U.S. citizens and permanent residents are being wrongfully imprisoned around the world. If confirmed as President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for special envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler will be tasked with securing their release. As VOA's Cristina Caicedo Smit reports, this will be a major challenge for Mr. Boehler.
Adam Boehler is a graduate of the prestigious Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, founder and managing partner of healthcare investment firm Rubicon, and a Middle East expert.
If confirmed by the Senate, he will take the position of White House special envoy for hostage issues, with the rank of ambassador.
Boehler, 45, is a well-known figure in the US government. He served in the last Trump administration, including during the coronavirus pandemic, and was the first chief executive of the International Development Finance Corporation.
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 strength of the region."
Mr. Boehler was also part of the negotiating team for the Abraham Accords, which helped normalize relations between Israel and several Arab countries.
If confirmed by Congress, Mr. Boehler will lead the Office of the Presidential Special Envoy for Hostage Issues, which works with the government and the private sector to secure the release of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad.
In interviews, Mr. Boehler has spoken of the tough approach that the new Trump administration will pursue, saying that countries must release American hostages or "we will take action."
Russia, China, Cuba and Afghanistan are among the countries where many citizens and permanent residents of the United States are being held by state authorities or non-state groups, the Foley Foundation report said.
Non-profit organizations such as Hostage Aid Worldwide welcomed Mr. Boehler's appointment to the hostage situation and say a comprehensive approach to the issue is needed.
"If this issue is not addressed effectively, we could face a further escalation of this problem and potentially its transformation into a tool of war, as we are seeing now," says Ali Arab from the organization Hostage Aid Worldwide, which deals with hostage assistance.
The organization "Hostage Aid Worldwide" is currently on the ground in Syria searching for former journalist and former Marine Austin Tice, who has been held in prison for more than 12 years.
"One of the main challenges in Damascus is that over time, restrictions on access to prison buildings are increasing. We are forced to use different methods to enter prison buildings," says Nizar Zaka from the organization "Hostage Aid Worldwide."
A key request from nonprofit organizations for the special envoy for hostages is better communication with families and civil society partners on the process of safely returning Americans home./ VOA
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