EDITORIAL: Plain-spoken diplomacy is not an insult

There has been a curious overreaction in some quarters to remarks by the United States’ ambassador to Namibia, John Giordano. His language has been labelled blunt, transactional, even disrespectful. In truth, it is none of these things. It is modern diplomacy, spoken without euphemism – the exact tone Namibia’s own representatives abroad should be speaking in 2026.

For decades, Namibians have grown accustomed to a particular diplomatic tone: warm phrases about “historic friendship”, ritual references to the liberation struggle and broad declarations of solidarity that often lead nowhere concrete. This style once had its place. It helped anchor a young state in a world that was still divided along Cold War loyalties and moral narratives. But that era has passed. What remains is an economy that must sell, attract and compete in a brutally pragmatic global marketplace.

Ambassador Giordano did not insult Namibia. He did not question its sovereignty. He did not threaten or dictate. He did something far more honest: he said why his country is here, what it wants and how it sees Namibia fitting into its strategic calculations. That is not arrogance; it is clarity.

When he says the US is interested in Namibia’s uranium, energy potential, logistics infrastructure and regulatory environment, he is stating facts that Namibians themselves routinely advertise at mining conferences, investment summits and roadshows. Our own officials proudly describe Namibia as rich in critical minerals, well governed and strategically located. We cannot market ourselves as an attractive supplier on Monday and then feign offence on Tuesday when a potential customer says, “Yes – that is exactly why we are interested.”

Namibia does not need admirers. It needs buyers, investors and partners who can move from rhetoric to outcomes. Oil and gas prospects do not become revenue streams through shared history alone.