00:00The embassy is an entry gate into one's country.
00:03Welcome to WatchMojo!
00:05And today we're counting down our picks for the most impressively constructed embassies around the world that house U.S. diplomats.
00:12This is one of the shining examples of how America used architecture to create and convey a sense of openness and diplomacy.
00:2410. Beijing, China
00:26The United States technically holds two embassies in China.
00:29A 10-acre official building in mainland Beijing, as well as the American Institute in Taiwan.
00:35For the first time, the Nehu site brings together all the AIT's Taipei offices, from its consular office to its American center.
00:43The latter is an embassy in all but name, a diplomatic designation made necessary by China's complex political landscape and tense cross-strait relations.
00:52Meanwhile, the building in Beijing is one that's beautifully constructed, an opulent design that balances both form and function.
01:00The embassy houses more than 20 agencies, and employs a total of 700 people.
01:05In 2012, it gained attention for sheltering one Chen Guangcheng, a Chinese social activist and dissident, who eventually moved to the U.S. and became an American citizen.
01:15Now in New York, Chen says that he wants to continue his campaign to fight injustices in China, but not before taking a break.
01:229. London, United Kingdom
01:24The once bitter fight for U.S. independence from England is now a distant memory, considering the strong allied relationship both countries currently enjoy.
01:33It is a high-tech, high-security fortress in London.
01:36At a billion dollars, the new U.S. embassy in the U.K. is the most expensive ever.
01:41U.S. diplomatic ties with the U.K. actually stretch all the way back to the 1700s.
01:46But today's embassy, a sprawling 11.8-acre complex in Nine Elms, London, stands as a modern symbol of that relationship.
01:54A thousand embassy staffers will be accommodated in a safe and open environment.
01:59The sale of the old embassy and another property paid for the new one.
02:03The building, which was formally opened in January 2018, overlooks the River Thames and is considered a modernistic classic structure.
02:11Although open to the public, the embassy has faced security closures in the past following major threats and attacks, including those on September 11.
02:20The state-of-the-art embassy is now open for business.
02:24A fortress in the center of London, designed to withstand terror attacks from truck bombs to chemical weapons.
02:328. Brasilia, Brazil
02:35The relationship between the United States and Brazil has, generally speaking, been smooth and prosperous.
02:40Perhaps this explains why the U.S. was the first foreign nation to establish an embassy in its newly created capital city, Brasilia, in 1960.
02:49That embassy now stands upon 12 acres of ground, although it took quite a while to get it fully operational as a political home base.
02:56In fact, it wasn't until the 1970s that the Brasilia embassy was fully constructed.
03:01Today, it serves as both a diplomatic hub and a safe haven for Americans seeking to work and live in Brazil.
03:087. Yerevan, Armenia
03:11The U.S. has had a consular and humanitarian presence within the regions surrounding Yerevan, Armenia in one form or another since 1896.
03:20The consulate at that time was located in an area that's now considered part of Turkey.
03:24It wasn't until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 that former U.S. President George H.W. Bush officially acknowledged Armenia's sovereignty, though.
03:34This solidified prior recognition that took place in the aftermath of Armenia's initial secession back in 1920.
03:41Today, the embassy that stands in Yerevan sprawls across 22 acres of land,
03:46with its staff working to expand democratic policies and social programs to increase the quality of life for Armenians.
03:546. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
03:57The United States' embassy within Saudi Arabia wasn't always situated in its current location in the city of Riyadh.
04:03We are embarking on a very exciting stage in our bilateral relationship.
04:09As a mission, we are strengthening and updating, and I would say upgrading, our diplomatic platform.
04:17The new building sits on 26 acres of land, replacing the former U.S. embassy in Jeddah.
04:23There isn't much of an open-door policy here compared to other United States embassies,
04:27since the building in Riyadh was constructed to promote foot traffic over vehicles.
04:31A new embassy here in Riyadh will be the crown jewel of U.S. government investment in Saudi Arabia.
04:38This decision was made to prioritize security, making access to the building safer and more controlled.
04:43On the flip side, the bustling shopping district that is located adjacent to the embassy
04:48serves as a welcome distraction for those walking in and around the area.
04:52When Saudis walk in, I want them to see something different, see some of America,
05:00but I also want them to feel comfortable.
05:02Number 5. New Delhi, India
05:04The Chanakkaripuri neighborhood is a posh enclave in India that houses multiple foreign embassies,
05:10including one shared by both the United States and the Kingdom of Bhutan.
05:15Visitors are always amazed when they walk through that entranceway and suddenly you see the fountain,
05:21the grandeur of the Chancery building itself,
05:24to walk up those steps and to look at the seal of the United States of America
05:30sometimes sends chills up your back and you realize what a special place it is.
05:34This is a 28-acre hub that was built with opulence and elegance in mind.
05:39But beyond its grand design, the embassy has been the subject of some controversy in the past,
05:44as it was the site of a shocking sexual assault case in 2020.
05:48The incident occurred within staff quarters designated for cleaning and housekeeping personnel.
05:53That said, the United States also retains consulants in other areas of India,
05:58including Mumbai and Hyderabad.
06:00We need new space to do our job, to connect India and the United States together.
06:06Number 4. Ottawa, Canada
06:09The building that currently houses the United States Embassy to Canada
06:12has existed in Ottawa's Sussex Drive since 1999.
06:16Open in 1999, this single 138,000-square-foot complex replaced our previous building
06:23on Wellington Street and almost a dozen other locations.
06:26Before that, the U.S. diplomatic presence was situated on Parliament Hill,
06:30but the move to this 30-acre structure in Sussex Drive
06:34brought improved security measures for those working in the embassy.
06:38The atrium and center dome, faceted in polished stainless steel,
06:42provides light and circulation to the interior
06:44and creates a strong and fascinating focal point.
06:47It appears not everyone was thrilled with this move though,
06:50since it faced complaints from residents
06:52that the building blocked the city's historic market square.
06:56Congestion and safety concerns were also among the talking points
06:59associated with the current location,
07:01with some maintaining that a new site should potentially be considered.
07:05The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, our main diplomatic mission in Canada,
07:09is the place where we carry out the day-to-day activities
07:12that make up the U.S.-Canada relationship.
07:14Number 3. Islamabad, Pakistan
07:17Most foreign embassies tend to be clustered in each nation's capital city.
07:21This is why the United States Embassy to Pakistan,
07:24which was initially located in the former capital of Karachi,
07:27was moved to its current location in Islamabad in 1960.
07:31Today, it stands as one of the largest U.S. embassies in the world,
07:35having undergone multiple renovations over the years.
07:38The latest upgrade, which was completed in 2015,
07:41came at a hefty price tag of over $700 million.
07:45The Chancery building in Islamabad is also notable
07:47for retaining one of the largest staff rosters of any U.S. embassy,
07:51with around 2,500 employees.
07:54Number 2. Beirut, Lebanon
07:57As earlier mentioned, local opposition to U.S. embassies in the region
08:01often results in tension and controversy,
08:03especially when it involves major building construction.
08:07This is where the epic 43-acre U.S. embassy in Beirut comes in.
08:11Following two bombings of U.S. diplomatic buildings in the 1980s,
08:15a decision was made to erect a fortified and more secure complex.
08:19Construction began in 2017, at a staggering cost of $1 billion.
08:25However, considering the relatively small population of Lebanon
08:28and the financial crisis in the country,
08:30the announcement of this expensive project was met with significant pushback.
08:34Regardless, it remains under construction
08:37and is set to be the second-largest U.S. embassy in the world.
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08:56Number 1. Baghdad, Iraq
08:59$750 million. That is what it cost to build a new 104-acre embassy
09:05for the United States in Baghdad, Iraq, back in 2009.
09:09Over 16,000 employees worked there in 2012,
09:12although the embassy did work to downsize that number significantly,
09:16bringing the staff count to 349 by 2020.
09:20Given the persistent U.S. military presence within the region of Iraq,
09:24the embassy in Baghdad has become a frequent target for counter-offensives,
09:28including attacks in 2019 and 2020.
09:31This complex relationship between the two countries is sadly nothing new,
09:35as former regional embassies were commissioned and downgraded for decades,
09:40before this one even existed.
09:41Would you ever want to work at an embassy? Let us know in the comments!
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