From diplomatic fortresses to architectural marvels, these American embassies are impressive in both size and significance! Join us as we explore the most expansive US diplomatic outposts across the globe. These massive compounds serve as both symbols of American presence and functional hubs for international relations, with some spanning over 100 acres of prime real estate in capital cities worldwide.
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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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