Despite the ongoing deterioration of the United States’ decades-long diplomatic reputation under its 47th president and his foreign policy approach, one YouTuber and streamer is changing the game as a surprising representative of America to the world. iShowSpeed, aka Darren Watkins Jr., is an American YouTuber known for his high-energy IRL (in real life) livestreams, which at their peak draw over a million viewers. But he’s more than just another influencer—in many ways, he’s become an unlikely tool of soft diplomacy and cultural representation.
What is Track II diplomacy?
In simple terms, Track II diplomacy refers to any form of cross-border engagement, cultural exchange, soft power cultivation, or interaction between nations that occurs outside official diplomatic channels. This includes activities conducted by NGOs, think tanks, academics, artists, and even individuals. While the term originated in the world of international relations as a supplementary channel—often used in times when formal (Track I) diplomacy fails—its meaning has expanded with time to include new, more decentralized forms of global engagement.
The redefinition of Track II diplomacy
Track II diplomacy is informal and non-structured. Traditionally, public figures like influencers would not be seen as part of this framework. But with the evolution of people-to-people diplomacy, digital creators like iShowSpeed now fit squarely within this expanded definition.
Through his content, Watkins promotes Western values—not through propaganda, but simply by being himself. His livestreams integrate naturally with the local cultures he visits, bringing authenticity and spontaneity to cross-cultural encounters. His personality-driven interactions bring joy, surprise, and connection to millions. He makes foreign people and places feel familiar and real, and in doing so, helps shape international perceptions in ways formal diplomacy often can’t.
But who is this streamer?
Darren Watkins Jr., known online as Speed, began as a gaming YouTuber before rising to fame through provocative stunts, viral skits, controversial moments, and relentless content creation. His love for Cristiano Ronaldo made him especially popular across the Global South. But it was his international tours—from his Europe trip in 2023 to his recent tour of China in 2025—that cemented him as a household name among Gen Z internet-goers.
To date, he has visited more than 30 countries, including India and Thailand. With his spontaneous street encounters, humorous remarks, people-first approach, and genuine curiosity, he presents each country as it is to a massive global audience. His live streams—and the short-form content clipped from them—reach tens or even hundreds of millions of viewers.
So, can he be called a diplomat?
The simple answer is: no, he is not a diplomat in the official sense. But he is a representative—an unofficial cultural ambassador of sorts. With honorary mayor status in Lima, Peru, and a meeting with Albania’s prime minister under his belt, Speed is increasingly engaged in what can only be described as digital-era diplomacy.
According to Viewstats, his YouTube channel garnered 339 million views in the past 28 days alone. When you add in shorts, clips, and social media reposts, the number easily climbs to 500 million–1 billion views a month. That is an unmatched platform—an opportunity any tourism-reliant country should seriously consider tapping into.
His recent IRL streams from China gained huge traction online. Many western viewers even described his unfiltered portrayal of the country as a refreshing counter to decades of anti-China narratives. The Embassy of China in the US praised him in a tweet: “The 20-year-old… is bridging cultural gaps and creating alternative channels for foreign audiences to understand a vibrant China.”
A call for a lobby
Given Speed’s influence, and the fact that he has previously expressed a desire to visit Nepal (a clip is linked), this is the moment for Nepal to act. A joint initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), or other relevant agencies and stakeholders could use this opportunity to invite him.
With Speed recently concluding his Mongolia visit and not having declared his next destination, now is the perfect time. Whether through official or unofficial channels, Nepal could become the next stage for a cultural spotlight of immense scale. His visit could bring unmatched global attention to our temples, mountains, food, traditions, and everyday people.
The changing world of engagement
As the world grapples with growing isolationism, deglobalization, and geopolitical tensions, the internet remains a rare unifying thread. In this climate, content creators—streamers, YouTubers, influencers—function as informal ambassadors. They shape narratives, build bridges, and create empathy across borders.
This is more than just tourism promotion. It’s people-to-people diplomacy. It’s democratic soft power in action. Through the web, we see that people everywhere laugh, cry, hope, and dream in similar ways. These shared human experiences matter more than treaties, summits, or statecraft. Speed may not be a traditional diplomat—but in today’s world, he represents something just as powerful: connection.
Dibya Deep Acharya, International Relations, MA, Tribhuvan University
