Overview
Anthropic on Tuesday named Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar as its inaugural chief global affairs officer. The executive post, located at the company’s San Francisco headquarters, will report to Anthropic President Daniela Amodei and focus on overseeing the startup’s interactions with the U.S. government and the range of countries where Anthropic is expanding its operations.
Role and background
Cuéllar, who is sometimes referred to as Tino, joins Anthropic after serving since January on the company’s Long-Term Benefit Trust, an independent four-person body created to help ensure the firm delivers on its public benefit mission. He is resigning from that trust role to assume the new full-time position, and the trust has indicated it will seek a successor.
Anthropic described the hire as selecting a figure capable of building consensus, citing Cuéllar’s diverse government experience and familiarity with AI policy. His previous public roles include serving as a special assistant in the Obama White House and leading the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace until July, a tenure that included co-chairing a task force focused on U.S. national security and nuclear proliferation.
Policy context and past work
Cuéllar co-led a 2025 study that helped shape California legislation known as SB 53. That law creates protections for AI whistleblowers, requires high-revenue AI developers to report on standards and incidents, and allows for a maximum fine of $1 million per violation. Anthropic publicly supported the bill.
In a statement released with the appointment, the former California Supreme Court justice said policymakers were recognizing an "inflection point" in AI development and governance, warning that decisions made now will determine whether AI advances science and improves lives or creates significant risks and greater inequality.
Bridging political divides
The role places Cuéllar in a position to seek common ground with the current U.S. administration. Anthropic has experienced a strained relationship with the Trump administration this year, including episodes in which the company’s technology was blacklisted and subjected to regulatory controls. A company spokesperson said Cuéllar will be responsible for navigating those tensions with U.S. officials and counterparts overseas.
Oren Cass, founder of the conservative think tank American Compass, commented that Cuéllar’s pragmatic and progressive outlook should make him receptive to the Trump administration’s positions and inclined to explore the core causes of disagreements. Cass said he expects Cuéllar’s approach to produce constructive policy deliberations with the administration.
Security and regulatory pressures
Cuéllar steps into the role at a moment of rising concern about AI-enabled hacking and amid a turbulent relationship between Anthropic and U.S. authorities. Earlier this year the Pentagon classified Anthropic’s technology on a blacklist following a high-profile dispute tied to military red lines; Anthropic is contesting that designation in court. More recently, an export control measure from the administration temporarily prohibited Anthropic from selling its top-tier Mythos 5 and Fable 5 models to foreign buyers on national security grounds.
Anthropic declined to make Cuéllar available for an interview regarding the appointment.
Implications
The appointment underscores Anthropic’s decision to place an experienced government and policy figure at the center of its external affairs function as it contends with both domestic regulatory change and export controls. Cuéllar’s background in national security, international affairs and AI-related policy work positions him to engage with a wide range of stakeholders while the company navigates legal and political challenges.