Is Consul a Diplomat?

Question

i wonder if a Consul is of the rank of Diplomat?

Answer 1

A consul is a representative of his country in a foreign country, while a Diplomat is equally a representative of his country in a another country. The two do different jobs entirely and they are not the same. A Consul is a public officer commissioned by his country to reside in a foreign country for the purpose of fostering the commercial affairs of its citizens in that foreign country and performing such routine functions as issuing if visas and renewing of passports. A consul as such does not enjoy the status of a diplomat.

A Diplomat is a person appointed by a national government to conduct official negotiations and maintain political, economic and social relations with another country or countries. A diplomat is a person who is tactful and skilled in managing delicate situations, handling and dealing with people among other duties.

Therefore, a consul is not a diplomat and they are of different ranks and perform different duties.

Answer 2

A consul is a diplomat with a lower rank than the ambassador.  However, if there is no ambassador, the consul in the head of the diplomatic party of a country.