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The end of The Diplomat season 3 suggests that Kate Wyler will be responsible for the secret U.S. operation involving the stolen Russian nuclear missile Poseidon. Even if she doesn't take part in the extraction, her official function and decisions made during the mission link her directly to the diplomatic and political effects of the operation. Kate is the most at risk if the events surrounding Poseidon become public.
On the other hand, classified power protects President Grace Penn and Vice President Hal Wyler.
What happens to Kate in The Diplomat season 3?
The closing events of The Diplomat season 3 place Kate at the center of the Poseidon operation. Her authorization sends U.S. forces into British waters without approval from the United Kingdom, an act considered a breach of sovereignty. This decision connects her name and authority to the operation. She negotiates with British Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge to reduce the threat level but is unaware that Grace and Hal are conducting a separate extraction plan.
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Grace and Hal remove Poseidon from the ocean and place it under U.S. control without informing Kate, Parliament, or NATO allies. Grace publicly claims that unmanned drones located Poseidon, concealing the submarine extraction. Kate shares the plan with Trowbridge, which makes her appear to be the central coordinator. If the covert extraction is exposed, documented evidence links the mission to Kate’s diplomatic assignment rather than to Grace’s authorization or Hal’s involvement.
Kate becomes politically isolated because she lacks proof of the secret plan and cannot dispute the administration’s account without disclosing classified information. She discovers she was used to provide official cover for the operation and has no legal protection if an international investigation begins.
Why did Grace and Hal steal Poseidon?
Grace Penn and Hal Wyler take Poseidon out of the picture to get an edge in global talks. They do things without NATO's permission and don't tell Congress, Parliament, or allied officials about the operation. They want to keep China and the UK from getting the weapon back.
Kate's discussions with Trowbridge offer them an opportunity to operate covertly. Hal backs the operation to make his political power stronger in the White House. Grace gives it the go-ahead as a secret mission for national security.
Both know the legal and diplomatic implications, but they do what they can to make sure there is no direct proof linking them to the operation. Hal tells Kate that Grace agreed to the task in the last episode. Kate understands that she was left out on purpose and used as a public figure while the secret operation went on without her knowing.
What does the ending mean for Kate’s future?
In the final episode of The Diplomat season 3, Grace Penn and Hal Wyler work together politically in Kate Wyler’s absence. Kate is placed in a vulnerable position as power shifts in Washington. Her participation in the unauthorized Poseidon extraction, which violated British sovereignty, raises questions about her reliability. If the mission is exposed, the U.S. official connected to Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge will likely be held responsible, and evidence links Kate to the operation.
Kate has minimal political support in Washington. Hal operates independently from her, and Grace withholds information from her. If the U.S. government denies the extraction, Kate could face legal and public consequences. She also ends her relationship with Callum Ellis and briefly reconnects with Hal, but they do not reconcile due to his involvement in the mission.
By the end of The Diplomat season 3, Kate must decide whether to protect herself or the government. Revealing the truth could risk U.S. national security and NATO relations, while staying silent could lead to her being held liable for an operation she did not authorize.
The Diplomat has been renewed for season 4, with production scheduled to begin in fall 2025. Keri Russell will return as Kate Wyler, and Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford have been promoted to series regulars.
