FORT MYERS, Florida — In November 2020, President-Elect Joe Biden nominated Antony Blinken to serve as the new Secretary of State. The position is an important and influential role as the Secretary of State is the president’s primary foreign affairs advisor and carries out foreign policies. They also act as the country’s spokesperson in various international conferences. As such, the extent to which the U.S. participates actively in addressing global issues, such as poverty, or prioritizes foreign aid can be traced back to the individual serving as Secretary of State. This article will take a closer look at who Antony Blinken is and his views on foreign policy.
Who is Antony Blinken?
Antony Blinken, America’s new Secretary of State, has a long history of working in the government and handling foreign relations. Blinken attended Harvard College and Columbia Law School, spending some time practicing law and journalism prior to holding senior foreign policy positions. Over the course of the last three decades, Blinken has served in two presidential administrations.
From 1994 to 2001, he was part of President Clinton’s National Security Council staff. Later, during President Obama’s first term, Blinken served as National Security Advisor to then-Vice President Biden. Obama appointed him as Deputy Secretary of State soon after in 2015. After the transition to a new administration in 2017, Blinken went on to co-found WestExec Advisors, a strategic advisory firm that helps business leaders make better decisions in the international market.
While serving as Deputy Secretary of State, Blinken helped lead diplomatic relations in the Middle East, rebalance Asia, address the global refugee crisis and mobilize an additional 50,000 troops for U.N. peacekeeping operations. Amidst the global refugee crisis in 2016, Blinken made several calls for global collaboration and even made a video with the popular children’s character Grover to teach kids about refugees and how to welcome them into their communities.
Being the step-son of a Holocaust survivor, Blinken has expressed the need for action to prevent and address humanitarian crises when they occur, such as genocide. He recognizes the consequences of the country’s lack of intervention in the past and emphasizes that the country has learned from its mistakes.
The Future of U.S. Foreign Affairs
While working under President Obama, Blinken embraced the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end extreme poverty and played a role in America’s return to the Human Rights Council. The continuation of this commitment is reflected in his social media accounts. Blinken takes time to raise awareness about current issues, such as the unfolding crisis in Ethiopia, remember past tragedies and applaud new initiatives. He has already guaranteed the commitment of the Biden-Harris administration several times to offer aid and stand in solidarity with those in need.
To fully utilize the U.S.’s humanitarian potential, an ethical Secretary of State must be in charge of the country’s foreign affairs. Thus far, the new Secretary of State Antony Blinken has shown that he has what it takes through his past and present dedication to handling crises around the world. He continues to work to facilitate international cooperation, defuse humanitarian crises and work for the good of the international community.
– Giselle Ramirez-Garcia
Photo: Wikimedia Commons