Senate Confirms Blinken As Secretary Of State



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Antony Blinken listens during his confirmation hearing to be secretary of state before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Jan. 19.

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Secretary Of State Nominee Blinken Promises A Reengaged America Abroad

«The world is on fire right now, with pressing crises in every region and hemisphere,» said New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He told senators on the eve of the confirmation vote that Blinken is well suited for the job.

Blinken has a long history with President Biden, previously serving as his adviser both in the White House and the Senate before becoming deputy secretary of state in the Obama administration. Out of government during the Trump era, he cofounded WestExec, a consulting group.

The Revolving Door Project, a watchdog that studies corporate influence in government, has raised concerns about various Biden nominees, including Blinken, whose financial disclosures «provide limited information on the real nature of Blinken’s corporate sector work,» researcher Timi Iwayemi tells NPR.


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However, senators did not raise those questions in his confirmation hearing, which focused on policies.

On China, Blinken gave the Trump administration some credit for taking a tough approach and said he agreed with former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s move to accuse China of genocide against Uighurs.

He also said he would keep the U.S. embassy in Israel in Jerusalem and would build on recent agreements by several Arab states to normalize ties with Israel.

Europe
French See Antony Blinken, Biden’s Pick For Secretary Of State, As One Of Their Own

French See Antony Blinken, Biden’s Pick For Secretary Of State, As One Of Their Own




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  • Transcript

Blinken defended the Iran nuclear deal, from which the U.S. withdrew under Trump, and assured senators he would consult with them on Iran, making clear that Tehran would have to come back into compliance with the deal for Washington to ease sanctions.

The top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Idaho Sen. James Risch, said Tuesday he disagreed with Blinken on Iran, but found «tremendous areas of agreement» on other subjects and cited Blinken’s «long and distinguished history when it comes to statecraft in foreign relations matters.»

The new secretary of state is steeped in the world of diplomacy. He’s a graduate of Harvard University and Columbia Law School who speaks fluent French. His father and uncle were both ambassadors. He told senators that he sees public service as a «sacred duty — payment on the debt our family owes to the nation that gave us refuge and extraordinary opportunities across the generations.»

  • Antony Blinken
  • Senate confirmation
  • diplomacy
  • Secretary of State



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