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Antony Blinken on Foreign Policy
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Putin's actions lead to support of Ukraine in NATO
We're going to listen to Russia's concerns. They're going to have to listen to our concerns. If they are proceeding in good faith, we think we can make progress in addressing concerns on both sides that would reduce tensions and deal with improving
security. We will do that in close coordination with European allies and partners. We have made very clear to Russia that there's going to be nothing about Europe without Europe. But, ultimately, this is up to President Putin to decide which path he's
going to follow.President Putin talks about lots of things he's concerned about. Yet the very actions he's taken have precipitated much of what he says he wants to prevent. Back in 2014, before Russia invaded Ukraine, 25% of Ukrainians supported
Ukraine joining NATO. Now it's about 60%. Similarly, NATO felt compelled to put more forces and equipment on its eastern flank close to Russia. So, it's Putin's actions that are precipitating what he says he doesn't want.
Source: CNN 2022 "State of the Union" interview of Biden Cabinet
, Jan 9, 2022
Nations can't dictate another's choices and associations
This is bigger even than Ukraine. This goes to some basic principles of international relations that are what guarantee peace and security. The principle that one nation can't simply change the borders of another by force. The principle that one
nation can't dictate to another its choices and with whom it will associate. The principle that we can't have countries exerting spheres of influence to subjugate their neighbors. That should be a relic of the past. All of that is what is in play here.
Source: ABC This Week 2022 interview of Biden Cabinet
, Jan 9, 2022
Russia can't dictate Ukraine's choices and associations
This is bigger even than Ukraine. This goes to some basic principles of international relations that are what guarantee peace and security. The principle that one nation can't simply change the borders of another by force. The principle that one
nation can't dictate to another its choices and with whom it will associate. The principle that we can't have countries exerting spheres of influence to subjugate their neighbors. That should be a relic of the past. All of that is what is in play here.
Source: ABC This Week 2022 interview of Biden Cabinet
, Jan 9, 2022
No special treatment for Hong Kong due to China's actions
Hong Kong does not warrant preferential treatment under US law owing to the erosion of its autonomy at the hands of Beijing, the Biden administration said, upholding a Trump-era determination made last year. "Over the past year, the People's Republic of
China has continued to dismantle Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy, in violation of its obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and Hong Kong's Basic Law," Blinken said.
Source: South China Morning Post on 2021 Biden Administration
, Apr 1, 2021
With Japan on checking North Korea & China aggression
I think one of the things that the United States and Japan both see is that China is acting both more aggressively at home and more aggressively abroad. It's important for us to make clear that China cannot expect us to allow it to act with impunity.
We have a real stake in this because this is about making sure that we maintain a peaceful stable environment. It is about making sure that things that really matter to us, like freedom of navigation, freedom of commerce, is sustained.
We've actually had trilateral conversations with Japan and South Korea about North Korea, and we have a strong shared common interest in dealing with the challenge posed by North Korea's nuclear programs, missile programs, and human rights abuses.
I think all three countries found benefit in that. So at the end of the day, I think that we each will find that it's in our respective interests to pursue that [trilateral] cooperation, and I'm confident we'll be able to do that.
Source: Japan Forward interview: on 2021 Biden Administration
, Apr 1, 2021
Shoring up our democracy is a foreign policy imperative
Shoring up our democracy is a foreign policy imperative. Strong democracies are more stable, more open, better partners to us, more committed to human rights, less prone to conflict, and more dependable markets for our goods and services.
When democracies are weak, governments can't deliver for their people or a country becomes so polarized that it's hard for anything to get done. And they become less reliable partners to the United States. None of that is in our national interest.
Source: State Department speech: 2021 Biden Administration
, Mar 3, 2021
Working will allies & partners is enlightened self-interest
We will revitalize our ties with our allies and partners. Over the decades, these commitments have created new markets for our products, new allies to deter aggression, and new partners to help meet global challenges. We had a name for it: "enlightened
self-interest." We'll be clear that real partnership means carrying burdens together, everyone doing their part--not just us. Wherever the rules for international security and the global economy are being written, America will be there.
Source: State Department speech: 2021 Biden Administration
, Mar 3, 2021
We must engage China from a position of strength
We will manage the biggest geopolitical test of the 21st century: our relationship with China.China is the only country with the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to seriously challenge the stable and open international system.
Our relationship with China will be competitive when it should be, collaborative when it can be, and adversarial when it must be. The common denominator is the need to engage China from a position of strength.
Source: State Department speech: 2021 Biden Administration
, Mar 3, 2021
Presses China on human rights; condemning Burma coup
Blinken spoke with People's Republic of China Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi and extended his best wishes for the Lunar New Year. Secretary Blinken stressed the United States will continue to stand up
for human rights and democratic values, including in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, and pressed China to join the international community in condemning the military coup in Burma.
Source: Biden Administration Press Release from state.gov
, Feb 5, 2021
Deeply disturbed by crackdown on protestors in Russia
We are deeply disturbed by this violent crackdown against people exercising their rights to protest peacefully against their government, rights that are guaranteed to them in the Russian constitution. I think the Russian Government makes a big mistake
if it believes that this is about us. It's not. It's about them. It's about the government. It's about the frustration that the Russian people have with corruption, with kleptocracy.
We're reviewing a series of Russian actions that are deeply, deeply disturbing. Interference in our elections, the use of cyber tools in the so-called SolarWinds attack that Russia appears to be responsible for getting into computer networks both
public and private, and finally, we have the reported bounties on American troops in Afghanistan. Depending on the findings of those reviews, we will take steps to stand up for our interests and stand against Russian aggressive actions.
Source: MSNBC interview: Secretary of State (Biden Cabinet)
, Feb 1, 2021
Challenge of China is complicated; we need strong alliances
There's no doubt that China poses the most significant challenge to us of any other country, but it's a complicated one. There are adversarial aspects to the relationship, there's certainly competitive ones, and there's still some cooperative ones,
too. We have to be able to approach China from a position of strength, not weakness. And that strength, I think, comes from having strong alliances, something China does not have.
As we're thinking about both dealing with this pandemic but also making sure we're in a position to prevent the next one, China has to step up and make sure that it is being transparent, that it is providing information and sharing information,
that it is giving access to international experts and inspectors. Its failure to do that is a real problem that we have to address.
Source: MSNBC interview: Secretary of State (Biden Cabinet)
, Feb 1, 2021
Reaffirmed US/India ties; important to work together
Blinken spoke with Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar to reaffirm the growing U.S.-India partnership and discuss issues of mutual concern, including COVID-19 vaccination efforts, regional developments, and next steps in
expanding bilateral ties. The Secretary underscored India's role as a preeminent U.S. partner in the Indo-Pacific and the importance of working together to expand regional cooperation.
Source: Biden Administration Press Release from state.gov
, Jan 29, 2021
Committed to Israel's security; applauds Abraham Accords
Blinken spoke with Israel's Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi. The Secretary reaffirmed the United States government's firm commitment to Israel's security.
The Secretary applauded the recent progress made with the Abraham Accords, and affirmed U.S. interest in building further on this progress to advance peace.
Source: Biden Administration Press Release from state.gov
, Jan 27, 2021
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