Bloomberg: "Blinken Nominated as Former U.S. Secretary of State"‥First Cabinet Appointment on 24th

Sullivan, Former Vice President's National Security Advisor, Expected to Join NSC Advisor Team

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Tony Blinken, former Deputy Secretary of State, is reportedly the leading candidate for the first Secretary of State in the upcoming Joe Biden administration.

On the 22nd (local time), Bloomberg News cited multiple sources reporting that President-elect Biden has nominated Blinken as Secretary of State. The news agency also reported that Jake Sullivan, former Deputy National Security Advisor to the Vice President, will be appointed as National Security Advisor to the White House National Security Council (NSC).

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Both individuals share the common background of having served as security advisors during Biden’s vice presidency. They are also regarded as comrades who have worked together since Biden was chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Previously, political media outlets The Hill and Axios reported that Blinken would be nominated as the first Secretary of State in the Biden administration, surpassing former NSC Advisor Susan Rice.

Ron Klain, the nominee for White House Chief of Staff, said in an interview with ABC’s This Week on the 22nd (local time), "We will see the President-elect’s first cabinet appointment this Tuesday (the 24th)," increasing the likelihood that the Secretary of State will be the first appointment.

The Secretary of State holds the highest rank among U.S. cabinet members. Since this position can influence the entire world, global attention is focused on who will occupy this role.

If former NSC Advisor Susan Rice, who was initially a strong candidate for Secretary of State, does not enter the cabinet as Secretary of State, the possibility of a woman being nominated as Secretary of Defense is expected to increase. Michelle Flournoy, former Under Secretary of Defense and a woman, has been mentioned as a leading candidate for Secretary of Defense.

Jen Psaki, senior advisor to the Biden transition team, also stated on the same day that "the Biden cabinet will reflect diverse perspectives," signaling a departure from appointments dominated by white men.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.