Blinken's First Day as US Secretary of State... Emphasizes "Restoring Alliances to Lead Globally"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken stated on the 27th (local time), "We will restore alliances and demonstrate that the United States can lead global issues."

On his way to the State Department that day, during a virtual speech to employees, Secretary Blinken said, "The world is watching us now," adding, "We will restore alliances and show that the United States can lead global issues while addressing challenges such as democracy and climate change."

Having been confirmed by the Senate the previous day, Blinken officially started his first day at work. He mentioned, "The world wants to know whether we can heal our country, lead by example, and prioritize diplomacy with allies and partners to address the great challenges of our time."

He also identified the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, the global economy, threats to democracy, the fight for racial justice, and security and global stability risks posed by competitors and adversaries as challenges.

He emphasized that the State Department must strive to build alliances and united fronts to tackle these challenges. However, he did not answer when asked what the top priority issue was.

Secretary Blinken said, "I know that the State Department I am entering now is not the same as when I left four years ago. Much has changed. The world and the State Department have changed."

After Senate confirmation, Blinken tweeted, "American leadership matters," and added, "It has the ability to bring other nations together to address the challenges and opportunities of our time." He also said, "My career, which began at the State Department in 1993, has come full circle," and added, "I am honored to lead the women and men of the State Department today as the 71st Secretary of State."

Secretary Blinken served as National Security Advisor early in the Barack Obama administration. During Obama's second term, he served as Deputy National Security Advisor at the White House and then as Deputy Secretary of State from 2015 to 2017.

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