The US Senate on Tuesday approved the appointment of Antony Blinken as secretary of state, making him the fourth member of President Joe Biden’s cabinet.
Blinken’s appointment was approved with broad bipartisan support, with 78 senators voting in favor of his appointment, while 22 opposed.
Blinken is a career diplomat and a member of Mr. Biden’s inner circle. He served under the last two democratic administrations, including as Deputy National Security Advisor from 2013 to 2015 and as Deputy Secretary of State from 2015 to 2017.
President Biden began working with his current foreign minister 15 years ago when he chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Blinken was the Democratic Director of Personal at the time.
During his confirmation hearing at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Blinken insisted that his priority was to bring multilateralism back to the United States, with the “America First” policy of the previous one.
The new US diplomatic chief has also promised to further involve Congress on key foreign policy issues.
“Mr. Blinken has a long and distinguished history of political acumen and foreign relations,” said James Risk, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, “He is certainly highly qualified for the position.”
Amateur web specialist. General food junkie. Typical zombie enthusiast. Avid music trailblazer. Lifelong explorer.
