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Rep. Michael McCaul doesn’t believe the Secretary of State has properly complied with a subpoena.
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#Michael #McCaul #threatening #hold #Antony #Blinken #contempt #Congress #Afghanistan #withdrawal #document #Heres #whats #happening
( With inputs from : www.politico.com )
Tag: Blinken
Michael McCaul is threatening to hold Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress over an Afghanistan withdrawal document. Here’s what’s happening.
U.S. convoy fired on in Sudan, Blinken says
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During a call Tuesday morning, Blinken told Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who leads Sudan’s military, and Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, that the attack was “totally unacceptable.”
He also underscored the need for a ceasefire, and, following the call, the RSF issued a temporary ceasefire “to open safe paths for the passage of civilians,” the group wrote in a tweet.
While the incident is under investigation, initial reports show that the RSF was responsible for the attack, the secretary of state said.
When asked whether Americans in Sudan were safe, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Monday that all U.S. government personnel are accounted for and sheltering in place, refusing to provide further details.
“We are staying in close touch with them right now, and we expect those communications to continue,” Kirby said. “But I don’t want to get ahead of where we are.”
Blinken said he’s in contact with Americans on the ground in Sudan, refusing to elaborate other than saying that the U.S. “will continue to take every responsible measure to make sure that our people are safe and secure.”
The U.S. has also been in “close coordination” with counterparts from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom to deal with the deepening violence in Sudan, he said. The ultimate goal is to “put Sudan back on the track of talks, negotiations, again, to restore civilian-led government.”
Alex Ward contributed to this report.
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( With inputs from : www.politico.com )State Dept. should’ve done more to prepare for worst-case scenario of Afghanistan withdrawal, Blinken says
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The State Department declined to comment on the private workforce engagement.
During his opening remarks, Blinken highlighted five lessons the department gleaned during the review led by Ambassador Dan Smith, which spanned the time period from January 2020 to August 2021.
The first was that State should have more urgently planned and prepared for a worst-case scenario in Afghanistan. A lack of planning muscle at the department — especially for the most dire circumstances — has long been a complaint of some U.S. diplomats.
The department didn’t foresee the Afghan government’s rapid collapse as the Taliban swiftly took over the country. “This was seen as a very low probability, but obviously, potentially very high impact event and more could and should have been done to prepare for it,” Blinken said.
Another was that State’s own contingency plans were “inhibited” by a concern that such open preparation “might send the wrong signal to Afghans and to the government that we’d lost confidence in it and precipitate exactly what we hoped to prevent, which was its collapse.”
Other findings included a lack of clear authority of who led the evacuation operation, “competing and conflicting guidance” from Washington on evacuation priorities and a lack of clear tracking of Americans in Afghanistan.
“Even though there were things that we got right, things that we got wrong, things that we could do better, it’s really important to me that no matter what, this country knows and appreciates the fact that you all served with incredible dedication and incredible distinction,” Blinken said.
The secretary then faced questions from the in-person and online audiences, some of whom interrogated the handling of the withdrawal and treatment of officials upon return from a brutal assignment.
One person asked whether Blinken would provide Congress with a copy of a July 2021 dissent cable that warned of Kabul’s collapse following an American military withdrawal. House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas) subpoenaed the State Department for the document.
Blinken said he likely would not do so, adding that handing over the cable would have a “chilling effect” on speaking truth to power within the department. Engaging in dissent “is a vital principle that we need to uphold,” Blinken said to applause.
“This principle of protecting that channel overrides other considerations that are real and relevant in terms of making the cable available.”
The dissent channel is a long-standing official avenue for State Department employees to voice alternative opinions on policy and other matters. The submissions are generally kept private to allow people to feel free in offering what can be unpopular views.
Toward the end of the session, a woman urged Blinken to release the after-action report so that State and U.S. government officials — as well as the American public — could have a chance to review its contents.
Not releasing the report leads to a sense of “disillusionment” within the department, especially those who were in Kabul during the withdrawal, she said, because it feels “like there’s more concern about blowback than interest in being transparent.”
Blinken said one reason he wanted to keep the report under wraps was so others couldn’t “see some of the vulnerabilities and deficiencies that we have, which is information that would not be good to share in a broad way, even as we work, of course, to correct those.”
Nahal Toosi contributed to this report.
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( With inputs from : www.politico.com )Blinken calls for release of WSJ reporter in call with Russian foreign minister
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the State Department said Sunday, calling for the release of Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter who was arrested in Russia on Thursday on espionage charges.
Blinken “conveyed the United States’ grave concern over Russia’s unacceptable detention of a U.S. citizen journalist,” and called for Gershkovich’s immediate release, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a statement.
The call between Blinken and Lavrov marks a rare communication between high-level U.S. and Russian officials amid tension over Russia’s war in Ukraine. Gershkovich’s detention is the most high-profile arrest of a U.S. citizen since the war began, though WNBA star Brittney Griner was arrested days before Russia launched its invasion. She has since been released.
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( With inputs from : www.politico.com )Allowing Russia’s impunity in attacking Ukraine sends a message to potential aggressors: Blinken
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New Delhi: Allowing Russia to wage war against Ukraine with impunity would be a message to “would be aggressors” everywhere that they may be able to get away with it too, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday in presence of his counterparts from India, Japan and Australia.
Blinken, speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, also said the principles driving the international system are being challenged and even countries beyond Europe are working to support Ukraine knowing the severity of the challenge and its possible implications in the future.
“If we allow with impunity Russia to do what it’s doing in Ukraine, then that’s a message to would be aggressors everywhere that they may be able to get away with it too,” he said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi and Australia’s Penny Wong were also part of the session.
“The principles that underlie the entire international system that are necessary for trying to keep peace, the stability that grew out of two world wars are being challenged, being aggressed along with Ukraine,” he said.
“And part of the reason that countries way beyond Europe are also so focused on this and are working to support Ukraine and deal with the challenge is because they know it could have an effect here,” Blinken said.
Blinken’s comments came a day after he briefly met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Delhi in their first face-to-face encounter since the start of the war in Ukraine in February last year.
When asked whether Quad is an interim consultative group for the US even as the real action unfolds with its old allies and in the old world, Blinken said the grouping is an important platform to address various challenges facing the Indo-Pacific.
The Quad comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia.
“I think the very fact not only of our presence here today but our presence and engagement day-in, day-out, including through the Quad and the work that we’re doing not only during the meetings that we have but in between, is powerful evidence of the fact that, as you might say, we can run and chew gum at the same time,” he said.
“And for us the future is so much in the Indo-Pacific. Our engagement throughout the region, both through the Quad and in other ways, is as comprehensive and as deep as any time I can remember,” he said. Blinken said the four countries are very well-placed to increase in a variety of ways their collaboration on emerging technology and on innovation, and “that’s something that we’ll also do through the Quad.” The Japanese foreign minister said Quad as a whole will be coordinating all key efforts of the four countries so that we can do much better than just “one plus one plus one plus one is four”.
“But the one plus one plus one plus one could be six, seven or eight by coordinating and listening.” Hayashi said Quad is a platform for practical cooperation and it is not trying to exclude anybody.
“No, I don’t think — look, we are not apologetic,” said Jaishankar. The external affairs minister was asked to respond to the common refrain from the Quad countries that “this is not against anyone, we are not a security grouping, we are not a military grouping”. “So we do stand for something. What I would not like to be defined as is standing against something or somebody, because that diminishes me. That makes it out as though some other people are the centre of the world and I’m only there to be for them or against them,” he said.
China has been suspicious about the Quad and feels that the grouping is aimed at containing it.
Jaishankar said the Quad is offering more choices. “We do collectively offer something different,” he said.
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#Allowing #Russias #impunity #attacking #Ukraine #sends #message #potential #aggressors #Blinken( With inputs from www.siasat.com )
‘Irresponsible’: Blinken raps Putin decision to suspend nuclear treaty with U.S.
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The treaty is the last remaining nonproliferation agreement between the pair after another key nuclear accord, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, expired in 2019.
On Tuesday, Putin announced that he’s suspending Moscow’s participation after accusing the U.S. of being involved in attempting to strike bases in Russia. He stopped short of a complete withdrawal, however.
Putin made the remarks the same day Biden was in Poland to give a speech marking the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and one day after he made a surprise visit to Kyiv.
The U.S. in January accused Russia of not complying with the treaty by not allowing the United States and NATO to inspect its nuclear facilities. The pact includes limits on systems such as intercontinental ballistic missiles and deployed nuclear warheads.
“When the administration started, we extended New START because it was clearly in the security interest in our country and actually in the security interests of Russia,” Blinken said. “And that only underscores what an irresponsible action this is.”
“Of course, we remain ready to talk about strategic arms limitations at any time with Russia,” Blinken added, “irrespective of anything else going on in the world.”
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( With inputs from : www.politico.com )‘Irresponsible’: Blinken raps Putin decision to suspend nuclear treaty with U.S.
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The treaty is the last remaining nonproliferation agreement between the pair after another key nuclear accord, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, expired in 2019.
On Tuesday, Putin announced that he’s suspending Moscow’s participation after accusing the U.S. of being involved in attempting to strike bases in Russia. He stopped short of a complete withdrawal, however.
Putin made the remarks the same day Biden was in Poland to give a speech marking the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and one day after he made a surprise visit to Kyiv.
The U.S. in January accused Russia of not complying with the treaty by not allowing the United States and NATO to inspect its nuclear facilities. The pact includes limits on systems such as intercontinental ballistic missiles and deployed nuclear warheads.
“When the administration started, we extended New START because it was clearly in the security interest in our country and actually in the security interests of Russia,” Blinken said. “And that only underscores what an irresponsible action this is.”
“Of course, we remain ready to talk about strategic arms limitations at any time with Russia,” Blinken added, “irrespective of anything else going on in the world.”
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( With inputs from : www.politico.com )Blinken warns China of ‘serious consequences’ on bilateral ties for aiding Russia
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Washington: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned China that providing “lethal support” for Russia’s war against Ukraine will have “serious consequences” on bilateral ties between the two countries and condemned Beijing’s balloon incursion, saying it “must never happen again.”
Blinken and Wang Yi, the Chinese Communist Party’s senior-most foreign policy official, held hourlong talks in Munich on Saturday, where they were attending an international security conference, according to the US State Department.
The two high-profile diplomats met in their first high-level contact since the US shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon a fortnight ago.
“I made very clear to him that China sending a surveillance balloon over the US, in violation of our sovereignty, in violation of international law, was unacceptable, and must never happen again,” Blinken told CBS News in an interview.
His spokesman, Ned Price, said Blinken also told the Chinese diplomat that his nation’s “high-altitude surveillance balloon programme — which has intruded into the airspace of more than 40 countries across five continents — was exposed to the world.”
The balloon incident prompted Blinken to postpone a planned visit to Beijing.
The February 5-6 trip would have been the first by a US secretary of state to China in five years and was seen by both countries as an opportunity to stabilise their strained ties.
During Saturday’s meeting, Blinken also raised the Russia-Ukraine war with Wang.
“There were concerns that China was considering providing lethal support to Russia in its war against Ukraine. I was able to share with him, as President Biden had shared with President Xi, the serious consequences that would have for our relationship,” Blinken said.
He also underscored the importance of maintaining diplomatic dialogue and open lines of communication at all times.
“Finally, it was important for me to underscore that we believe having lines of communication, engaging in direct diplomacy, is very important. We have a responsibility to manage our relationship in a responsible manner,” he added.
The two diplomats could meet again in New Delhi next month on the sidelines of the G-20 Foreign Ministers meeting.
The meeting between the two senior officials came hours after Wang renewed Beijing’s criticism of the US for shooting down what Washington says was a Chinese spy balloon, arguing at the conference in Germany that the move doesn’t point to US strength.
“The actions don’t show that the US is big and strong, but describe the exact opposite,” Wang explained.
“This is actually a political farce created by the US. We have categorically told them that this is a civilian unmanned airship. Due to the influence of the super westerly winds and its limited control ability, it deviated from the planned path and entered the skies over the US. We have asked them to work with China and handle it properly in a rational, calm and professional manner,” Xinhua news agency, quoted Wang as saying.
After delivering the keynote speech at the Munich Security Conference, Wang told the Chinese media that everyone is concerned about how the recent balloon incident has strained the Sino-US relations.
“Regrettably, the US ignored the basic facts and brazenly dispatched fighter planes to shoot down a non-threatening airship with missiles. This behaviour is unbelievable, almost hysterical, and a 100 per cent abuse of force, which clearly violates international conventions,” he added.
Wang urged Washington to show sincerity, correct its mistakes and resolve the damage caused to the Sino-US relations due to this incident.
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#Blinken #warns #China #consequences #bilateral #ties #aiding #Russia( With inputs from www.siasat.com )
Palestinian president calls on Blinken to urge Israel to stop unilateral measures in West Bank
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(Photo:Palestinian President Office/Handout) Ramallah: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to pressure the Israeli government to stop its unilateral measures in the Palestinian territories.
An official statement sent to reporters said that Abbas received a phone call from Blinken, during which they discussed the latest developments “in the wake of the recent Israeli decisions that violate the signed agreements and international resolutions.”
Last week, the Israeli government decided to authorise nine settlement outposts that were illegally built up in the West Bank in response to a series of attacks by Palestinians in Jerusalem, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Abbas called on the US “to intervene quickly and effectively to put pressure on Israel to stop all these dangerous measures” to ensure the continued prospect of a two-state solution.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Blinken on Saturday confirmed that he would contact the Israeli government and that his administration would continue its efforts to stop unilateral Israeli actions.
Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967 and has since established settlements on it, a move considered a violation of international law and a major source of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
The settlement issue is the most prominent aspect of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and one of the main reasons for halting the last direct peace negotiations between the two sides in 2014.
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#Palestinian #president #calls #Blinken #urge #Israel #stop #unilateral #measures #West #Bank( With inputs from www.siasat.com )
Blinken meets Wang Yi in Munich, says Chinese balloon programme ‘exposed’ to world
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Washington: Amidst strained ties over an alleged Chinese spy balloon, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and raised “the unacceptable” violation of American sovereignty and warned that Beijing’s material support to Moscow over Ukrainian war would attract sanctions.
The meeting on Saturday between the two top American and Chinese diplomats took place on the margins of the Munich Security Conference.
“The Secretary directly spoke to the unacceptable violation of US sovereignty and international law by the PRC high-altitude surveillance balloon in US territorial airspace, underscoring that this irresponsible act must never occur again,” State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said.
“During the meeting, Blinken made clear the United States will not stand for any violation of our sovereignty, and that the Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon programme which has intruded into the airspace of more than 40 countries across five continents has been exposed to the world,” he said.
Blinken also raised the Russia-Ukraine war during the meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
“On Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine, the Secretary warned about the implications and consequences if China provides material support to Russia or assistance with systemic sanctions evasion,” Price said.
Blinken condemned the ICBM test by North Korea as the latest destabilizing act carried out by Pyongyang, and emphasized the need for responsible powers to respond to such significant international challenges.
During the meeting, Blinken reaffirmed there had been no change to the longstanding ‘One China’ policy of the US, and he underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the spokesperson said.
“The Secretary reiterated President Biden’s statements that the United States will compete and will unapologetically stand up for our values and interests, but that we do not want conflict with the PRC (People’s Republic of China) and are not looking for a new Cold War,” Price said.
Blinken underscored the importance of maintaining diplomatic dialogue and open lines of communication at all times, he said.
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#Blinken #meets #Wang #Munich #Chinese #balloon #programme #exposed #world( With inputs from www.siasat.com )
