Antony Blinken

Antony John Blinken, an American lawyer and diplomat, was born on April 16, 1962, in Yonkers, New York. He currently serves as the 71st United States Secretary of State.

Antony Blinken met Anthony Luzzatto Gardner when Blinken was about 5 years old. They were introduced as children through their mothers' close friendship and lived on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Despite attending different prep schools, their lives followed parallel paths and their families have maintained a friendship for over fifty years.

In 1971, Antony Blinken moved to Paris, France, with his divorced mother and her husband, Samuel Pisar, a Holocaust survivor and lawyer, who shared his experiences during the Holocaust with Blinken.

In 1980, Antony Blinken graduated with a French baccalauréat degree from an international school in Paris. This educational achievement marked an important milestone in his life.

In 1981, the Socialist Party achieved a historic landslide victory in the French parliamentary elections, defeating the party of then-President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing. Antony Blinken, while an undergraduate student at Harvard, wrote about this event for The Crimson student newspaper.

Antony Blinken graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in social studies.

Antony Blinken authored a book titled 'Ally Versus Ally: America, Europe and the Siberian Pipeline Crisis' in 1987, discussing the geopolitical dynamics surrounding the Siberian Pipeline Crisis.

Antony Blinken received his JD law degree from Columbia University.

Leah Pisar, Blinken's half-sister, worked at the State Department in 1990.

Antony Blinken's career in public service began when he was hired as a special assistant in the Bureau for European and Canadian Affairs at the U.S. State Department in 1993.

In 1994, Antony Blinken joined the National Security Council staff under President Bill Clinton, a role he held until 2001.

Antony Blinken met his future wife, Evan Ryan, in 1995 while working at the White House and she was a scheduler for First Lady Hillary Clinton.

George W. Bush won the 2000 presidential election, marking a significant political event in the United States.

In 2002, Antony Blinken transitioned to the US Senate as the Democratic staff director for the Foreign Relations Committee, working closely with Senator Joe Biden.

Antony Blinken supported the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 while serving as a close aide to Joe Biden.

In 2008, Antony Blinken served as Vice President Biden's national security adviser after Obama's election.

Antony Blinken assumed the role of National Security Advisor to the Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2009, serving until January 20, 2013, under Vice President Joe Biden.

Antony Blinken praised President Obama's courageous decision to kill Osama bin Laden.

Antony Blinken was appointed as the United States Deputy National Security Advisor on January 20, 2013, serving until January 9, 2015, under President Barack Obama.

President Obama announced his decision to nominate Antony Blinken for the Deputy Secretary post, replacing William J. Burns.

Antony Blinken was confirmed as Deputy Secretary of State by the Senate with a vote of 55 to 38.

In 2015, Antony Blinken assumed the role of Deputy Secretary of State under the Obama administration.

Antony J. Blinken was sworn in as the Deputy Secretary of State on January 9, 2015, after being confirmed by the United States Senate in December 2014. He has extensive experience in senior foreign policy roles spanning over two decades.

In 2016, Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of having friends, partners, and allies for the safety of the American people. He strongly believes in the transatlantic alliance and considers Europe a vital partner.

On January 19, 2017, the Deputy Secretary of State's appointment came to an end.

Antony Blinken acknowledged the strategic importance of the Golan Heights for Israel's security, especially in the context of threats from Syria under Assad's rule and Iranian-backed militia groups. He refrained from delving into the legal aspects of the issue.

On October 28, 2020, Antony Blinken reaffirmed that a Biden administration would conduct a strategic review of the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia to ensure it aligns with U.S. interests and values.

On November 22, 2020, Bloomberg News reported that Joe Biden had chosen Antony Blinken as his nominee for the position of Secretary of State. This nomination was later confirmed by The New York Times and other news outlets.

Antony Blinken was appointed as the next US secretary of state on November 23, 2020. He is set to take on a crucial role in shaping US foreign policy under the Biden administration.

On November 24, Antony Blinken emphasized the critical role of the United States in convening other nations to address global challenges like climate change, arms proliferation, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on January 19, 2021, to confirm the appointment of the U.S. Secretary of State.

An archived profile of an individual from WestExec Advisors, accessible through the Wayback Machine as of January 20, 2021.

Antony Blinken was confirmed as the United States Secretary of State on January 26, 2021, after being nominated by President Joe Biden.

On January 31, 2021, Blinken condemned the Myanmar coup and called for the release of detained officials, expressing support for the people's demand for the restoration of democracy.

A meeting between Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Wolf Blitzer of CNN's The Situation Room on February 8, 2021.

On March 15, 2021, during his visit to Tokyo and Seoul with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Antony Blinken cautioned China against coercion and aggression. He also criticized China for its treatment of ethnic Uyghurs.

In April 2021, Blinken visited Kabul to meet with U.S. personnel following the announcement of troop withdrawal, stating the decision aimed to focus on China and the pandemic.

Following the ceasefire in the 2021 Israeli-Palestinian conflict and coinciding with Antony Blinken's visit to Jerusalem on May 25, food and medical supplies provided by the United Nations and Physicians for Human Rights were allowed into the Gaza Strip.

In January 2022, Antony Blinken authorized the supply of weapons to Ukraine to assist the country amid border tensions with Russia.

On February 11, Blinken publicly warned of the likelihood of a Russian invasion of Ukraine before the end of the 2022 Winter Olympics.

On February 13, Blinken stated that the risk of a Russian invasion of Ukraine was high enough to warrant the evacuation of most staff from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.

On October 21, 2022, Blinken expressed skepticism about Russia's willingness to end the war in Ukraine through diplomatic means.

In March 2023, the House Foreign Affairs Committee subpoenaed Antony Blinken for a dissent cable related to the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

In June 2023, Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, emphasizing the importance of communication to avoid conflict while competing vigorously with China.

In July 2023, Blinken defended President Biden's decision to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions.

Antony Blinken gave a cover performance of 'Hoochie Coochie Man' by Muddy Waters in September 2023 to launch the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative at the State Department. The video of his performance went viral.

Antony Blinken suggests that a deal regarding hostages in Qatar is nearing completion.

On April 23, 2024, Antony Blinken prepares to address significant divides as he embarks on a mission to mend relations during his visit to China.

On April 24, 2024, Antony Blinken starts an important visit to China amidst escalating tensions due to a new US foreign aid bill.

Blinken raised concerns about Chinese trade practices in meetings with officials in Shanghai on April 25, 2024.

Antony Blinken met with China's President Xi as the US and China sparred over bilateral and global issues on April 26, 2024.