Informal Communication

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

Press Briefing Room

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Good to see you all.

I suspect that most of you are looking forward to what will be a well-deserved break.  It’s been quite a year.

When I walked into the State Department on my first day as Secretary, we had COVID-19 lockdowns around the world.

Less than 1 percent of the United States was vaccinated, compared to more than 60

Roles: Everyone: All Users

Regions: Afghanistan, China, France , Germany , Iran , Japan , Russia , Singapore , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Ambassador Bonnie Denise Jenkins, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security

Washington, D.C.

Dean Acheson Auditorium

AMBASSADOR JENKINS: Good morning. Welcome to State Department staff (inaudible), our diplomatic and foreign policy community, both those here in person and those participating virtually. I want to especially acknowledge the presence of our active duty and reserve personnel: veterans, member

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Regions: Afghanistan, United Kingdom

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Countering Terrorism, Human Rights and Democracy

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Kyiv, Ukraine

Hyatt Regency Hotel

QUESTION:  Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  It’s great to be with you.

QUESTION:  Thank you for being here.  First of all, Vladimir Putin had said he would withdraw; he has not.  U.S. officials say there are 80,000 troops still on the border; he’s left his tanks and artillery, a continuing threat to Ukraine.  What is your mess

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Regions: Afghanistan, Canada , China, Iran , Russia , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Via Teleconference

SECRETARY CLINTON:  So, Secretary Blinken, welcome.  I cannot express how pleased I am to have this chance to talk with you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thank you.  I could not be happier to be able to spend some time with you.  I’ve had the good fortune to have spent a lot of time in these halls with you in the past, at the White House over many years, but it’s particularly fun to be connected via the

Roles: Everyone: All Users

Regions: Afghanistan, Canada , China, Iran , Poland , Russia , South Africa , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Climate and Environment, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Treaties and International Agreements

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

Press Briefing Room

MR PRICE: Good afternoon. Welcome back to the briefing room, to your briefing room. We’ll be spending quite a bit of time together starting very shortly, and I very much look forward to that. But today, first, I have the privilege of introducing for the first time to this room the 71st Secretary of State, Mr. Tony Blinken. So with no further ado, I turn it over to him.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: T

Roles: Everyone: All Users

Regions: Afghanistan, China, Iran , Israel , Russia , Saudi Arabia , United Arab Emirates , United Kingdom , United States , Yemen

Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Climate and Environment, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance