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Antony Blinken

The latest news on Antony Blinken, American lawyer, diplomat and 71st United States Secretary of State, including US politics news and updates.

Born

16 Apr 1962

Industry

Politics

Job Title

Former US Secretary of State

The US State Department building in Washington. Photo: Reuters

United States

Forget the war on drugs. The US has gone to war on a font

The US State Department is ditching Calibri font, to restore ‘decorum and professionalism’.

10 Dec 2025 - 2:46PM

Pacific nations

‘We must invest’: New Zealand seeks to shed its ‘pretty slack’ defence image

24 Aug 2025 - 10:30AM

United States

US hits ICC judges with sanctions over Israel, Afghanistan cases

6 Jun 2025 - 2:13PM

North Korea

North Korea fires ballistic missile as Blinken pays final visit to Seoul

Antony Blinken stressed Washington’s ‘unwavering commitment’ to South Korea in one of his last official acts as US secretary of state.

6 Jan 2025 - 12:32PMvideocam

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) shakes hands with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul during their meeting in Seoul on Monday. Photo: AFP

Georgia

US imposes sanctions on Georgian billionaire ex-PM Bidzina Ivanishvili

US said Ivanishvili had implemented ‘actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions in the US or abroad’ for Russia.

28 Dec 2024 - 3:40AM

Syria

UK says it will provide US$63 million in humanitarian aid for Syrians

Foreign Minister David Lammy said Britain will also work ‘diplomatically to help secure better governance in Syria’s future’.

16 Dec 2024 - 6:11AM

Syria

US races to find captive journalist Austin Tice after Syria regime collapse

The US government believes the American journalist is still alive after disappearing in Syria in 2012.

10 Dec 2024 - 1:38PMvideocam

Journalist Austin Tice went missing in Syria in 2012 and has not been heard from since. File photo: TNS

South Korea

Top US diplomat Blinken to talk to South Korea following martial law decision

No opportunity ‘to speak to his counterpart yet’ but dialogue between Pentagon officials and opposite numbers under way ‘at multiple levels’.

6 Dec 2024 - 10:40AMvideocam

US-China relations

Xi touts China as globalisation leader, draws contrast with US under Trump

Shared growth stressed on Apec sidelines in Peru as Chinese leader tells CEOs that Beijing’s economic and financial woes can be fixed.

16 Nov 2024 - 7:35AMvideocam

US presidential election 2024

Who is Kamala Harris, potentially America’s first female president?

Former prosecutor and US senator has invoked her Indian family’s past activism in explaining her groundbreaking journey into public service.

4 Nov 2024 - 1:00AMvideocam

Ukraine war

US, China in ‘robust conversation’ on North Korean troops in Russia: Blinken

Beijing urged to do more to curb ‘provocative’ actions taken by its close partners Moscow and Pyongyang, says America’s top diplomat.

1 Nov 2024 - 8:09AMvideocam

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a news conference at the State Department in Washington on Thursday. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

Israel-Gaza war

Israel and Hamas signal openness to talks on Gaza war

The war in Gaza has raged for more than a year, since Hamas fighters raided southern Israel.

25 Oct 2024 - 5:05PMvideocam

US presidential election 2024

China’s envoy in Washington warns US against ‘strategic miscalculation’

Ambassador Xie says the ‘small yard, high fence’ policy of US President Joe Biden’s administration is damaging both countries’ interests.

1 Oct 2024 - 5:45PMvideocam

Wang Yi

China’s top diplomat calls for Mideast ceasefire, denounces trade protectionism

In speech at UN, Wang Yi positions China as global peacemaker, warns against countries inciting confrontation in Asia.

29 Sep 2024 - 12:36PM

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi addresses the 79th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Ukraine war

China and Brazil hold peace plan meeting for Ukraine war on UN sidelines

Beijing’s top diplomat voices hope for convening global peace conference with ‘fair discussion’ of all proposals as US stays sceptical.

28 Sep 2024 - 8:20AMvideocam

Wang Yi (right), China’s top diplomat, confers with senior Brazilian official Celso Amorim at a meeting in New York on Friday. Photo: AP

Israel-Gaza war

Blinken is heading back to the Middle East, this time without visit to Israel

US Secretary of State visiting Egypt to discuss a Gaza ceasefire proposal, avoiding Israel amid tense negotiations.

17 Sep 2024 - 1:03PM

US-China relations

US, Britain stress unity towards China as new strategic dialogue opens in London

Top diplomats tout allies’ strengthening ties and ‘indispensable’ partnership as Washington vies to blunt Beijing’s Indo-Pacific influence.

11 Sep 2024 - 5:34AMvideocam

US-China relations

China’s economic coercion evokes scrutiny, resentment: US officials

Washington’s global network of allies said to offer moral support, supply-chain diversion strategies and new markets when Beijing takes aim.

7 Sep 2024 - 5:30AMvideocam

Nicholas Burns, US ambassador to China, has warned against a world that heavily depends on China for trade and technologies. Photo: AP

Israel-Gaza war

Israel strikes Gaza, Blinken in Tel Aviv to help close ceasefire deal

Israeli delegation to travel to Cairo on Sunday for further talks; US Secretary of State Blinken expected to meet Netanyahu on Monday.

19 Aug 2024 - 6:42AM

US-China relations

Opinion | Far from an aggressor, China has been remarkably restrained

Despite becoming a US peer competitor, China’s practice of strategic forbearance does not point to aspirations of global hegemony.

17 Aug 2024 - 8:28AMvideocam

Bangladesh

Video | Nobel laureate Yunus to head Bangladesh interim government

7 Aug 2024 - 7:01PM

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead Bangladesh interim government

04:05

Diplomacy

Opinion | As American allies in Asia take matters into their own hands, what of the US?

If the US wants to protect its influence in Asia, it must drive greater economic engagement with its regional partners.

7 Aug 2024 - 4:30PMvideocam

Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner Jnr (left) shakes hands with Japan Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff General Yoshihide Yoshida as they arrive before meetings with Philippine and Japanese foreign and defence ministers at a hotel in Taguig, Philippines, on July 8. Japan and the Philippines have signed a defense pact allowing their troops to enter each other’s country. Photo: AP

Bangladesh

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead Bangladesh interim government

Decision to form interim government helmed by microfinance pioneer Yunus was taken at meeting of President Shahabuddin and military leaders.

7 Aug 2024 - 6:14PMvideocam

Asean

Blinken’s trip edges Asean to ‘more proactive’ stance in sea dispute: analysts

Trip seen as continuity of US foreign policy, but analysts say more insight needed into engagement with rest of Asia ‘as a good in itself’.

6 Aug 2024 - 8:00AMvideocam

Ukraine war

US discusses Ukraine peace with India amid reports of Modi’s planned visit

While Western countries sanctioned Moscow after Ukraine invasion, nations friendly with Russia – such as India and China – continue to trade.

29 Jul 2024 - 4:08AM

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, centre, speaks to India’s Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, left, in Vientiane, Laos on Saturday. Photo: AFP

US-China relations

Outside In | It’s time American China strategists accepted some inconvenient truths

The Council on Foreign Relations’ China-focused project could be a chance to rethink flawed assumptions underpinning the rules-based order.

12 Jul 2024 - 9:14PMvideocam

US secretary of state Antony Blinken speaks at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on June 28, 2023. Photo: AP

US-China relations

US at G7 to keep pressing China to halt its Russia military support

Janet Yellen expected to restate American call for firms and financial institutions in China and elsewhere to ‘cease’ backing Moscow’s defence complex.

23 May 2024 - 1:56AMvideocam

US-China relations

Opinion | Stakes have never been higher for speeding up US-China cooperation

Recent high-level talks between China and the US on climate change and ongoing wars highlight the potential for successful collaboration. The current moment calls for even more bilateral coordination on the environment, peacekeeping, AI governance and reforming multilateral institutions.

22 May 2024 - 5:30AM

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Antony Blinken

Forget the war on drugs. The US has gone to war on a font

The US State Department is ditching Calibri font, to restore ‘decorum and professionalism’.

‘We must invest’: New Zealand seeks to shed its ‘pretty slack’ defence image

US hits ICC judges with sanctions over Israel, Afghanistan cases

North Korea fires ballistic missile as Blinken pays final visit to Seoul

Antony Blinken stressed Washington’s ‘unwavering commitment’ to South Korea in one of his last official acts as US secretary of state.

US imposes sanctions on Georgian billionaire ex-PM Bidzina Ivanishvili

US said Ivanishvili had implemented ‘actions or policies that undermine democratic processes or institutions in the US or abroad’ for Russia.

UK says it will provide US$63 million in humanitarian aid for Syrians

Foreign Minister David Lammy said Britain will also work ‘diplomatically to help secure better governance in Syria’s future’.

US races to find captive journalist Austin Tice after Syria regime collapse

The US government believes the American journalist is still alive after disappearing in Syria in 2012.

Top US diplomat Blinken to talk to South Korea following martial law decision

No opportunity ‘to speak to his counterpart yet’ but dialogue between Pentagon officials and opposite numbers under way ‘at multiple levels’.

Xi touts China as globalisation leader, draws contrast with US under Trump

Shared growth stressed on Apec sidelines in Peru as Chinese leader tells CEOs that Beijing’s economic and financial woes can be fixed.

Who is Kamala Harris, potentially America’s first female president?

Former prosecutor and US senator has invoked her Indian family’s past activism in explaining her groundbreaking journey into public service.

US, China in ‘robust conversation’ on North Korean troops in Russia: Blinken

Beijing urged to do more to curb ‘provocative’ actions taken by its close partners Moscow and Pyongyang, says America’s top diplomat.

Israel and Hamas signal openness to talks on Gaza war

The war in Gaza has raged for more than a year, since Hamas fighters raided southern Israel.

China’s envoy in Washington warns US against ‘strategic miscalculation’

Ambassador Xie says the ‘small yard, high fence’ policy of US President Joe Biden’s administration is damaging both countries’ interests.

China’s top diplomat calls for Mideast ceasefire, denounces trade protectionism

In speech at UN, Wang Yi positions China as global peacemaker, warns against countries inciting confrontation in Asia.

China and Brazil hold peace plan meeting for Ukraine war on UN sidelines

Beijing’s top diplomat voices hope for convening global peace conference with ‘fair discussion’ of all proposals as US stays sceptical.

Blinken is heading back to the Middle East, this time without visit to Israel

US Secretary of State visiting Egypt to discuss a Gaza ceasefire proposal, avoiding Israel amid tense negotiations.

US, Britain stress unity towards China as new strategic dialogue opens in London

Top diplomats tout allies’ strengthening ties and ‘indispensable’ partnership as Washington vies to blunt Beijing’s Indo-Pacific influence.

China’s economic coercion evokes scrutiny, resentment: US officials

Washington’s global network of allies said to offer moral support, supply-chain diversion strategies and new markets when Beijing takes aim.

Israel strikes Gaza, Blinken in Tel Aviv to help close ceasefire deal

Israeli delegation to travel to Cairo on Sunday for further talks; US Secretary of State Blinken expected to meet Netanyahu on Monday.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Far from an aggressor, China has been remarkably restrained

Despite becoming a US peer competitor, China’s practice of strategic forbearance does not point to aspirations of global hegemony.

.css-rcruog{color:#C79A00;}Video | Nobel laureate Yunus to head Bangladesh interim government

Opinion | As American allies in Asia take matters into their own hands, what of the US?

If the US wants to protect its influence in Asia, it must drive greater economic engagement with its regional partners.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead Bangladesh interim government

Decision to form interim government helmed by microfinance pioneer Yunus was taken at meeting of President Shahabuddin and military leaders.

Blinken’s trip edges Asean to ‘more proactive’ stance in sea dispute: analysts

Trip seen as continuity of US foreign policy, but analysts say more insight needed into engagement with rest of Asia ‘as a good in itself’.

US discusses Ukraine peace with India amid reports of Modi’s planned visit

While Western countries sanctioned Moscow after Ukraine invasion, nations friendly with Russia – such as India and China – continue to trade.

Outside In | It’s time American China strategists accepted some inconvenient truths

The Council on Foreign Relations’ China-focused project could be a chance to rethink flawed assumptions underpinning the rules-based order.

US at G7 to keep pressing China to halt its Russia military support

Janet Yellen expected to restate American call for firms and financial institutions in China and elsewhere to ‘cease’ backing Moscow’s defence complex.

Opinion | Stakes have never been higher for speeding up US-China cooperation

Recent high-level talks between China and the US on climate change and ongoing wars highlight the potential for successful collaboration. The current moment calls for even more bilateral coordination on the environment, peacekeeping, AI governance and reforming multilateral institutions.

Opinion | Far from an aggressor, China has been remarkably restrained

Video | Nobel laureate Yunus to head Bangladesh interim government