Foreign
ANTONY J. Blinken, the U.S Secretary of State, has reassured that the U.S is not distracted by the Russian invasion on Ukraine. This was stated by the secretary in virtual remarks on 21st Century Diplomacy and Global Challenges at The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.
He noted that the Biden-led administration remains focused doing the rest of its business and responsibilities to advance the nation’s interest and value in the world.
“One of the challenges that we have, one of the obligations that we have, is to make sure that even as we’re focused relentlessly on something like this aggression, we’re also doing the rest of our business and that we are carrying out the responsibilities that we have to try to advance America’s interests and values in the world, day in, day out,” he said.
While underscoring his commitment to Africa amidst Russia’s assault on Ukraine, the secretary noted that by adopting the acronym R.O.W (rest of world) he and his team have not lost sight of the rest of the world.
He disclosed that through determined American diplomacy, the U.S. has helped get a ceasefire and humanitarian passage in Ethiopia, which for many months, has not been having humanitarian assistance getting through, particularly to the northern part of the country in Tigray.
In addition, he noted that the American diplomacy helped get a truce and humanitarian assistance flow again in Yemen where “one of the worst” war in the world has been ongoing for almost a decade.
In the health sector, the secretary informed that the State got its 500 millionth dose of COVID-19 vaccine around the world and is ready to donate 1.2 billion vaccine doses by the end of this year through COVAX.
According to him, the U.S got a couple people who are being illegally detained in Afghanistan out just a few days ago, an American citizen and a legal permanent resident who’s a British national.
“We do it with no political strings attached, unlike some other countries out there,” he added
He also disclosed that John Kerry, his predecessor and now the President’s Special Envoy for Climate, along with Monica Medina, the Assistant Secretary is in Palau for the Oceans Conference to advance America’s efforts on climate and on the environment.
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Tags: ANTONY J. Blinken John Kerry Kennedy Nnamani Monica Medina
