Antony Blinken, the outgoing Secretary of State under President Biden, reflects on his tenure marked by international conflict. He defends his decisions regarding the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, arguing that these positions strengthened America. Blinken emphasizes the complexity of the Gaza conflict and the humanitarian crisis, as well as the importance of continued military and diplomatic support for Ukraine. He also discusses leadership challenges, aging concerns in the White House, and lessons learned from U.S. foreign policy over the past four years.

Antony Blinken, the outgoing Secretary of State under President Biden, reflects on his tumultuous tenure. He passionately defends the U.S. actions in Gaza and Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of accountability in foreign policy. Blinken discusses the delicate balance between military aid and diplomacy in the Ukraine conflict, along with the implications of tariffs on China. He also shares insights on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the moral complexities of military support, urging a resolution that honors the needs of both Israelis and Palestinians.

Antony Blinken, the 71st U.S. Secretary of State, shares insights from his tenure addressing global conflicts. He discusses the urgent challenges in Syria and Gaza, advocating for international cooperation and humanitarian efforts. Blinken also touches on the complexities of U.S. diplomatic transitions, especially regarding Ukraine and Russia, and the ongoing discussions for normalization agreements in the Middle East. His reflections highlight the critical role of multilateralism and U.S. leadership in navigating today’s geopolitical landscape.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has met with China's President Xi Xinping in an attempt to ease US-Sino tensions. Plus, the aerospace industry says that flying taxis could soon be on the horizon in cities around the world.Mentioned in this podcast:Xi Jinping sees ‘progress’ in China-US ties at meeting with Antony BlinkenWhich flying taxi will take off first?Amazon, Hilton and Starbucks to hire thousands of refugees across EuropeThe FT News Briefing was produced by Fiona Symon and Josh Gabert-Doyon. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music and Simon Panayi was the audio engineer.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anthony Blinken, a senior U.S. diplomat focused on Middle Eastern relations, meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as hopes for a ceasefire in Gaza dim. They discuss the complexities of hostage negotiations against a backdrop of increasing regional tensions. The dialogue highlights critical diplomatic challenges faced by the Biden administration, especially regarding arms sales to Israel, and exposes alarming accounts of civilian suffering in Gaza. Additionally, the conversation touches on the UK prison crisis, adding another layer to current geopolitical concerns.