Antony Blinken - The African Mirror

Feb

2023

Blinken says India, South Africa are on slow trajectory away from alignment with Russia

KANISHKA SINGH and SIMON LEWIS U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said countries like India and South Africa, which have not joined the West in denouncing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, were likely on a trajectory away from alignment with Moscow but that process would not happen "in one fell swoop." "There are countries that have long-standing, decades-long relationships with Russia, with the Soviet Union before, that are challenging to break off in one fell swoop. It's not flipping a light switch, it’s moving an aircraft carrier," Blinken said in an interview with The Atlantic, marking the one-year anniversary of the…

Feb

2023

By ABBEY MAKOE

West must tone down their war cries, negotiate with Russia

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

WAR-MONGERING, threats and gung-ho diplomacy dominated a gathering of Western leaders in Germany over the past weekend during which war - instead of peace – was given yet another chance to prevail. This year’s Munich Security Conference was, predictably, dominated by the war in Ukraine and how the West can continue to shore up Kyiv’s military to “acceptable NATO levels”. The conference was a global spectacle attended by delegates from more than 100 countries. Western heads of state, accompanied by diplomats and other officials, intelligence personnel and various strategic operatives intermingled with a single mission of revising and reviewing the…

Jan

2023

By The African Mirror

Blinken says U.S. will continue to encourage Egypt to take action on human rights

NEWS

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said human rights were a top item on the agenda in talks with Egypt's president and foreign minister during a visit to Cairo. Blinken said the United States would continue to encourage Egypt to take further actions on human rights, including releasing more political prisoners and reforming pre-trial detention. During a press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Blinken also said holding elections in Libya this year was the only viable path to a durable solution in the country. Thomson Reuters Foundation

Jan

2023

By The African Mirror

US blocks entry to those “undermining Nigerian democracy”

NEWS

THE United States said it is restricting entry to people "believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Nigeria" and their family members ahead of that country's elections this year. "Additional persons who undermine the democratic process in Nigeria — including in the lead-up to, during, and following Nigeria’s 2023 elections — may be found ineligible for U.S. visas under this policy," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari will step down after serving two four-year terms following a Feb. 25, 2023 ballot. Nigeria, Africa's largest economy, is facing unprecedented insecurity that…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

U.S. to withhold Egypt’s $130-million over rights

NEWS

HUMEYRA PAMUK THE Biden administration will withhold $130 million worth of military aid to Egypt in order to pressure the Arab ally to improve its human rights record, two sources familiar with the matter, including a U.S. official, said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's planned move is a break with his predecessors' policy of overriding a congressional check on military aid to Egypt. In the past, an exception was granted to free up $300 million in Foreign Military Financing for Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's government on that argument that it was in the interest of U.S. national security. But a portion…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

After messy pullout, Blinken to intensify Afghanistan diplomacy in Qatar, Germany

WORLD

HUMEYA PAMUK A week after declaring America's "new chapter" of engagement with Afghanistan, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will aim to form a united front with allies this week on how to tackle the Taliban and ensure continued support for U.S. bid to help evacuate Americans and at-risk Afghans who remained behind. In a trip to Qatar and Germany, Blinken will be overlapping with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin who is also departing for a wider Gulf visit covering Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. The visit by the top two U.S. national security officials comes as the Biden administration…

Aug

2021

By The African Mirror

Israel able to ‘act alone’ against Iran after ship attack, PM says

WORLD

PRIME Minister Naftali Bennett said that Israel was capable of acting alone against Iran, after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken predicted a "collective" response to an attack last week on an Israeli-managed tanker off the coast of Oman. "We are working to rally the world, but at the same time we also know to act alone," Bennett said on Tuesday during a tour of Israel's northern border. Israel, the United States and Britain have blamed Iran for the incident, a charge Tehran has denied.

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Talks to remove foreign fighters from Libya

NEWS

THE United States is in talks with some of the key actors in Libya over the withdrawal of foreign forces ahead of elections planned for December, Washington's top Libya envoy has revealed. Special Envoy for Libya Richard Norland told reporters that part of the importance of Libya's elections was so a fully empowered, credible and legitimate government could push foreign actors to pull out their troops. "That will be a very important development and ... very impactful, but we're not suggesting that we have to wait until next year to try to make some progress," Norland said ahead of U.S.…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

Blinken meets Egypt’s Sisi as U.S. seeks to secure Gaza ceasefire

WORLD

AIDAN LEWIS and NIDAL AL-MUGHRABI U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met top officials in Cairo yesterday, during a Middle East tour aimed at shoring up a ceasefire that ended the worst fighting in years between Israel and Palestinian militants. Egypt has long standing relations with both sides in the conflict and played a key role in brokering the Gaza ceasefire after 11 days of violence, in coordination with the United States. In a brief visit, Blinken met President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and intelligence head Abbas Kamel at the presidential palace. The United States and Egypt…

May

2021

By The African Mirror

U.S. says primary focus on lasting Gaza ceasefire, aid; too early for peace talks

WORLD

HUMEYRA PAMUK and ARSHAD MOHAMMED U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will focus primarily on ensuring that a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas holds during his visit to the region, and work to get assistance delivered to the people of Gaza, a senior State Department official said. Washington has "every hope and expectation" that the ceasefire, brokered by Egypt and now in its fourth day after 11 days of hostilities, will hold, the U.S. official suggested in a call with reporters but said it was too early for wider peace talks. Blinken will travel to Jerusalem, Ramallah,…