Washington, DC - Lead Republican of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul released the following statement following the confirmation of Antony Blinken to serve as Secretary of State.
“While I am still gravely concerned about some of the Biden Administration’s foreign policy agenda, most notably the day one decision to re-enter the deeply flawed Paris Climate Agreement and their determination to re-join the disastrous Iran nuclear deal, Secretary Blinken’s testimony during his confirmation hearing highlighted many areas where we can work together to secure a more peaceful and prosperous world. Of note, I hope the Biden Administration will stick to Secretary Blinken’s commitments to focusing on a two-state solution in Israel and holding authoritarian regimes, like Russia and China, accountable for their malign actions. Secretary Blinken is clearly experienced, and I look forward to working with him on those areas where we can agree - and holding the Biden Administration accountable in areas where we do not."
Secretary Blinken’s Commitments in His Confirmation Testimony
On China
“So on the Uighurs, I think we’re very much in agreement, and the forcing men, women, and children into concentration camps, trying to, in effect re-educate them, to be adherence to the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party, all of that speaks to an effort to commit genocide." - Secretary Antony Blinken
On Russia
“Mr. Navalny’s voice speaks for millions and millions of Russians, and that voice needs to be heard." - Secretary Antony Blinken
On Taiwan
“There’s been a strong and long bipartisan commitment to Taiwan and part of that commitment is making sure Taiwan has the ability to defend itself against aggression and that is a commitment that will absolutely endure in a Biden Administration." - Secretary Antony Blinken
On Israel
“The best way and maybe the only way to ensure Israel’s future as a Jewish democratic state and to give the Palestinians the state to which they’re entitled, is through the so-called two-state solution."
On India
“India has been a bipartisan success story over successive administrations. Trump admin has carried this forward, with the concept of an Indo-Pacific and to make sure we were working with India so no country in the region, including China, could challenge its sovereignty." - Secretary Antony Blinken.
