Latest Antony Blinken News

US pledges $100M to back proposed Kenyan-led multinational force to Haiti

Sep. 22, 2023 18:46 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Biden administration pledged $100 million on Friday to support a proposed Kenyan-led multinational force to restore security to conflict-ravaged Haiti and urged other nations to make similar contributions. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the...

Zelenskyy delivers upbeat message to US lawmakers on war progress as some Republican support softens

Sep. 21, 2023 21:52 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy worked to shore up U.S. support for Ukraine on a whirlwind visit to Washington on Thursday, delivering an upbeat message on the war's progress while facing new questions about the flow of American dollars that for 19 months have helped keep his...

Kenya's president is committing his country to lead a multinational force to Haiti to combat gangs

Sep. 21, 2023 12:02 PM EDT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s president has committed his country to lead a multinational force in Haiti to combat gang warfare, even as residents of both countries question the plan being pushed by Washington. President William Ruto spoke on Wednesday at a ceremony establishing...

South Africa to host US trade forum as diplomatic tensions subside

Sep. 21, 2023 05:24 AM EDT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa will host a meeting in November of nations participating in the U.S. Africa Growth and Opportunity Act despite earlier calls to exclude the country from the forum due to its ties to Russia and the docking of a sanctioned Russian vessel near Cape Town last year. ...

Ukraine, Russia and the tense UN encounter that almost happened — but didn't

Sep. 20, 2023 20:50 PM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — It was a moment the diplomatic world was watching for — but didn't get. In the end, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov avoided staring each other down Wednesday across the U.N. Security Council's famous...

Atlantic nations commit to environmental, economic cooperation on sidelines of UN meeting

Sep. 18, 2023 23:41 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — More than 30 Atlantic countries on four continents committed Monday to bolster coordination on economic development, environmental protection, maritime issues and more, the White House said. The adoption of the Declaration on Atlantic Cooperation was completed...

Blinken meets Chinese VP as US-China contacts increase ahead of possible summit

Sep. 18, 2023 19:10 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Monday with China’s vice president on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly as the Biden administration and Beijing step up high-level contacts ahead of what could be a leader-level summit this fall. Blinken and Vice...

US names former commerce secretary, big Democrat donor to coordinate private sector aid for Ukraine

Sep. 14, 2023 13:23 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has tapped former Commerce Secretary and major Democratic donor Penny Pritzker to coordinate U.S. efforts to channel private sector reconstruction assistance to Ukraine. President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced...

Daughters of jailed Bahrain activist say he resumes hunger strike as crown prince visits US

Sep. 14, 2023 01:29 AM EDT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The daughters of a prominent human rights activist jailed in Bahrain said he resumed a hunger strike Wednesday after being denied medical care and as the country's crown prince visited the United States. Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, a dual...

Hundreds of Bahrain prisoners suspend hunger strike as crown prince to visit United States

Sep. 12, 2023 23:07 PM EDT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Hundreds of prisoners suspended their monthlong hunger strike in Bahrain, an advocacy group said Tuesday, just ahead of a visit of the island nation's crown prince to the United States. The strike will pause until Sept. 30 as some prisoners...