'Never say never': Blinken on Biden-Putin meeting in the future

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
28 Sep 2023 19:36
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The US Secretary of State confidently says the United States considers the post-Cold-War era to be over and has entered an intense competition to "shape what comes next."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a media briefing at the State Department, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, in Washington (AP)

During a conversation with The Atlantic, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a future meeting between presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin again should not be ruled out.

"Look, never say never because ultimately what everyone wants, starting with the Ukrainians, is a just and durable peace. So, let’s see if we ever get to this point when it is possible," he said.

He even confidently said the United States considers the post-Cold-War era to be over and has entered an intense competition to "shape what comes next."

"I don't think we're in a new Cold War, but we are in a new era," he stated, adding, "Because as we see it, the post-Cold-War era is over and what we're in now is a period where there's an intense competition to shape what's comes next."

This brings forth what former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said back in March when he warned of a second Cold War that is more dangerous than the first amid the continued escalating tension between China and the United States.

According to Blinken, Russia, China, and other countries are part of the competition in which the stakes could not be higher, but the US remains confident in being able to stay on top.

Blinken continued to describe the United Nations Security Council, on behalf of the US, as having "a lot of problems" and that the US is looking into adding more countries to the body.

"The Security Council has a lot of problems, and we're working on them," he declared, noting, "We're leading the effort to actually reform the council, to bring countries onto the council that better reflect realities of today."