Antony Blinken flies to Paris amid final diplomatic mission in Middle East
.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken gestures while he deboards an airplane as he visits Saudi Arabia in the latest Gaza diplomacy push, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia April 29, 2024. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool
Outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken began his visit to Paris on Wednesday, where he is set to receive France’s prestigious Legion of Honor and bolster coordination on Middle East issues.
Arriving from Japan and South Korea on what is expected to be his final diplomatic trip, Blinken will meet President Emmanuel Macron, who will bestow the award.
The honor holds special significance for Blinken, a fluent French speaker who spent part of his youth in Paris and credits France with shaping his worldview.
The gesture marks a full recovery in Franco-American ties since the rocky start of President Joe Biden’s term in 2021, when the US formed a new security alliance with Britain and Australia, canceling a French submarine deal.
Under Biden, Blinken prioritized mending relations with allies, a stark contrast to President-elect Donald Trump’s approach, who controversially considered military moves for Greenland and the Panama Canal before his inauguration.
Blinken will also meet French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot to discuss the Middle East, including Syria, where extremist-led forces recently ousted Bashar al-Assad. Barrot’s recent visit to Damascus reflects cautious Western engagement with Syria’s new leadership to foster stability after years of civil war and the rise of ISIS.
He reiterated his commitment to diplomacy, working toward a Gaza ceasefire alongside Qatar’s mediation efforts.
After Paris, he will travel to Rome for talks on Syria before accompanying Biden to meet Pope Francis during the President’s final international visit.
