By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL (GOLDENHORN AGENCY)- On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a formal statement explained that the U.S. is “committed to strengthening global resiliency and democratic renewal and promoting peaceful, self-reliant nations that become strong economic and security partners capable of addressing shared challenges.” Blinken explained that “in the spirit of partnership” the U.S. Government has plans to implement what he termed as the ten-year U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability. He said the U.S. will be working with Haiti, Libya, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, and five countries in the Coastal West Africa region (Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea and Togo.
Blinken highlighted that the State Department will spearhead what he called “whole-of-government Strategy” that he explained will “align U.S. capabilities in diplomacy, development and the security sector.” The U.S. will work closely with in-country partners, businesses and civil society organizations at national and local levels, Blinken added. He said, “we will shape a common purpose to harness all the tools at our disposal in support of the Strategy, through our embassies overseas, our country and technical experts in Washington, and with integrated and intentional planning and monitoring, evaluation, and learning across the U.S. Government.”
The secretary of state warned that the entire global community is facing “destabilizing transnational challenges.” Blinken pointed out that these disrupt people’s lives, economies and entire societies and said that because of violent extremists and those who promote and practice oppression, that the world is under constant threat of authoritarianism. He further stated that violence and coercion have become the rule not the exception and that the Strategy will “confront these negative global trends and create new models for broader cooperation, grounded in mutual accountability and enduring stability.” Blinken emphasized that the U.S. has learned from its past errors in judgement where stabilization efforts were concerned and stressed those will be taken into account when using the new approach.
Blinken lauded the U.S. Congress for passing the “landmark bipartisan” Global Fragility Act that underscores this Strategy and requires a “fundamental shift” in how the U.S. will move forward to prevent global conflict. He thanked “civil society and expert communities” that advocated for this act and who Blinken said will be instrumental in assisting the U.S. government in implementing the action steps.
