Newly appointed US secretary of state Antony Bilkins said, “America’s leadership is needed around the world, and we will provide it.” He was addressing the media in a press conference for the first time as US Secretary of State.
“America at its best still has a greater capacity than any other nation on earth to mobilize others for the better,” he added.
He reiterated US commitment to climate change and stated “we will do everything in our power to make up for lost time in the fight against climate change.”
“We must work together to build a climate-resilient future, not only for the vulnerable communities that will pay the highest price if we do not act, but for our future generations. We must act boldly, and we must act now,” he said.
“We must adapt, driving toward net-zero emissions, and build resilience to protect our communities from the impacts of climate change. We’ll increase the flow of finance to adaptation and resilience initiatives while working to improve the quality of resilience programming,” he added.
He also reassured that “America’s values are noble and powerful” and the US will “recommit to them.”
Mr Bilkins also held telephone conversations with several of his counterparts from various countries on his first day, including Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau, Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, Israeli Foreign Minister Ashkenazi, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin, Jr., and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai.
Mr Bilkins also spoke to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg where he reassured the Biden Administration’s “determination to strengthen and reinvigorate the alliance.”
