He is expected to revitalise State Department and increase diversity of its workforceAfter his 78 to 22 confirmation at the Senate, new U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had an administrative swearing-in on Tuesday at the State Department, after which he got to work and spoke to his counterparts from Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Mexico on the phone. “Secretary Blinken highlighted the importance of continued U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea cooperation and stressed President Biden’s pledge to strengthen U.S. alliances and engage with the world again,” the readout said. He called India a “bipartisan success story.”At home, Mr. Blinken is expected to try and revitalise the State Department and increase the diversity of its workforce. The Department has close to a 1,000 fewer staff than when Mr. Blinken left it. Last week, Mr. Blinken told Senators that the State Department will be a “nonpartisan institution” on his watch.

Source: The Hindu January 27, 2021 06:52 UTC