Clements Center welcomes Secretary Antony Blinken to the Forty Acres

Oct 16, 2023

Earlier this month, the Clements Center for National Security and the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law, with the support of the University of Texas at Austin, hosted Secretary Antony J. Blinken, the 71st Secretary of State of the United States, for a conversation on the state of foreign affairs with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. The event took place in the newly renovated Hogg Memorial Auditorium.

President Jay Hartzell welcomed the UT-Austin student body and opened the event, introducing both Secretary Blinken and Senator Hutchison, a distinguished alumna of the University of Texas.

Blinken opened the conversation by noting that we are at an inflection point, seen only every few generations, where decisions made today will inform great power competition and shape our future. Blinken stressed the importance of American leadership and engagement, as well as finding new ways to cooperate with other countries and work together towards a common purpose.

The conversation between Secretary Blinken and Senator Hutchison focused on several challenges the United States faces today, most notably in Ukraine. Blinken reflected on his recent visits to Ukraine and emphasized the important, positive consequences of the United States’ leadership of the international response. Blinken noted “If we had allowed Russia to do what it did toward Ukraine [and had allowed Russia] to go forward with impunity, then the message that [would have sent] around the world, to other aggressors, is that if [Russia] can do it and get away with it, [we] can do the same thing.” After emphasizing U.S. leadership, Blinken also applauded the efforts of the fifty other countries around the world that have stepped up to support Ukraine and stressed the importance of burden-sharing. Blinken noted that Putin has shown no interest in meaningfully negotiating because he believes he can outlast the Ukrainians and their supporters, including the U.S. He argued that the best way to face this challenge is by helping the Ukrainians to build up their own forces so that they can defend themselves in the future and by building a durable and functioning economy through private sector investing. “The more we do that, the more Putin understands that he can’t play a waiting game.”

The conversation also highlighted Blinken’s diplomatic trip to Mexico, which followed his visit to the Forty Acres. Senator Hutchison was quick to ask about the crisis on the border. Blinken noted that we are facing the largest border crisis in history and called for efforts to make migration humane, safe, and orderly. Blinken reiterated his earlier point about the importance of burden-sharing. “Due to the scale of this problem, if we aren’t [burden-sharing], we won’t have an effective solution.” Blinken acknowledged the United States’ broken and overwhelmed asylum system but is confident that a strong bipartisan contingent wants to find a solution. Senator Hutchison recalled her time in the Senate and previous efforts to pass immigration reform. Additionally, Blinken acknowledged the influx of synthetic opioids, noted that opioids have become a global problem, and stressed the need to address the problem on a global scale.

Several students from UT-Austin submitted questions for the Secretary. Angelina Braese, a Clements Center Undergraduate Fellow, asked what the State Department is looking for in foreign service officer applicants. Blinken answered that the State Department needs people from all disciplines, fields, and interests, from food security to emerging technologies, to fill foreign service and civil service roles: “If you take a look, you may find that whatever your passion is, whatever your skill set is, whatever your interest is, there’s a way of doing that at the State Department.”

Ryan Ashley, a PhD candidate at the LBJ School, Air Force officer, and Clements Center Graduate Fellow, asked about our credibility gap on economic engagement in Southeast Asia in view of U.S. withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership several years ago. Secretary Blinken noted that the economic dimension of U.S. foreign policy is fundamental. He highlighted the need to create opportunities for shared growth and to address key concerns like protection of digital technology rights and resilient supply chains. Secretary Blinken proceeded to describe a U.S. initiative, shared by other G7 countries, to improve infrastructure needs in Southeast Asia which will serve everyone involved.

Maddie Williams, PhD student at the LBJ School and Clements Center Graduate Fellow, noted the Secretary’s 2002 article “Winning the war of ideas.” Maddie asked how international perceptions have shifted in the last two decades, and if the U.S. is winning the war of ideas. Secretary Blinken answered that we are now in a war of ideas “to shape what comes next,” because global powers have different visions for the future. He described the United States’ vision for a free, secure, connected, and resilient world. Blinken then noted the dangers of misinformation and information distortion, bringing attention to our responsibility to preserve, create, and defend a space for American ideas.

Check out the news coverage of Secretary Blinken’s visit to the Forty Acres:

Secretary of State Antony Blinken Visits UT Austin, UT News

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks on border crisis, war in Ukraine, and A.I. at UT Austin, Yahoo News

Blinken: US and EU need legal frameworks to seize Russian assets, Politico

Secretary of State Blinken: Mexico “is our closest partner” in addressing migrant surge at border, CBS Austin

Secretary of State Antony Blinken discusses war in Ukraine, immigration, AI during UT visit, The Daily Texan

Secretary Blinken jokes that ‘our Russian friends’ interrupted his event with Wednesday’s emergency alert test, Washington Examiner

Blinken pushes support for Ukraine during talk at UT in Austin, Austin American Statesman

Sec. of State Blinken visits UT Austin, Fox 7 Austin

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits UT ahead of Big 12 farewell game, Spectrum News 1

Hutchison, ex-NATO ambassador, warns of war with Russia if US lets Ukraine lose, Dallas Morning News