THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025 11 TALKING POINTS Modernization Agenda Wrap-Up In an address at the Foreign Service Institute on Oct. 30, 2024, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reflected on his tenure and outlined the achievements of his modernization agenda, emphasizing its influence on equipping U.S. diplomacy with the tools to navigate a rapidly shifting global landscape. The Secretary highlighted key reforms during the Biden administration, including the establishment of new bureaus focused on cybersecurity, global health security, and emerging technologies. These efforts aim to address pressing issues such as artificial intelligence, climate change, and economic security while strengthening U.S. leadership in setting global norms. He also pointed to the department’s expanded global presence, with five new U.S. embassies in the Indo-Pacific region. Blinken emphasized investment in the department’s workforce, citing record hiring levels, introduction of paid internships, and reforms to improve diversity and retention. The Secretary also praised the department’s embrace of innovation, citing the adoption of AI tools and online passport renewal services as examples of how technology is transforming diplomacy. At the same time, he pointed to the importance of fostering open discourse, referencing the revitalized Dissent Channel as a means to strengthen policy through constructive debate. Blinken called for bipartisan support from Congress to sustain and build on these modernization efforts: “When our diplomats have the resources they need, when they have the support they deserve, ... there’s nothing—nothing— they can’t do.” Transition at State As the U.S. transitions from President Joe Biden’s administration to President-elect Donald Trump’s, two individuals will manage this critical period at the State Department. Secretary Blinken announced that Ambassador (ret.) Stephen D. Mull, vice provost for global affairs at the University of Virginia, will coordinate the State Department’s transition on behalf of the Biden administration. For the Trump administration, Brian Hook, a former State director of policy planning and special envoy for Iran, has been selected to lead the transition team. Mull, a seasoned diplomat and former ambassador to Lithuania and Poland, began his assignment on Oct. 28, focusing on ensuring a smooth transition while safeguarding vital U.S. interests. Blinken emphasized his commitment to using the remaining weeks of the Biden administration to address pressing foreign policy issues, including U.S.-China competition, support for Ukraine, and efforts to end the conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza. On the Trump side, Hook’s appointment highlights the early formation of the president-elect’s national security team. Known for his tenure in Trump’s first administration, Hook will play a central role in shaping the incoming administration’s foreign policy priorities. While Mull focuses on continuity and stability during the handover, Hook is expected to prioritize aligning the department’s leadership with Trump’s vision. These developments echo past challenges in diplomatic transitions. The 1980 State Department transition report, written by Robert G. Neumann for President Ronald Reagan’s incoming administration, stressed the necessity for the Secretary of State to assert control over the department’s bureaucracy and ensure alignment with the president’s foreign policy objectives. Both appointments are part of broader transition efforts across national security and foreign policy sectors, with figures like Robert Wilkie (Pentagon) and Joel Rayburn (National Security Council) also taking prominent roles. COP29 Ends in Contentious Agreement The 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), held in Baku, Azerbaijan, concluded on Nov. 22, 2024, with a polarizing agreement to triple annual climate finance for developing nations to $300 billion by 2035. The deal, which fell far short of the $1.3 trillion annually that experts say is Take away America’s diplomats working all around the globe, deployed in the world’s second-largest network of embassies and consulates, and you get a very different reality, one less bright, less peaceful, less prosperous. [But] make no mistake about it, all that deploying takes a toll. It often involves real sacrifice on the part of members of the Foreign Service and their families. Tonight, we celebrate their commitment, their sacrifice, their tireless efforts, and their profound impact on shaping our world. —World Affairs Councils of America (WACA) board member Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, presenting the WACA International Service Award to “the Foreign Service” at the WACA annual conference opening dinner in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 20, 2024. Contemporary Quote
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