The US Secretary of State recalled the Russian war in Ukraine, the threat of the Russian authorities to use nuclear weapons, and the challenges from China.

The era that marked the post-Cold War era is over. Russia has invaded a neighboring state, China is challenging. 

“Once again we find ourselves in a whirlwind of history,” Blinken said during the solemn ceremony for the installation of a bust of the 61st Secretary of State, James Baker, who served as the top of American diplomacy from 1989 to 1992.

During the perestroika period, Baker had a close personal relationship with Eduard Shevardnadze, the Soviet foreign minister, and is credited with architecting many of the arms control agreements that were reached during that time.

However, as Blinken pointed out, the period of collaboration is now over.

“A more assertive China is challenging the rules-based international order that has long been the foundation of security and prosperity for Americans and people around the world.  The post-Cold War era has ended,” he said, drawing a line under the warming period in international relations after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the USSR.

Blinken avoided describing the current era, which he believes has supplanted the warming that marked the period following the Soviet Union’s demise.

He did, however, draw attention to the current situation in Ukraine.

“Russia has invaded a neighbor,” Blinken said, referring to the current stage of international relations and “almost totalitarian repression at home.  It’s threatening even to use nuclear weapons.”

For his part, the 91-year-old Baker expressed the opinion that “winds of war are blowing hard in Ukraine, where citizens there are making some quite heroic efforts to maintain their independence.”

“I think this crisis once again proves the critical importance of American leadership,” Baker said.

According to him, the West, by its actions against Russia and Ukraine, is trying to ensure that “violence doesn’t spread” triggering “something else” that will be “a really daunting task for the West.”

“I think it’s too soon to declare victory. Some people are inclined to declare victory right now, some commentators. I think it’s too soon for that,” said the former US foreign minister.

However, Baker stressed that he believes ” the United States is and still will remain for some time a force for international peace and stability.”

You were reading: “The post-Cold War era has ended” – Antony Blinken