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Amid Global Uncertainty, Kerry Proud of His Legacy

  • U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2017.

    U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2017. | Photo: Reuters

Published 17 January 2017
Opinion

Secretary of State John Kerry was full of praise for his and Obama's foreign policy work, despite increased international instability. 

Outgoing Secretary of State John Kerry outlined his foreign policy legacy at the annual meeting of the world economic forum in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday, saying that he was proud of an unprecedented level of "engagement." While Kerry spoke of engagement of the diplomatic kind, the U.S. has historically exercised a more brutal and militaristic role in world politics.

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In the conversation titled “Diplomacy in an Era of Disruption,” Kerry spoke to Thomas Friedman from Foreign Affairs and the New York Times, explaining his politics in the Middle East and the foreign policy possibilities under President-elect Donald Trump.

Asked by Friedman, “What are you most proud of?” Kerry joked “getting here alive,” then continued, “I’m proud of the engagement of the Obama administration. I'm proud of the vision that we applied to what we’ve tried to do.”

Kerry praised Obama’s leadership in tough economic times brought on by the 2008 global financial crisis and said that “we are the strongest economy in the world by far.”

“The United States of America has been more engaged on more issues, with more crises simultaneously and with greater outcomes and consequence to that engagement on a global basis than at any time in American history,” Kerry said.

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He added that he was proud of handling the “juggling act” that included bringing sanctions against North Korea, stopping the spread of Ebola and AIDS in Africa and negotiating the Iran nuclear agreement.

“All of these things can be solved and the reason I believe we’re where we are is because we’ve been willing to try to put engagement and negotiation ahead of a rush to war,” Kerry continued.

Nevertheless, Kerry’s four years as secretary of state along with eight years of the Obama administration, has left a strand of conflicts for the Trump administration to inherit, along with both Iraq and Afghanistan left over from the Bush administration.

In 2016 alone, at least 26,171 bombs were dropped by the U.S. in the Muslim-majority countries of Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Pakistan, according to research by the Council on Foreign Relations.

While many are praising Obama's eight-year term as one of progress, particularly when looking ahead to the incoming Trump administration, his foreign policy legacy will be plagued by the use of unmanned drones and indiscriminate bombings.

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The outgoing secretary of state admitted he does not know what the Trump administration will change in regard to foreign policy.

While Trump previously signaled an intent to change the Iran nuclear deal, Kerry did not believe the agreement would be overturned, because other signatories would uphold the deal even without U.S. involvement.

Kerry went on to praise sanctions against North Korea and referred to leader Kim Jong-un as a “reckless, young and impulsive dictator.” He advised Europe to stay united and strong in the wake of Britain’s vote to leave the European Union last year. Kerry also said sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis have been successful. He referred to himself as “a passionate supporter of Israel” and said he believes that the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine will stay intact under Trump.

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