Biden set to announce Tony Blinken as Secretary of State

President elect Joe biden should announce Tony blinking, a longtime diplomat and member of Mr Biden’s inner circle, as secretary of state, several people familiar with the decision have been confirmed to CBS News. Mr. Biden is expected to make the announcement on Tuesday.

Additionally, two people familiar with the decision confirmed to CBS News that Linda Thomas-Greenfield has been selected as a UN Ambassador.

Blinken served in the last two Democratic administrations, including as Deputy National Security Adviser from 2013 to 2015 and as Deputy Secretary of State from 2015 to 2017.

Mr Biden started working with Blinken over 15 years ago when he headed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Blinken was Democratic Director of Personnel. Their relationship was cemented in the White House when Mr Biden was vice president and Blinken was his national security adviser. Blinken became Assistant Secretary of State at the end of the Obama administration.

CBS News previously reported that Blinken was already serving as Mr Biden’s global liaison, acting as the lead planner for the president-elect’s phone calls with world leaders who offered their congratulations. Blinken’s role is essential, as the State Department has been barred from providing assistance to the Trump administration’s appeals.

A Biden transition official did not respond to a CBS News request for comment.

Blinken told CBS News intelligence analyst Michael Morell in September that he expected Mr. Biden to “reaffirm American leadership, leading with our diplomacy.”

“We would actually come back, day in and day out. But to engage the world, not as it was in 2009 or even in 2017 when we left it, but as it is and as we predict it will become. : Rising powers, new players oversized by technology and information, that we must bring in if we are to progress, ”said Blinken on Morrell’s podcast“ Intelligence Matters ”.

Former national security adviser Susan Rice was also considered for the post.

Ed O’Keefe, Nikole Killion and Caroline Linton contributed to this report.