The following is the complete transcript of an interview with Secretary of State Antony Blinken that aired Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, on “Face the Nation.”
MARGARET BRENNAN: Good morning, and welcome to Face The Nation. We’ve acquired quite a bit to get to at present. But we need to bounce proper in with our first visitor Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who joins us from the State Department. Good morning to you, Mr. Secretary.
SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN: Margaret. Good morning. Good to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to begin with some breaking news in a single day out of Iran, they’ve abolished the morality police. This is after months of protests following the loss of life of Mahsa Amini who died as a result of she was taken into custody since her head wasn’t adequately lined. Does this cease the protests which have been raging?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: That’s as much as the Iranian folks. This is about them. It’s not about us. And what we have seen for the reason that killing of Mahsa Amini has been the extraordinary braveness of Iranian younger folks, particularly girls, who’ve been main these protests standing up for the proper to have the ability to say what they need to say, put on what they need to put on. And so if the regime has now responded in some style, to these protests, that may very well be a constructive factor. But now we have to see the way it really performs out in follow. And what the Iranian folks assume. This is about them, and it is as much as them.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ve additionally seen protests in China, due to these COVID lock down insurance policies. They appear to have died out in current days. Is that as a result of the police state stopped them, or have they really had an impact?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, we have seen apparently, some easing of the COVID restrictions in current days, however very exhausting for us to- to talk to that. There once more, we have been standing up for the essential precept that individuals ought to have the proper to make their views identified peacefully, to protest because the case could also be to vent their frustrations.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Your deputy, Wendy Sherman, gave a speech right here in Washington on Friday, the place she mentioned, “I think war is potentially possible, because Xi Jinping now has absolute control in China.” You’re about to go to China. Do you agree with that evaluation?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: So, Margaret, we’re in an intense competitors with China. And in fact, there’s nothing improper with competitors itself, so long as it is principally honest, and on a degree taking part in discipline. And we’re working with international locations around the globe to construct convergence on the strategy to China, which I’ve seen get very sturdy in Europe, in Asia. And the President has a robust dedication to make sure that the competitors doesn’t veer into battle. That’s one of many causes that he spent three hours with Xi Jinping in Indonesia, on the margins of the G-20. It’s one of many causes that he requested me to go to China early subsequent 12 months, ensuring that we’re speaking we’re speaking, we’re making clear what we’re about what our intents are, what what we’re doing. That’s vitally necessary–
MARGARET BRENNAN: But conflict is probably attainable is what she mentioned.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: The dedication that now we have is to ensure that the competitors doesn’t veer into battle. And that is additionally what the world expects of us, they count on us to responsibly handle the connection with China. This is one thing that I hear from international locations around the globe. It’s precisely what President Biden is doing, standing up strongly for our pursuits and values, working with different international locations who’re equally located to advance them, ensuring that we’re preserving the context open, preserving the dialogue open.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to ask you about Russia, President Biden says he has no plans to talk with Vladimir Putin, however he would if there was a sign he needed to finish the conflict. The President’s high navy adviser Mark Milley has mentioned that in this chilly interval, fight will sluggish and there may very well be a window for diplomacy. You’re the highest diplomat. Do you assume there’s worth in attempting to begin talks?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: There’s all the time worth in diplomacy if the events in query and on this case Russia, are literally concerned with significant diplomacy. And what we have seen, at the very least lately, is strictly the opposite, at the same time as President Zelenskyy from Ukraine got here to the the G-20 international locations the main economies on the earth and put out a proposal for learn how to transfer ahead towards peace, what did Vladimir Putin do? he doubled and tripled down on every thing he was doing, mobilizing extra forces, annexing territory in Ukraine, and now attempting to weaponize winter. He’s been unable to win on the battlefield, so he is taking he is principally turning his ire and his hearth on Ukrainian civilians going after the power infrastructure, attempting to show off the lights, flip off the warmth, flip off the electrical energy. That’s what is going on on. So except and till Putin demonstrates that he is really concerned with significant diplomacy, it is unlikely to go anyplace.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The Biden administration did put a suggestion on the desk relating to a prisoner swap with Russia. That was again in July. Two weeks in the past, you mentioned Russia has a “failure to seriously negotiate.” Has that modified? Is Russia critical now?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Margaret, as , we did put a big proposal on the desk many months in the past. And since then, we have been engaged repeatedly, in any method that we are able to to attempt to advance it and to look to see if there are completely different permutations that would obtain what we’re attempting to attain, which is to get our folks residence. Brittney Griner. Paul Whelan. We’re engaged in that on a – frequently. And it is my dedication that we carry our folks residence. We is not going to cease till we do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But if these talks are actually lively and ongoing, because the White House mentioned, that means you assume there’s some cause to consider they’re critical now. You mentioned they weren’t critical a number of weeks in the past.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: As they are saying, Margaret, the proof will probably be within the pudding. We must see if the engagements that we have had the discussions that now we have produced an precise consequence. That’s a very powerful factor however we’re not resting on -on the laurels of getting put ahead a proposal some months in the past, we have been actively engaged over these many months to attempt to transfer issues ahead.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The provide – for our viewers – was to launch convicted arms supplier, often called the service provider of loss of life Viktor Bout. There are two Americans being – held you title them proper there. Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan. Brittany has been in custody for lower than a 12 months. Whelan, former US Marine, has been in captivity since 2018. Russia desires a one for one swap. How do you resolve which American will get left behind?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: So I’m not going to get into the main points of this. It can be counterproductive for me to get into the specifics of something that we’re saying with the Russians are saying and that we’re listening to, my dedication is a method or one other, so long as it takes to get folks residence. My efforts, the efforts of all the administration are to carry each Paul and Brittany residence.
MARGARET BRENNAN: To carry them each residence, however Russia desires a one for one swap.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Again, I’m not going to get into the into the main points of the place we’re–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, that is what Russian media has been reporting. So in your view, is all of it or nothing–
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Russian media -Russian media experiences quite a bit every single day that I would not essentially take at face worth.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that is not what the Russians have advised you?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Again, I’m not going to get into the main points of it. Look, the -the different facet will get a vote on this. It’s not simply what we would like. It’s what they’re ready to do. And that is one thing that we’re engaged on virtually every single day.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial for corruption, however he proper now could be attempting to piece collectively an alliance to type a authorities. If he does, he’ll turn out to be prime minister once more. I do know this. But he is been allying himself with figures who’ve spewed anti-Arab, anti-gay hate in addition to discrimination in opposition to non Orthodox Jews. One of them desires to cancel homosexual satisfaction parades. At least two have referred to as for mass deportations of Palestinians, together with the person who could head Israel’s police power. Doesn’t this make-up actually jeopardize your intention to have peace within the area?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Margaret, now we have labored and can proceed to work with Israeli Governments of each sort, simply as Israeli governments have labored with American administrations of each sort. And we’re decided to do this going ahead. Our focus is much less on personalities and extra on insurance policies. The necessary factor is what insurance policies does the federal government pursue? Government or the incoming authorities at the very least is aware of our views on various these points. But now we have an absolute dedication to Israel safety, that is not going to alter. And as we all the time have previously, we’ll- we’ll converse immediately to one another, I will probably be very clear about what we expect and what we consider with our Israeli allies. I’m certain they’re going to do the identical. And once more, we’ll deal with the insurance policies, not the personalities.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But these, this excessive proper wing authorities, because it has been described being put collectively does complicate your relationship, as a result of then you definitely additionally must spend time speaking about not canceling homosexual satisfaction parades, not deporting folks, all these insurance policies right here. That’s not what you need to deal with, which is settling peace, a two-state resolution, which is being rejected by many of those figures.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: I believe we are able to run and chew gum on the identical time.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So you are not involved about this?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Again, we’re gonna deal with what the federal government does. And as now we have with each previous Israeli authorities, and as Israelis have with each previous US administration, will work carefully collectively.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary Blinken, you are a busy man, thanks on your time this morning. Thanks, Margaret. Good to be with you.