
Kerry takes to the world stage before Blinken
CNN
Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry embarked this week on what he called a "constructive trip" to Europe, meeting leaders there before Secretary of State Antony Blinken had even packed a suitcase for his international debut as the United States' most senior diplomat.
Blinken blessed and supported the trip, a State Department official told CNN. Still, Kerry's charge overseas to launch himself into diplomacy before Blinken makes his first trip next week led to concerns that he could overshadow the current secretary of state right out of the gate, according to department four officials. Kerry posted photos showing him chatting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, speaking at a European Union climate meeting, walking with EU President Ursula von der Leyen, conferring with foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and bumping elbows with senior European climate official Frans Timmermans, all in advance of a final stop in Paris where he met with President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday.More Related News