Guy Taylor
Articles by Guy Taylor
Antony Blinken confirmed by Senate as secretary of state
The Senate confirmed President Biden's nominee Antony Blinken as America's 71st secretary of state on Tuesday, paving the way for him to take charge of a vast U.S. diplomatic corps whose morale suffered during the norm-breaking years of the Trump administration. Published January 26, 2021
Iran’s U.N. ambassador says Biden must make the first move
A top Iranian diplomat says the Biden administration must make the first move, likely by lifting sanctions if it wants to breathe new life into the mangled 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran. Published January 26, 2021
Ryu Hyun-woo, high-level North Korean diplomat, defects to South Korea
A high-level North Korean diplomat who had been serving as a key representative for Pyongyang in the Middle East has defected to South Korea, according to sources in Seoul. Published January 25, 2021
Will Biden lift sanctions on Iran? Crisis Group says he should
Iran has engaged in "worrying violations" of the 2015 nuclear deal, including uranium enrichment at "a level perilously close to weapons-grade," according to a prominent international think tank, which argues the incoming Biden administration should respond not by punishing Tehran, but by moving quickly to revive the accord. Published January 15, 2021
Trump accomplishments in Middle East complicate Biden Iran plans
The diplomatic breakthroughs U.S. officials fashioned between several major Arab nations and Israel over the past year have represented perhaps the greatest foreign policy triumph of the Trump administration. Published January 12, 2021
William Burns, Iran diplomacy advocate, tapped as CIA head
President-elect Joseph R. Biden has picked a State Department lifer and a staunch advocate of diplomacy with Iran to head the CIA, tapping former Ambassador William Burns to head the spy agency after a tumultuous four years under President Trump. Published January 11, 2021
Kim Jong-un threatens Joe Biden with expanded nuclear program
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is marking the impending end of the Trump administration early by leveling a major threat to expand Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile programs unless the incoming Biden administration dials back America's "hostile" policy toward North Korea. Published January 10, 2021
Pompeo calls on world to stand up against Iran’s threat to expel U.N. inspectors
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pleaded with the international community over the weekend to unify against Iran's latest threat to expel United Nations nuclear inspectors if Washington doesn't drop sanctions imposed on Tehran in the Trump era. Published January 10, 2021
Kim Jong-un calls U.S. ‘biggest enemy,’ vows to build more nuclear weapons
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared Friday that the U.S. remains his nation's "biggest enemy" and said he believes Washington will be hostile toward North Korea whether there is a Democrat or Republican in the White House. Published January 8, 2021
Pompeo holds first meeting with Blinken at State Department
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the incoming Biden administration's nominee to be his successor, Antony Blinken, met Friday for the first time since Mr. Blinken was nominated in late November. Published January 8, 2021
For foes abroad, deadly Capitol clashes prove a tempting target
China called it a "collapse" of the U.S. political system that would "destroy" America's global image. Iran went with the "annihilation of Western democracy," while Russia said the situation was proof the U.S. system is "no longer charting the course" for the world. Published January 7, 2021
Images of chaos at the Capitol spread through world’s media
Stunned U.S. allies and adversaries alike weighed in on the chaos that engulfed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, as images of the confrontation between President Trump's supporters and law enforcement led virtually every news website around the globe. Published January 6, 2021
Kim Jong-un makes no mention of Donald Trump, nukes or Joe Biden in party speech
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made no mention of denuclearization, the United States or President Trump in a rare and frank public speech that opened the first meeting of the ruling Workers' Party Congress in nearly five years in Pyongyang this week. Published January 6, 2021
North Korea claims it has no COVID-19 cases, but now seeks vaccines
North Korea, which continues to claim it has zero COVID-19 cases, is now requesting access to vaccines for the virus from an international charitable program funded by wealthy philanthropists and governments around the world. Published January 5, 2021
Saudis and Qataris reach possible breakthrough to end GCC flap: Officials
Kuwait said Monday that Saudi Arabia had agreed to reopen its airspace and land and sea borders to Qatar in an apparent breakthrough toward resolving the diplomatic fight between wealthy Gulf Arab monarchies that has vastly complicated the Trump administration's diplomacy. Published January 4, 2021
Andy Biggs’ bill seeks to strip Pakistan of special U.S. ally status
GOP Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona is pushing a bill to strip Pakistan of its status as a major non-NATO ally of the United States. Published January 4, 2021
Hunter Biden business dealings spark fear Joe Biden won’t take ‘tough policy toward China’
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a "cold war" between communist China and the United States, with Beijing scrambling at levels previously unseen to try to undermine America's status as the world's leading superpower. Published December 26, 2020
Britain and European Union reach post-Brexit trade agreement
Britain and the European Union reached a last-minute trade agreement Thursday, paving the way for an end to more than four years of turmoil that has surrounded United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU -- a departure slated to be finalized at year's end. Published December 24, 2020
U.S., China ‘cold war’ poses immediate test for Joe Biden
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a "cold war" between communist China and the United States, with Beijing scrambling at levels previously unseen to try to undermine America's status as the world's leading superpower. Published December 22, 2020
Russia, China team up for air patrols over Western Pacific
Russian and Chinese bombers flew a joint patrol mission over the Western Pacific on Tuesday in what is considered a show of close military cooperation between Moscow and Beijing. Published December 22, 2020