The secretary of state envisioned such an approach would help “disarm critics and skeptics who would try to exploit” Washington’s flaws to undermine its “global leadership on these issues”
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urged subordinates overseas as part of the U.S. administration’s course to promote democracy and human rights not to gloss over problems in this area at home. An internal circular was sent Friday to U.S. embassies around the world, Politico reported. The secretary of state intended such an approach to help “disarm critics and skeptics who would try to exploit” Washington’s flaws to undermine its “global leadership on these issues.”
“It means we acknowledge our imperfections. We don’t sweep [the garbage] under the rug. We openly fight it”, – the publication quotes an excerpt from the secretary of state’s circular.
That approach includes criticism of American allies. The secretary of state outlined the following list of priorities for diplomats: supporting democratic reform movements “in strategically important countries and close partners of the United States,” giving the public the ability to combat surveillance technology while providing access to information, fighting corruption and preventing human rights abuses by security services, even those foreign countries to which the United States supplies arms.
Politico characterizes the order from the head of U.S. diplomacy as a risky political move, “given the angry reaction of conservatives to attempts by education and other circles to recall U.S. concerns about sensitive issues such as racism.”