Antony Blinken, who McCain once called 'threat' to US, praises the late senator in Sedona

SEDONA — Speaking at an exclusive policy summit founded by the late U.S. Sen. John McCain, Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized his common ground with Arizona’s long-serving senator who once cast him as a “threat” to the country’s security interests and values.

The throughline of a Friday evening conversation in Sedona between Blinken and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, was the common ground between center-right and center-left as the GOP’s growing skepticism of the United States’ global commitments has opened up a new front in foreign policy discourse.

"I think there's a common denominator in this room that's epitomized by John McCain. It's epitomized by Mitt Romney,” Blinken said. “Everyone in this room is for an engaged America. Everyone in this room believes that our engagement, our leadership, matters.

"It may be that years from now people come back here, look at this group and see La Brea Tar Pits of internationalists and institutionalists. But we're fighting to make sure that's not the case," he said.

Though he earned Blinken’s reverence onstage, McCain, R-Ariz., was no fan of President Joe Biden’s foreign policy chief. In 2014, when Blinken was nominated to be deputy secretary of state under former President Barack Obama, McCain took to the Senate floor to call Blinken “not only unqualified, but in fact, in my view, one of the worst selections — of a very bad lot — that this president has chosen.”

Blinken was an advisor to then-Vice President Biden, who McCain charged was “wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.”

In his Senate floor speech McCain assailed, point-by-point, public remarks that Blinken had made defending the Obama administration’s approach to the top foreign policy matters of the time, including the U.S.’ withdrawal of troops from Iraq, American policy towards Syria, and more.

Blinken was a “functionary” implementing an agenda that McCain said has "made the world much less safe."

“Not only is Mr. Blinken unqualified, but he is, I believe, a threat to the traditional interests and values that embody the United States of America,” McCain said.

But the political terrain has shifted in the decade since then, as some top GOP leaders have adopted an "America First" posture more skeptical of the U.S.’ global commitments and multilateralism.

Amy Grappone, a spokesperson for the McCain Institute, which hosts the Sedona Forum every year, said Blinken’s remarks at the forum despite their past disagreements are in the spirit of the late senator.

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"John McCain famously showed us that you can maintain dignity and respect despite having disagreements. The Sedona Forum is designed to convene global leaders from across the political spectrum to tackle the world’s greatest threats, and given the challenges facing the world today, it is an important time to hear from the U.S. Secretary of State,” Grappone said.

Like the late McCain, Romney has been one of few national Republicans to publicly speak out against the GOP’s evolution in the style of former President Donald Trump. Romney has criticized the former president for attacking McCain and said Trump is unfit for office.

Trump, whose campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment, has in turn called Romney a "total loser" and endorsed his possible replacement in the U.S. Senate.

Several dozen former staffers of Romney and McCain came together to back Biden during the 2020 election, writing Trump would “morally bankrupt this country, irreparably damage our democracy, and permanently transform the Republican Party into a toxic personality cult.”

In his official capacity, Romney has grilled Blinken on foreign policy matters, challenging him on the U.S.' exit from Afghanistan under Biden. Though Friday they sat down as easy companions, with Romney offering Blinken sympathetic questions and digressions.

On the heels of the secretary's travels to the Middle East and China, Romney asked why Blinken believes the Palestinian militant group Hamas has not accepted proposals for a temporary ceasefire. Hamas leaders have demanded a permanent ceasefire.

Blinken said his office has no direct contact with Hamas leaders in Gaza making it “a challenge” to understand their reasoning and "I can't give you a definitive answer."

Likewise, Romney expressed bewilderment at those in his own party who oppose sending military aid to Ukraine as it fends off an invasion from Russia. He asked for Blinken’s assessment of the road ahead amid arguments that the war is a static conflict, with neither side making significant progress in recent months according to some reports.

Blinken replied that “in so many ways” Ukraine has “already succeeded” because Russia has not subsumed it into its territory.

Contrary to some of its public statements, the Biden administration is shifting its strategy towards a negotiated end to the conflict, which would likely involve ceding parts of Ukraine to Russia, Politico has reported.

“Yes, there is a real challenge in the moment, on the battlefield,” Blinken said Friday evening. He said the administration is focused on bringing more private sector investment into Ukraine and that other countries are building security agreements with the country.

He thanked Romney for his leadership on the issue along with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

Laura Gersony covers national politics for the Arizona Republic. Contact her at lgersony@gannett.com or 480-372-0389.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Secretary of State Antony Blinken praises McCain