Henry Kissinger, a master of realist diplomacy during the Cold War, dies… Age 100

Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (1923-2023), a legendary American diplomat who led the end of the Vietnam War, the establishment of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China, and the reduction of armaments between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, has passed away. Age 100. Foreign media, including Reuters, reported on the 29th (local time) that former Secretary of State Kissinger passed away at his home in Connecticut, USA. Kissinger, a German-born American diplomat, is a representative American international strategist who served as national security adviser and secretary of state in the Nixon-Ford administration. He is a believer in Realpolitik (realpolitik), which values ​​reality over ideology, and is evaluated as a person who carried out ‘Kissinger diplomacy’ that does not follow the usual diplomatic path. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his contributions, including ending the Vietnam War, but controversy arose as the award was given to the head of foreign affairs for a country that led a war that resulted in enormous sacrifices. Born in Bavaria, Germany, on May 27, 1923, he was an Orthodox Jew who immigrated to New York with his family in 1938 and became a naturalized American in 1943. He served in World War II and also participated in intelligence operations as an interpreter. After working as a professor at Harvard University, he joined the Richard Nixon administration as a national security adviser in 1969, and also played an active role in the Gerald Ford administration. He served as Secretary of State, etc. He is considered a representative ‘China expert’ and is credited with “opening the door to China.” Kissinger held peace talks to end the Vietnam War, China’s diplomatic opening through the 1972 meeting between U.S. President Nixon and Chinese President Mao Zedong, détente between East and West during the Cold War, including the reduction of armaments between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, and Israel and Arab countries. He played a key role in major events in the 1970s, including the expansion of national relations. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973, but there was also criticism that the award was given to the American diplomat responsible for the massacre in Vietnam. During his active duty, “There are no permanent enemies or permanent friends in America. He also said, “Only national interest exists.” At an old age, he said in an interview with the British Economist this year regarding the competition for hegemony between the United States and China, “Because the world has little room for political concessions on either side, any disturbance of the balance could lead to disastrous results.” “Typically, we are in a situation similar to the situation just before World War I,” he said, showing active activity. Last year, when he was 98, he published ‘Leadership: A Study of Global Strategy by Six People Who Shaped Modern History’ and wrote about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying, “If Ukraine joins NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), the security border between Russia and Europe will be only 480km from Moscow.” It is located in a remote place. He has been focusing on international issues, pointing out that “the historical buffer zone that protected this country when France and Germany attempted to occupy Russia for two centuries in succession is virtually disappearing.” Kissinger also visited Beijing, China in July of this year and met with President Xi Jinping. Reporter Hong Seok-jae [email protected]