The next is the total transcript of an interview with Secretary of State Antony Blinken that aired Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, on "Face the Nation."
MARGARET BRENNAN: Good morning, and welcome to Face The Nation. We have so much to get to at present. However we need to leap proper in with our first visitor Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who joins us from the State Division. Good morning to you, Mr. Secretary.
SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN: Margaret. Good morning. Good to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to begin with some breaking information in a single day out of Iran, they've abolished the morality police. That is after months of protests following the loss of life of Mahsa Amini who died as a result of she was taken into custody since her head wasn't adequately coated. Does this cease the protests which have been raging?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: That is as much as the Iranian folks. That is about them. It isn't about us. And what we have seen because the killing of Mahsa Amini has been the extraordinary braveness of Iranian younger folks, particularly ladies, who've been main these protests standing up for the appropriate to have the ability to say what they need to say, put on what they need to put on. And so if the regime has now responded in some vogue, to these protests, that may very well be a constructive factor. However we have now to see the way it truly performs out in follow. And what the Iranian folks assume. That is about them, and it is as much as them.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We have additionally seen protests in China, due to these COVID lock down insurance policies. They appear to have died out in latest days. Is that as a result of the police state stopped them, or have they really had an impact?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Effectively, we have seen apparently, some easing of the COVID restrictions in latest days, however very arduous for us to- to talk to that. There once more, we have been standing up for the essential precept that individuals ought to have the appropriate to make their views identified peacefully, to protest because the case could also be to vent their frustrations.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Your deputy, Wendy Sherman, gave a speech right here in Washington on Friday, the place she stated, "I feel battle is probably attainable, as a result of Xi Jinping now has absolute management in China." You are about to go to China. Do you agree with that evaluation?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: So, Margaret, we're in an intense competitors with China. And naturally, there's nothing fallacious with competitors itself, so long as it is principally honest, and on a stage enjoying subject. And we're working with nations around the globe to construct convergence on the strategy to China, which I've seen get very robust in Europe, in Asia. And the President has a powerful willpower to make sure that the competitors doesn't veer into battle. That is one of many causes that he spent three hours with Xi Jinping in Indonesia, on the margins of the G-20. It is one of many causes that he requested me to go to China early subsequent yr, ensuring that we're speaking we're speaking, we're making clear what we're about what our intents are, what what we're doing. That is vitally necessary–
MARGARET BRENNAN: However battle is probably attainable is what she stated.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: The willpower that we have now is to guarantee that the competitors doesn't veer into battle. And that is additionally what the world expects of us, they count on us to responsibly handle the connection with China. That is one thing that I hear from nations around the globe. It is precisely what President Biden is doing, standing up strongly for our pursuits and values, working with different nations who're equally located to advance them, ensuring that we're conserving the context open, conserving the dialogue open.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to ask you about Russia, President Biden says he has no plans to talk with Vladimir Putin, however he would if there was a sign he wished to finish the battle. The President's high army adviser Mark Milley has stated that in this chilly interval, fight will sluggish and there may very well be a window for diplomacy. You are the highest diplomat. Do you assume there's worth in making an attempt to begin talks?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: There's at all times worth in diplomacy if the events in query and on this case Russia, are literally concerned about significant diplomacy. And what we have seen, a minimum of not too long ago, is precisely the opposite, at the same time as President Zelenskyy from Ukraine got here to the the G-20 nations the main economies on the earth and put out a proposal for how one can transfer ahead towards peace, what did Vladimir Putin do? he doubled and tripled down on every part he was doing, mobilizing extra forces, annexing territory in Ukraine, and now making an attempt to weaponize winter. He is been unable to win on the battlefield, so he is taking he is principally turning his ire and his hearth on Ukrainian civilians going after the vitality infrastructure, making an attempt to show off the lights, flip off the warmth, flip off the electrical energy. That is what is going on on. So until and till Putin demonstrates that he is truly concerned about significant diplomacy, it is unlikely to go wherever.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The Biden administration did put a suggestion on the desk in relation to a prisoner swap with Russia. That was again in July. Two weeks in the past, you stated Russia has a "failure to significantly negotiate." Has that modified? Is Russia severe now?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Margaret, as you understand, we did put a major proposal on the desk many months in the past. And since then, we have been engaged repeatedly, in any manner that we are able to to attempt to advance it and to look to see if there are totally different permutations that would obtain what we're making an attempt to attain, which is to get our folks residence. Brittney Griner. Paul Whelan. We're engaged in that on a - regularly. And it is my willpower that we convey our folks residence. We won't cease till we do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But when these talks at the moment are lively and ongoing, because the White Home stated, that implies you assume there may be some motive to consider they're severe now. You stated they weren't severe just a few weeks in the past.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: As they are saying, Margaret, the proof will likely be within the pudding. We've got to see if the engagements that we have had the discussions that we have now produced an precise consequence. That is crucial factor however we aren't resting on -on the laurels of getting put ahead a proposal some months in the past, we have been actively engaged over these many months to attempt to transfer issues ahead.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The supply - for our viewers - was to launch convicted arms vendor, referred to as the service provider of loss of life Viktor Bout. There are two People being - held you title them proper there. Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan. Brittany has been in custody for lower than a yr. Whelan, former US Marine, has been in captivity since 2018. Russia desires a one for one swap. How do you resolve which American will get left behind?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: So I am not going to get into the small print of this. It could be counterproductive for me to get into the specifics of something that we're saying with the Russians are saying and that we're listening to, my willpower is a method or one other, so long as it takes to get folks residence. My efforts, the efforts of your entire administration are to convey each Paul and Brittany residence.
MARGARET BRENNAN: To convey them each residence, however Russia desires a one for one swap.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Once more, I am not going to get into the into the small print of the place we're–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, that is what Russian media has been reporting. So in your view, is all of it or nothing–
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Russian media -Russian media studies so much day-after-day that I would not essentially take at face worth.
MARGARET BRENNAN: In order that's not what the Russians have informed you?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Once more, I am not going to get into the small print of it. Look, the -the different aspect will get a vote on this. It isn't simply what we wish. It is what they're ready to do. And that is one thing that we're engaged on virtually day-after-day.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial for corruption, however he proper now's making an attempt to piece collectively an alliance to type a authorities. If he does, he'll change into prime minister once more. I do know you understand this. However he is been allying himself with figures who've spewed anti-Arab, anti-gay hate in addition to discrimination towards non Orthodox Jews. One in every of them desires to cancel homosexual satisfaction parades. At the very least two have known as for mass deportations of Palestinians, together with the person who might head Israel's police power. Does not this make-up actually jeopardize your intention to have peace within the area?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Margaret, we have now labored and can proceed to work with Israeli Governments of each type, simply as Israeli governments have labored with American administrations of each type. And we're decided to do this going ahead. Our focus is much less on personalities and extra on insurance policies. The necessary factor is what insurance policies does the federal government pursue? Authorities or the incoming authorities a minimum of is aware of our views on numerous these points. However we have now an absolute dedication to Israel safety, that is not going to vary. And as we at all times have prior to now, we'll- we'll converse instantly to one another, I will likely be very clear about what we predict and what we consider with our Israeli allies. I am certain they're going to do the identical. And once more, we'll deal with the insurance policies, not the personalities.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However these, this excessive proper wing authorities, because it has been described being put collectively does complicate your relationship, as a result of you then additionally need to spend time speaking about not canceling homosexual satisfaction parades, not deporting folks, all these insurance policies right here. That is not what you need to deal with, which is settling peace, a two-state resolution, which is being rejected by many of those figures.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: I feel we are able to run and chew gum on the similar time.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So you are not involved about this?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Once more, we're gonna deal with what the federal government does. And as we have now with each previous Israeli authorities, and as Israelis have with each previous US administration, will work intently collectively.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary Blinken, you are a busy man, thanks on your time this morning. Thanks, Margaret. Good to be with you.