Henry Kissinger

Subject :IR

Section: International events

Context: Henry Kissinger, dominant US diplomat of Cold War era, dies aged 100

More about the news:

Henry Kissinger, the influential U.S. diplomat known for his pivotal role in Cold War-era diplomacy, has died at the age of 100.
Born in Germany, Kissinger played a key part in opening diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China, negotiating arms control agreements with the Soviet Union, and concluding the Vietnam War.
Despite being celebrated for his strategic brilliance, Kissinger faced criticism for supporting anti-communist regimes, particularly in Latin America.
He served as national security adviser and secretary of state under Presidents Nixon and Ford,

Some more facts about Henry Kissinger:

Heinz Alfred Kissinger, born in Germany in 1923 and later known as Henry Kissinger, moved to the United States in 1938 to escape the Nazi regime’s persecution of Jews.
After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he attended Harvard University on a scholarship, eventually earning a doctorate and staying on as a faculty member for 17 years.
Kissinger, an influential figure in U.S. diplomacy, worked as a consultant to government agencies, acting as an intermediary for the State Department with North Vietnam in 1967.
With connections to President Lyndon Johnson’s administration, he facilitated communication about peace negotiations to the Nixon camp.
Nixon appointed him national security adviser in 1968.
In 1973, Kissinger, serving as both national security adviser and secretary of state, engaged in shuttle diplomacy to ease tensions in the Arab-Israeli conflict, leading to a disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights.
In an effort to counter Soviet influence, Kissinger initiated diplomatic relations with China, culminating in President Nixon’s historic summit with Chairman Mao Zedong in 1972.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for his efforts to bring peace to Vietnam.