Henry Kissinger, the former US secretary of state known for his influential role in shaping the post-World War II world through unapologetic promotion of American power, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 100. His consulting firm, Kissinger Associates, announced his death, stating that he died at his home in Connecticut.
The family of Kissinger plans to hold a private funeral, with a memorial service to be conducted later in New York, where he spent his formative years after his Jewish family fled Nazi Germany. The cause of death was not disclosed.
China, a nation profoundly influenced by Kissinger’s diplomatic efforts, was among his lasting legacies. In a bid to alter the dynamics of the Cold War, Kissinger engaged with Beijing secretly, leading to a historic visit by President Richard Nixon in 1972. The subsequent establishment of US-China relations transformed China into the world’s second-largest economy.
An active centenarian, Kissinger visited China in July to meet President Xi Jinping. He served as secretary of state and national security advisor under President Gerald Ford after the Watergate scandal led to Nixon’s resignation.
Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his negotiations to end the Vietnam War, despite the conflict not immediately ceasing. Critics have accused him of involvement in controversial geopolitical decisions, such as the undermining of Chile’s elected president Salvador Allende and supporting Indonesia’s annexation of East Timor.
Despite controversy, Kissinger was respected as an iconic diplomat and elder statesman. His intellectual prowess, realpolitik philosophy, and contribution to diplomatic history leave a complex legacy.
