US Diplomat Henry Kissinger Dies at 100

Legacy shaped by Cold War diplomacy and geopolitical controversies

Henry Kissinger, the former US Secretary of State, has passed away at the age of 100, according to an announcement from his consulting firm, Kissinger Associates. The respected American scholar and statesman died at his home in Connecticut. The family is organizing a private funeral, and a memorial service is planned for later in New York.

The cause of Henry Kissinger's death was not disclosed. Despite his age, he remained active, including a trip to China in July to meet with President Xi Jinping.

Kissinger played a key role in changing global dynamics after World War II by secretly talking to China, leading to Nixon's historic visit in 1972 and the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and Beijing.

After Nixon's resignation during the Watergate scandal, Kissinger continued to serve under President Gerald Ford, holding the unprecedented dual role of Secretary of State and National Security Advisor.

Despite being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his negotiations to end the Vietnam War, Kissinger's realpolitik approach, marked by the cold calculation of national interests through power, continues to be a source of controversy. Declassified documents have revealed his support for actions such as undermining Chile's elected Marxist president Salvador Allende and backing General Augusto Pinochet's coup in 1973.

Kissinger's support for Indonesia in its seizure of East Timor in 1975 and his indifference to Pakistan's mass atrocities during Bangladesh's struggle for independence in 1971 have added to debates about his ethical stance in geopolitics. Despite his intellectual prowess, Kissinger's legacy is characterized by both admiration and criticism for his unapologetic pursuit of realpolitik principles.