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NEW DELHI: Henry Kissinger, the former US Secretary of State, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 100, his consulting firm announced. “Dr Henry Kissinger, a respected American scholar and statesman, died today at his home in Connecticut,” KissingerAssociates announced in a statement late Wednesday. The family is planning a private funeral, with a memorial service scheduled for later in New York.The cause of death was not disclosed. Despite his age, Kissinger remained active, even making a trip to China in July to meet with President Xi Jinping.One of Kissinger’s enduring legacies was his role in reshaping global dynamics after World War II. Seeking to alter the Cold War landscape against the Soviet Union, he engaged in secret negotiations with China, leading to President Richard Nixon’s historic visit in 1972 and the subsequent establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and Beijing.Following Nixon’s resignation during the Watergate scandal, Kissinger continued his service under President Gerald Ford, holding the unprecedented dual role of Secretary of State and National Security Advisor.While awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his negotiations to end the Vietnam War, Kissinger’s realpolitik approach—characterized by the cold calculation of national interests through power—remains a source of controversy. Declassified documents revealed his support for actions such as the undermining of Chile’s elected Marxist president Salvador Allende and General Augusto Pinochet’s coup in 1973.Kissinger’s backing of Indonesia during its seizure of East Timor in 1975 and his indifference to Pakistan’s mass atrocities during Bangladesh’s struggle for independence in 1971 further fueled debates about his ethical stance in geopolitics. Despite his intellectual prowess, Kissinger’s legacy is marked by both admiration and criticism for his unapologetic pursuit of realpolitik principles.(With inputs from agencies)
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