Serves as principal deputy and advisor to the Secretary of State and oversees all resource allocation and management activities of the department.
Kurt Campbell is the Deputy Secretary of State.
Campbell recently served as Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs in the National Security Council. He also served as the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs during the Obama Administration. Campbell also co-founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of The Asia Group, LLC and New American Security.
Past statements on development, diplomacy, and U.S. global leadership:
On U.S. leadership in the Indo-Pacific: “The Biden-Harris Administration is determined to stay laser-focused on the Indo-Pacific, where so much of the story of the 21st century will be written. We must ensure that U.S. leadership remains indispensable in this region and beyond.” (source)
On Diplomacy: “I believe in the value of being present. Of showing up to deepen relationships; deliver messages of deterrence to our adversaries and reassurance to our friends; and conduct the persistent diplomacy required in a world often defined by the unexpected.” (source)
On Multilateralism: “We are stronger across-the-board due to our alliances and partnerships, and we will keep growing the connective tissue between them.” (source)
On China: “We do believe that it is important for the United States and China to take the necessary practical steps that would enable effective communication to deal with an unintended set of circumstances, or an accident, or a mishap. And we will continue to articulate the rationale for why these are important, particularly as our forces increasingly rub up against one another and operate in closer proximity.” (source)
On development in the Indo-Pacific: “Over the last 40 years, the greatest experience in wealth creation, in lifting people out of poverty, in promoting democracy, in supporting integration has taken place in the Indo-Pacific. It’s a remarkable achievement, too often overlooked. But a tremendous achievement. And one that we have to look at very carefully. I think the United States has helped play a role in that, through a variety of mechanisms, Michael. Keeping American markets open for the export of goods, the provision of security, supporting freedom of navigation.” (source)