![US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to staff at the US State Department during the first visit of US President Joe Biden(L) in Washington, DC, February 4, 2021. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced concern over jailed opposition figure Alexei Navalny and imprisoned Americans in a telephone call Thursday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. / AFP / SAUL LOEB](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JEPYIJO75X2BG45QQU66VXHP6A.jpg?smart=true&auth=454e248734fd4e7522c10d76d56c472c7cbac66ccbdbea1eeabdb167bc355ecc&width=400&height=225)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the US State Department as President Joe Biden listens, Washington, February 4, 2021. AFP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the US State Department as President Joe Biden listens, Washington, February 4, 2021. AFP
Biden administration appoints Aimee Cutrona as acting special envoy for Syria
She is also deputy assistant secretary of state for Levant affairs