Henry Kissinger passed away last night at the age of 100. Defined by many as the “Machiavelli of the 20th century“, the figure who behind the scenes decided or suggested many American foreign policy operations. He was appointed National Security Advisor by Nixon in 1969. From this moment Kissinger became the “deus ex machina” of American foreign policy based on a new Realpolitik aimed at détente between the USA and the USSR and the rapprochement between Washington and Beijing which culminated in 1972 with the summit between Nixon and Mao, thanks to which China emerged from isolation on the international stage.
Remembered for the arduous negotiations to put an end to the tragedy of the Vietnam War which ended thanks to the Paris Agreements of 1973, to which Kissinger made his decisive contribution and which then earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in that same year.