WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement on the passing of former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright:

“Madeleine Albright was a brilliant, forceful advocate for democracy; a ferocious defender of human rights; a trailblazer for women throughout the nation and across the globe; a daughter of Eastern Europe who followed her family’s perilous path to freedom and went on to become the architect of America’s post-Cold War foreign policy. Above all, she was a lifelong student of history, drawing on humanity’s past successes and failures in an effort to build a better future for all. Losing a titan like Secretary Albright would hurt, no matter when it came – but losing her at this perilous moment stings beyond what we could have imagined. As both a skilled diplomat and a champion of the NATO alliance, Secretary Albright’s incisive insights will be sorely missed in the weeks ahead.

“Last month, Secretary Albright once again demonstrated her deep understanding of global affairs in an op-ed warning Putin of the dangers of his invasion, published the day before Russian troops crossed Ukraine’s borders. Drawing on her personal experiences with Putin and valuable historical context, she wrote: ‘Instead of paving Russia’s path to greatness, invading Ukraine would ensure Mr. Putin’s infamy by leaving his country diplomatically isolated, economically crippled and strategically vulnerable in the face of a stronger, more united Western alliance.’ One month later, every word has proven to be true. Coming from anyone else, you’d be impressed by such prescient predictions before a single shot was fired. For Secretary Albright, it was par for the course.

“The world has lost a legend, and I’m saddened to have lost a friend. Madeleine was incredibly dear to both Mary and I, and we will cherish that friendship for the rest of our lives. She taught me so much about our history, and helped me think in new ways about both our present challenges and our future opportunities. I will miss my friend immensely, and try my best every day to live up to the example she leaves behind.”