US Secretary of State Antony Blinken receives from Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, right, the Royal Order of the Polar Star, given to foreign citizens and stateless persons 'for extraordinary efforts for Swedish interests' ahead of the start of the 31st Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial summit, in Ta'Qali, Malta, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Alberto Pizzoli/Pool Photo via AP)