Madeleine Albright, the first woman US secretary of state, has died after battling cancer. She was 84.
Before her death, Albright helped steer Western foreign policy in the aftermath of the Cold War.
Her death was confirmed by her family and in an email to staff of the Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategy firm founded by her.
"We are heartbroken to announce that Dr Madeleine K Albright, the 64th US Secretary of State and the first woman to hold that position, passed away earlier today," the statement read.
The family confirmed her cause of death was cancer and said she was surrounded by family and friends when she passed.
"We have lost a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend," the statement continued.
The politician came to the States from Prague as a refugee in 1948.
President Bill Clinton named Albright U.S. ambassador to the United Nations shortly after he was inaugurated in 1993 and nominated her as secretary of state three years later. She served in the post for four years, promoting the expansion of NATO and military intervention in Kosovo.
She grew to become the face of US foreign policy in the decade between the end of the Cold War and the War on Terror triggered by the September 11, 2001 attacks.
In 2012, then-President Barack Obama her the Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian honour.
Two years ago, Albright described how she had "a trick" to make sure her position was made clear in a foreign policy arena dominated by men.
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"After too much of the small talk, I would say, 'I have come a long way, so I must be frank,' Then I really did make a point of what I needed to say," she said.
"I don't think frankly that I was rougher, tougher or anything than any man. I just think people were surprised to hear that language from a woman."
