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The United States has affirmed its unwavering commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken set to visit Asia after his Middle East engagements.
During a briefing, Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia, highlighted the trip’s significance, stating, “The Secretary’s trip to the region demonstrates our enduring commitment to and focus on the Indo-Pacific, even amidst other global challenges.”
Blinken’s itinerary includes a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Tokyo, where he will conduct separate discussions with Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Foreign Minster Yoko Kamikawa. According to Kritenbrink, the meetings will address various pressing topics, including the situation in the Middle East, support for Ukraine, and reinforcing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, among other bilateral and regional issues.
Kritenbrink pointed out Japan’s role as a pivotal G7 chair, maintaining the group’s concentrated effort on critical global and regional matters. He refrained from commenting on the G7’s consensus regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. He also emphasized the United States strategy towards China, saying, “Our commitment to the Indo-Pacific remains enduring,” and elaborated on the diplomatic goals in the region which involve “strengthening our ties with allies, partners, and friends.”
Donald Wu, the top US diplomat for South Asia, underscored the depth of the US-India dialogue. The discussions are expected to cover democratic values, human rights, and cooperation across several sectors, including clean energy, counterterrorism, artificial intelligence, space, and semiconductor manufacturing, signifying a multifaceted partnership between the two nations.
Blinken’s journey will continue until November 10.
