SEOUL: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Sunday in South Korea on the primary cease of a short Asia tour additionally together with the Philippines, as Washington strikes to strengthen ties with two key regional allies.
Blinken landed Sunday afternoon forward of the third Summit for Democracy on Monday, an initiative of US President Joe Biden, which Seoul is internet hosting this week.
Earlier than arriving in Seoul, Blinken made a short cease in Bahrain, the place he spoke to King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa about efforts to attain a ceasefire in Gaza.
The summit, which runs from March 18-20 will convey collectively authorities officers, NGOs and civil society members.
Seoul is one in all Washington’s key regional allies, and the USA has stationed about 27,000 American troopers within the South, to assist defend it in opposition to the nuclear-armed North.
Seoul’s conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol has boosted ties with Washington and sought to bury the historic hatchet with former colonial energy Japan to higher guard in opposition to Pyongyang’s threats.
Blinken will meet South Korean Overseas Minister Cho tae-yul, the ministry mentioned, for discussions that can cowl methods to increase the alliance, as Washington and Seoul discover methods to enhance their so-called “prolonged deterrence” in opposition to North Korea.
The democracy summit has attracted some criticism as a result of its selective invitation checklist, which excludes nations that take into account themselves democratic, equivalent to Thailand and Turkey.
After Seoul, Blinken heads to Manila, a visit that can reaffirm “our unwavering dedication to the Philippine ally”, based on State Division spokesperson Matthew Miller.
He’ll speak with native officers together with President Ferdinand Marcos, with points with China together with over the South China Sea more likely to prime the agenda.
The US is redoubling efforts to enhance longstanding ties with regional allies equivalent to Manila, in an effort to counterbalance China.
Beijing just lately accused Washington of utilizing the Philippines as a “pawn” within the dispute over the South China Sea, after a sequence of clashes round bitterly-contested islets within the waters.
China claims virtually the whole waterway, brushing apart competing claims from a bunch of Southeast Asian nations and a global ruling that has declared its stance baseless.
The South China Sea is strategically very important for a number of nations — together with China — offering a key route for the import and export of important gas, meals and different items.
China has quickly grown its naval forces in recent times, and snatched huge tracts of maritime territory, hoping to mission its navy and political energy properly past the nation’s shores.
Blinken landed Sunday afternoon forward of the third Summit for Democracy on Monday, an initiative of US President Joe Biden, which Seoul is internet hosting this week.
Earlier than arriving in Seoul, Blinken made a short cease in Bahrain, the place he spoke to King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa about efforts to attain a ceasefire in Gaza.
The summit, which runs from March 18-20 will convey collectively authorities officers, NGOs and civil society members.
Seoul is one in all Washington’s key regional allies, and the USA has stationed about 27,000 American troopers within the South, to assist defend it in opposition to the nuclear-armed North.
Seoul’s conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol has boosted ties with Washington and sought to bury the historic hatchet with former colonial energy Japan to higher guard in opposition to Pyongyang’s threats.
Blinken will meet South Korean Overseas Minister Cho tae-yul, the ministry mentioned, for discussions that can cowl methods to increase the alliance, as Washington and Seoul discover methods to enhance their so-called “prolonged deterrence” in opposition to North Korea.
The democracy summit has attracted some criticism as a result of its selective invitation checklist, which excludes nations that take into account themselves democratic, equivalent to Thailand and Turkey.
After Seoul, Blinken heads to Manila, a visit that can reaffirm “our unwavering dedication to the Philippine ally”, based on State Division spokesperson Matthew Miller.
He’ll speak with native officers together with President Ferdinand Marcos, with points with China together with over the South China Sea more likely to prime the agenda.
The US is redoubling efforts to enhance longstanding ties with regional allies equivalent to Manila, in an effort to counterbalance China.
Beijing just lately accused Washington of utilizing the Philippines as a “pawn” within the dispute over the South China Sea, after a sequence of clashes round bitterly-contested islets within the waters.
China claims virtually the whole waterway, brushing apart competing claims from a bunch of Southeast Asian nations and a global ruling that has declared its stance baseless.
The South China Sea is strategically very important for a number of nations — together with China — offering a key route for the import and export of important gas, meals and different items.
China has quickly grown its naval forces in recent times, and snatched huge tracts of maritime territory, hoping to mission its navy and political energy properly past the nation’s shores.
