Washington, Jan 27: US’ new Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has kicked off his mission to revitalise American diplomacy by making calls to his counterparts in neighbouring countries — Mexico and Canada and two Asian allies — South Korea and Japan.
The calls made by Blinken, a long-time aide of President Joe Biden, to his counterparts in South Korea and Japan is a strong indication of the emphasis on Indo-Pacific region by the new Biden Administration, which was first started by the Obama administration and strengthened further by the previous Trump administration.
Soon after being confirmed by the US Senate on Tuesday, 58-year-old Blinken, was administered the oath by Carol Z Perez, the acting Under Secretary of State for Management.
An official welcome ceremony for him is scheduled at the State Department on Wednesday.
“We will revitalise American diplomacy to advance our interests and values in the world as it is – not as it was,” he said in a series of tweets.
“American leadership matters, and we have a unique ability to bring other countries together to meet the challenges and opportunities of our time. Together, we will implement” President Biden’s “vision of a foreign policy that promotes America’s security, prosperity, and values – and that delivers for the American people,” Blinken said.
In his phone call with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, Blinken highlighted the importance of continued trilateral US-S Korea-Japan cooperation, underscored the continued need for the denuclearisation of North Korea, and stressed President Biden’s commitment to strengthening US alliances.
“Today, Foreign Minister Kang and I affirmed the enduring strength and importance of the US-ROK Alliance, the linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity for a free and open Indo-Pacific region and stressed the importance of US-ROK-Japan cooperation,” Blinken said in another tweet.
During Blinken’s phone call with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, the two leaders affirmed that the US-Japan Alliance is the cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity for a free and open Indo-Pacific region and across the globe.
“Blinken highlighted the importance of continued US-Japan-Republic of Korea cooperation and stressed President Biden’s pledge to strengthen US alliances and engage with the world again,” State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton congratulated Blinken for becoming America’s 71st secretary of state.
“He’ll do an excellent job,” she said. (PTI)
