Washington: US Secretary for State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary for Defense Lloyd J. Austin III will be travelling to New Delhi next week to participate in the US-India 2+2 ministerial dialogue on November 10.
The two ministers will hold dialogues with his Indian counterparts — S Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh. They will discuss both bilateral and global concerns and developments in the Indo-Pacific.
It is also expected to discuss Israel operations in Gaza against the terror organisation Hamas.
In a statement, the US foreign ministry said: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Tel Aviv, Israel; Amman, Jordan; Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, the Republic of Korea (ROK); and New Delhi, India November 2-10.
In Israel, “Blinken will reiterate U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism consistent with international humanitarian law and discuss efforts to safeguard U.S. citizens in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, work to secure the immediate release of hostages, increase the pace and volume of humanitarian assistance entering Gaza for distribution to Palestinian civilians, and prevent the conflict from spreading.”
In Jordan, the Secretary will underscore the importance of protecting civilian lives and our shared commitment to facilitating the increased, sustained delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, the resumption of essential services, and ensuring that Palestinians are not forcibly displaced outside of Gaza.
He will also discuss urgent mechanisms to stem violence, calm rhetoric, reduce regional tensions, and reaffirm the U.S. commitment to working with partners to set the conditions necessary for a durable and sustainable peace in the Middle East, to include the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Secretary Blinken will then lead U.S. delegations to Tokyo, Seoul, and New Delhi to advance collaborative efforts to support a free and open Indo-Pacific region that is prosperous, secure, connected, and resilient.
In Tokyo, the Secretary will participate in the second G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of 2023, where G7 foreign ministers will build on the commitments made by leaders at the G7 Hiroshima Summit.
Secretary Blinken will also thank Japan for its successful G7 presidency.
“The Secretary will also have bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko to discuss bilateral priorities, including supporting Ukraine’s economic recovery and energy needs and strengthening our cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.”
The Secretary will then travel to Seoul to meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol, Foreign Minister Park Jin, and National Security Advisor Cho Tae-yong.
The Secretary will discuss ways the United States and the ROK can respond to global challenges, including Russia’s war against Ukraine and Russia’s growing military cooperation with the DPRK, as well as instability in the Middle East.
They will also discuss mutual efforts to support bilateral investment and economic security.
In Tokyo and in Seoul, the Secretary will underscore the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of Japan and ROK and reaffirm the importance of robust and sustained trilateral engagement following the historic Camp David Summit in August.
