Secretary Blinken’s Travel to Tel Aviv, Amman, Ankara, Tokyo, Seoul, and New Delhi

November 4, 2023 by EUNILITO

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Tel Aviv, Israel; Amman, Jordan; Ankara, Turkey; Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, Republic of Korea (ROK); and New Delhi, India November 2-10, 2023.

In Israel, Secretary Blinken will reiterate US support for Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism in accordance with international humanitarian law and discuss efforts to safeguard American citizens in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, work to ensure the immediate release of the hostages, increase the rate and volume of humanitarian assistance entering Gaza for distribution to Palestinian civilians, and prevent the conflict from spreading.

In Jordan and Turkey, the Secretary will emphasize the importance of protecting civilian life in Israel and the Gaza Strip and our joint commitment to facilitate increased and sustained delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, the resumption of essential services, and ensuring that Palestinians are not forcibly displaced out of Gaza. He will also discuss urgent mechanisms to curb the violence, calm the rhetoric, reduce regional tensions, and reaffirm the commitment of the United States to work with partners to establish the necessary conditions for a lasting and sustainable peace in the Middle East, to include the establishment of a Palestinian state. .

In Türkiye, the Secretary will also discuss Euro-Atlantic security, continued support for Ukraine, and the need to maintain the unity of the NATO Alliance, including the ratification of Sweden’s accession to NATO .

Secretary Blinken will 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 attend the second G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2023, where G7 foreign ministers will build on the commitments made by leaders at the G7 Summit of Hiroshima. Secretary Blinken will also thank Japan for its successful G7 presidency. The Secretary will also hold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa 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 go to Seoul to meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol, Foreign Minister Park Jin and National Security Councilor 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 increasing Russian 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 Seoul, the Secretary will emphasize the iron commitment of the United States to the defense of Japan and the ROK and reaffirm the importance of a robust and sustained trilateral commitment after the historic Camp David Summit in August.

The Secretary will travel to New Delhi to participate in the Ministerial Dialogue 2 + 2, joined by the Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. The delegation will meet with Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, and other senior Indian officials to discuss bilateral and global concerns and developments in the Indo-Pacific.