By Kang Seung-woo
South Korea and the United States will hold a two-plus-two meeting of their foreign and defense ministers next week, the first of its kind in over four years, a sign of the Joe Biden administration s commitment to restoring their bilateral alliance after four years of neglect under former President Donald Trump.
Although the meeting will showcase the special relationship of the allies, the long-delayed, long-awaited dialogue is not expected to proceed in South Korea s favor, as Seoul is expected to face a tough call from Washington that will ask, if not force, the country to support American policy vis-a-vis China amid the intensifying U.S.-China rivalry, according to diplomatic observers.
March 11, 2021 08:19
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit Asia in the coming days, according to the State Department and the Pentagon, their first trip abroad since the Senate confirmed them in January to their positions in the Biden administration.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement Wednesday their March 14-18 trip to Japan and Korea will reaffirm the United States commitment to strengthening our alliances and to highlight cooperation that promotes peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region around the world.
Austin s objective, according to a Pentagon statement, is to discuss with senior officials the importance of international defense relationships, and reinforce the United States commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region founded on respect for international rules, laws, and norms.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin to travel to India along with Japan and South Korea next week
This is for the first time that India has been included in the itinerary in the first overseas trip of a US Defence Secretary.
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WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit India next week along with Japan and South Korea, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday, in the first overseas trip of a senior member of the new Biden Administration.
This is for the first time that India has been included in the itinerary in the first overseas trip of a US Defence Secretary.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel together to Japan and South Korea next week, the State Department said in a statement Wednesday, the first overseas trip for senior Cabinet officials.