Blinken in Indonesia as US seeks to shore-up Southeast Asia ties
(VOVWORLD) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Indonesia on Monday, kicking off a visit to Southeast Asia aimed at strengthening ties with the region.
 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Indonesia on December 13, 2021, beginning a visit to Southeast Asia. (Photo: Reuters) |
In his first Southeast Asia trip since US President Joe Biden took office in January, Blinken will be in Malaysia and Thailand this week after visiting Indonesia's capital Jakarta, where he will meet President Joko Widodo and will deliver a speech on US Indo-Pacific strategy on Tuesday.
Blinken will pursue Biden's aim of elevating engagement with the 10-member ASEAN bloc and discuss the president's vision for an Indo-Pacific economic framework, a top US diplomat for Asia said ahead of the trip.