Washington, 16 October 2021 (TDI): On Thursday, US State Secretary Antony J. Blinken spoke with Erywan Yusof, the incumbent Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei. The officials reiterated the need to persuade the Burmese regime to comply with ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus and to allow Minister Yusof to engage all stakeholders in Burma.
Bruneian Foreign Minister II Erywan and I spoke today, and discussed the continued need to press the Burmese regime to implement the ASEAN 5-Point Consensus and allow Foreign Minister II Erywan to visit Burma and engage all stakeholders.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) October 14, 2021
During the telephonic conversation, the officials expressed deep concerns over the violence in Burma and urged the Burmese military to cease violence, release detainees and restore the democratic government.
Moreover, Secretary Blinken commended Brunei’s constructive role as the current Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He appreciated Foreign Minister Yusof’s role as ASEAN’s Special Envoy to Burma. The two leaders also deliberated over the AUKUS (Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) security partnership and its role in the Indo-Pacific.
