New York City, 24 September 2021 (TDI): On Thursday, US State Secretary Antony J. Blinken met with foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. He expressed gratitude towards the ASEAN members for being committed allies of the United States.
During the session, Secretary Blinken showed contentment over ASEAN’s unprecedented global effort to safely transit US citizens and vulnerable individuals from Afghanistan, following the Taliban takeover and humanitarian crises in the country. Secretary Blinken further reiterated the United States’ commitment towards ASEAN centrality, besides supporting the ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific.
According to the US State Department, ASEAN and the United States are effectively promoting the sustainable development of maritime resources, advancing economic and strategic partnerships, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, and making considerable efforts to increase people-to-people connectivity.
