Blinken, Austin to Tour Indo-Pacific, Reiterate US Commitment to Region

State and Defense departments say visits to Asia this week will highlight a US commitment to regional peace and stability.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) speaks as U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (2nd R) watches during the India–U.S. "2+2" ministerial dialogue at Sushma Swaraj Bhavan in New Delhi, India, on Nov. 10, 2023. Jonathan Ernst/AFP via Getty Images

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin have announced plans to tour the Indo-Pacific region this week, to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to allies and partners in the region.

Mr. Blinken will depart for Asia on July 24, with planned stops in Vietnam, Laos, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, and Mongolia, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters at a press briefing on July 22.