Russia and Ukraine continue to be in the headlines this week, but the U.S. Secretary of State is heading in another direction: to the Asia Pacific. In fact, by the end of the week Antony Blinken will be in Hawaiʻi, with high-level meetings at every stop.
Blinken’s trip to the Asia Pacific this week roughly breaks into three segments.
First up is a meeting with his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan — an in-person gathering in Melbourne. These countries together make up the “Quad” — formally known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.
They share a number of interests — not the least of which is keeping a cautious eye on China’s growing role in the Indo Pacific.
The State Department insists this meeting will not be just about China — other topics range from coordinating COVID-19 vaccines to climate change.
The climate crisis will be a focus when Blinken heads to Fiji later in the week — the first Secretary of State to visit that country since 1985.
He’ll meet with other Pacific Island leaders — and also discuss China’s efforts to increase its influence in the region.
The Hawaiʻi part of the trip will center on North Korea — and will include the Foreign Ministers of Japan and South Korea — not always aligned on policies dealing with the Korean peninsula, among other issues.
While on Oʻahu, the Secretary of State will also meet separately with Admiral John Aquilino — head of U.S. Indo Pacific Command.
