The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, and UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on the sidelines of the NATO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Brussels. The ministers discussed enduring NATO and bilateral support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russia’s brutal war of aggression. The Secretary expressed his hope for a successful NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania in July 2023 and underlined the future work needed to enhance NATO’s deterrence and defense. The Secretary underscored U.S. concern about Iran’s nuclear escalation and noted the importance of continued close cooperation to advance shared objectives of peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, in line with the rules-based international order.