Travel to Brussels, March 22-25, 2021

Summary

• Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken traveled to Brussels, Belgium, from March 22-25 to attend the NATO Ministerial, engage with European Union leaders, and meet with Belgian officials. The meetings in Brussels reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to our Allies and European partners on our shared agenda.   

• On March 23-24, Secretary Blinken participated in the NATO Foreign Ministerial where he met with NATO Allies and Secretary General Stoltenberg to underscore the Biden Administration’s determination to strengthen the Transatlantic alliance and reinvigorate our ties with Allies through NATO.  These meetings were an opportunity for Ministers to discuss the NATO 2030 proposals for Alliance adaptation, concerns over China and Russia, as well as climate change, cyber security, combatting terrorism, energy security, and other common challenges we face together.  

• In addition, the Secretary met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell to discuss Transatlantic goals to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, pursue a sustainable global economic recovery, tackle the climate crisis, and strengthen democracy.

• The Secretary also met with the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sophie Wilmès to underscore the strength of the bilateral relationship and discuss similar issues of global importance.

• Secretary Blinken returned to Washington, D.C. on March 25.