Travel to Tel Aviv, Amman, Ramallah, Baghdad, Ankara, Tokyo, Seoul, and New Delhi, November 2-10, 2023

Summary

• Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken traveled to Tel Aviv, Israel; Amman, Jordan; Ramallah; Baghdad, Iraq; Ankara, Türkiye; Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, the Republic of Korea (ROK); and New Delhi, India, November 2-10, 2023.

• In Israel, Secretary Blinken reiterated U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism consistent with international humanitarian law and discussed efforts to safeguard U.S. citizens in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, work to secure the immediate release of hostages, increase the pace and volume of humanitarian assistance entering Gaza for distribution to Palestinian civilians, and prevent the conflict from spreading.

• In Jordan, Ramallah, Iraq, and Türkiye, the Secretary underscored the importance of protecting civilian lives in Israel and the Gaza Strip and our shared commitment to facilitating the increased, sustained delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, the resumption of essential services, and ensuring that Palestinians are not forcibly displaced outside of Gaza.  He also discussed urgent mechanisms to stem violence, calm rhetoric, reduce regional tensions, and reaffirm the U.S. commitment to working with partners to set the conditions necessary for a durable and sustainable peace in the Middle East, to include the establishment of a Palestinian state.

• In Ramallah, Secretary Blinken also discussed efforts to restore calm and stability in the West Bank. In Baghdad, Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the importance of the U.S-Iraq strategic partnership as well as discussed the ongoing attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria and the importance of pursuing those responsible and preventing further attacks.

• In Türkiye, the Secretary also discussed Euro-Atlantic security, ongoing support for Ukraine, and the need to maintain NATO Alliance unity, including ratifying Sweden’s NATO accession.

• Secretary Blinken then led U.S. delegations to Tokyo, Seoul, and New Delhi to advance collaborative efforts to support a free and open Indo-Pacific region that is prosperous, secure, connected, and resilient.

• In Tokyo, the Secretary participated in the second G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of 2023, where G7 foreign ministers will build on the commitments made by leaders at the G7 Hiroshima Summit.   Secretary Blinken also thanked Japan for its successful G7 presidency.  The Secretary also had bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko to discuss bilateral priorities, including supporting Ukraine’s economic recovery and energy needs and strengthening our cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

• The Secretary will then travel to Seoul to meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol, Foreign Minister Park Jin, and National Security Advisor Cho Tae-yong.  The Secretary will discuss ways the United States and the ROK can respond to global challenges, including Russia’s war against Ukraine and Russia’s growing military cooperation with the DPRK, as well as instability in the Middle East.  They will also discuss mutual efforts to support bilateral investment and economic security.

• In Tokyo and in Seoul, the Secretary underscored the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of Japan and ROK and reaffirmed the importance of robust and sustained trilateral engagement following the historic Camp David Summit in August.

• The Secretary then traveled to New Delhi to participate in the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, joined by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III.  The delegation met with Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, and other senior Indian officials to discuss both bilateral and global concerns and developments in the Indo-Pacific.