After his visit to South Korea, Blinken is set to travel to Manila

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in South Korea on Sunday as part of a brief Asia tour, with the Philippines as his next stop. His visit coincides with the third Summit for Democracy hosted by Seoul, an initiative of President Joe Biden.

Before arriving in Seoul, Blinken made a stop in Bahrain to discuss efforts for a Gaza ceasefire with King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa. The democracy summit, scheduled from March 18 to 20, will gather government officials, NGOs, and civil society members.

South Korea, a key regional ally of the US, hosts about 27,000 American soldiers to bolster its defense against North Korea. Blinken will meet South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul to discuss enhancing the alliance and improving deterrence against North Korea.

However, the democracy summit has faced criticism for its selective invitation list, omitting countries like Thailand and Turkey, which consider themselves democratic.

After Seoul, Blinken will travel to Manila to reaffirm the US commitment to the Philippines. He will engage with local officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., focusing on issues related to China and the South China Sea.

Amid escalating tensions in the South China Sea, the US aims to strengthen ties with regional allies like the Philippines to counterbalance China’s influence. Beijing has accused Washington of using the Philippines as a pawn in the dispute over the South China Sea, where China’s expansive territorial claims have drawn international criticism.

Given the strategic importance of the South China Sea for trade routes, China’s increasing naval presence has raised concerns among neighboring countries and the US about its military expansion in the region.

Politics News: After his visit to South Korea, Blinken is set to travel to Manila