Visiting US State Secretary Antony J. Blinken avowed his country's commitment to intensifying security in the Indo-Pacific along with allies and partners.
"We will bolster security in the Indo-Pacific. Threats are evolving, and our security approach must evolve with them. To do that, we will lean on our greatest strengths, which are our alliances and partnerships," Blinken remarked while delivering an address at the University of Indonesia, Depok, West Java, on Tuesday.
The U.S. will adopt an “integrated deterrence” strategy that more closely weaves together all US instruments of national power, with those of US allies and partners, according to Blinken.
"Our enhanced trilateral partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom (AUKUS) is a prime example, as it will advance our strategic interests, uphold the international rules-based order, and promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific," he remarked.
Blinken noted that President Biden had told President Xi Jinping of China that the two leaders share a profound responsibility to ensure that competition between both nations did not veer into conflict.
"Diplomacy will continue to be our tool of first resort in meeting that responsibility of ensuring the potential for conflict in the region is minimized, managed, and ultimately deterred," he affirmed.
"The United States recognizes that much of our planet’s future will be written in the Indo-Pacific. Our enduring commitment to this region and our collaboration with our allies and partners will help us to achieve a free and open, interconnected, prosperous, resilient, and secure region for all," Blinken added. (Antaranews)