Antony Blinken’s
Southeast Asia
Trip Halted , Due to COVID Case, in Traveling Party.
NBC News reports that on Dec. 15, Secretary of State
Antony Blinken was forced to cut his Southeast Asia trip
short due to a COVID-19 case in his traveling party. .
The announcement brings the trip, intended
to boost ties with a region where China has
increased its influence, to an abrupt halt.
Blinken was scheduled
to hold meetings in Thailand on Dec. 16
before returning to Washington. .
State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that
the decision was made after a positive case was
reported among the traveling press corps. .
While Blinken and senior officials tested negative in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 15, the Secretary of State called his Thai counterpart to express regret over the cancellation. .
He explained that in order to mitigate the risk
of the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the
health and safety of the U.S. traveling party and
those they would otherwise come into contact
with, the secretary would be returning to
Washington, D.C., out of an abundance of caution, Ned Price, State Department spokesperson, via NBC News.
He explained that in order to mitigate the risk
of the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the
health and safety of the U.S. traveling party and
those they would otherwise come into contact
with, the secretary would be returning to
Washington, D.C., out of an abundance of caution, Ned Price, State Department spokesperson, via NBC News.
According to NBC News, the United States has been trying
to solidify ties with the region as China pushes for deeper
trade, integration and major infrastructure projects. .
On Dec. 14, while speaking at a university in Indonesia, Blinken outlined a strategy for boosting economic ties and improving defense and diplomacy. .
On Dec. 15, Blinken and Malaysian Foreign Minister
Saifuddin Abdullah participated in a joint news conference. .
Malaysia's foreign ministry said that
the individual who tested positive
was immediately put into quarantine. .
The person was not involved and has
not participated in any of Secretary
Blinken's programs in Kuala Lumpur, Spokesperson for Malaysia's Foreign Ministry, via NBC News
