Century will be shaped by Indo-Pacific region, Blinken said in Quad meeting
- Blinken is in Melbourne to meet counterparts from Australia, India and Japan; the four nations form the ‘Quad,’ created to counter China’s regional influence
- Asked whether the Biden administration viewed Russia or China as the greater threat to global security, Blinken replied: ‘These are … very different challenges’
The United States remains focused long-term on the Indo-Pacific region despite concerns over Russian aggression toward Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday.
Blinken is in Melbourne for a meeting on Friday with his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan. The four nations form the so-called “Quad” (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue), a bloc of Indo-Pacific democracies that was created to counter China’s regional influence.
“There are a few other things going on in the world right now, some of you may have noticed. We have a bit of a challenge with Ukraine and Russian aggression. We’re working 24/7 on that,” Blinken said in his first public address since arriving in Australia on Wednesday.
“But we know, the president knows better than anyone else, that so much of this century is going to be shaped by what happens here in the Indo-Pacific region,” he added.
More than ever before, we need partnerships, we need alliances, we need coalitions …
The Indo-Pacific is the fastest growing region in the world, accounting for two-thirds of global economic growth over the past five years and home to half the world’s population, Blinken said.