Blinken calls on key allies in his first actions as Secretary of State

During his first hours on the job, the country’s new secretary of state spoke to several of America’s closest allies.

Antony Blinken, confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday, spoke with his counterparts from Mexico, Canada, Japan and South Korea.

Blinken, a seasoned diplomat, told lawmakers during his confirmation hearings last week that he would focus on re-engagement with America’s allies in the wake of the Trump administration’s “America First” foreign policy. . President Joe Biden is seeking to restore the nation’s relations with his allies.

The country’s top diplomat spoke with Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, stressing “our common interest in security and economic integration, as well as our focus on an orderly and humane approach to migration.” , according to a statement from state spokesman Ned Price.

Mexico is the United States’ second largest trading partner and the second largest export market. Under the Trump administration, the United States renegotiated the 24-year-old North American trade deal into what is now the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, which supports mutually beneficial trade leading to freer markets, fairer trade and robust economic growth in North America.

In his conversation with Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau, the two discussed how to “strengthen the broader North American partnership and address common challenges, including COVID-19 and climate change, among others. », Indicates the press release.

The United States and Canada enjoy a working relationship that includes defense arrangements, adherence to security standards, and economic competitiveness that allows goods and services to be traded $ 2 billion a day.

Meanwhile, Blinken and South Korea’s Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha “affirmed the enduring strength and importance of the US-Korea Alliance as a pillar of peace, security and peace. prosperity for a free and open Indo-Pacific region “.

South Korea has donated more than 2 million masks and facilitated nearly 750,000 Covid-19 tests in the U.S. After Biden’s inauguration, the South Korean president tweeted his congratulations:

North Korea remains a major source of tension in the region. Biden said during a debate during the campaign that he would only meet Kim Jong Un if the country cut back on its nuclear arsenal.

Blinken’s communication with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi followed a similar thread, highlighting the need for free and open trade in the Indo-Pacific region.

Blinken was scheduled to hold his first State Department briefing later Wednesday.