U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized Friday the importance of ensuring the freedom of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to choose and forge alliances without facing coercion.
Speaking to reporters following the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Indonesia, Blinken said the United States and the 10-member bloc have embarked on “a new era” in their relations that are defined by increased collaboration.
The U.S. diplomat reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific, where countries are able to choose their own path and partners “free from the use of force, coercion, or aggression.”…