US secretary of state to visit Brussels next week

By Ovunc Kutlu

ANKARA (AA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Brussels, Belgium next week, the State Department said in a statement on Friday.

During his visit on March 22-25, he will attend the NATO Ministerial, engage with European Union (EU) leaders, and meet with Belgian officials.

"The meetings in Brussels reaffirm the United States’ commitment to our Allies and European partners on our shared agenda," the statement said.

Blinken will participate on March 23-24 in the NATO Foreign Ministerial where he will meet with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss President Joe Biden's determination to strengthen the Transatlantic alliance and American ties with NATO allies.

Ministers will also discuss the NATO 2030 proposals for Alliance adaptation, concerns over China and Russia, climate change, cyber security, combatting terrorism, energy security, and other common challenges.

Blinken will also meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell to discuss Transatlantic goals to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, pursue a sustainable global economic recovery, tackle the climate crisis, and strengthen democracy, it said.

Before returning to Washington, D.C. on March 25, Blinken is scheduled to meet with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sophie Wilmes as well.

Biden told the Munich Security Conference last month the US is fully committed to NATO and it will work closely with EU partners -- a major shift from his predecessor Donald Trump railing against the alliance for four years.