Blinken says U.S. to advance alliances to ensure free Indo-Pacific

JAKARTA, Dec 14 (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday the United States would advance a free and open Indo-Pacific and deepen its treaty alliances with Japan, Australia, Thailand and the Philippines.

In a speech at a university during a visit to Indonesia, Blinken said everyone has a stake in keeping the region free from coercion and intimidation. The United States and allies would press Myanmar’s junta to end violence, free detainees and return to democracy, he said.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by Martin Petty
Editing by Shri Navaratnam)

((martin.petty@tr.com; +66896070413))