United States (US) Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J Kritenbrink will be visiting the Sultanate as part of his visit to five ASEAN member countries, from February 23 to March 4, to underscore strong and enduring commitment of the US to its allies and partners in Southeast Asia.
The Sultanate, as Kritenbrink’s last stop of the itinerary, will see the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of US-Brunei relations. He will also meet senior Bruneian officials to discuss key issues in bilateral relations, including economic and security initiatives, efforts to tackle climate change and regional cooperation.
According to the US State Department’s website, Kritenbrink will co-lead the US-Singapore strategic partnership dialogue alongside Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Permanent Secretary Albert Chua in Singapore. They will discuss the wide-ranging US-Singapore partnership, including defence and security ties, economic cooperation, critical and emerging technology, and climate and energy.
While in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Kritenbrink will meet Cambodian officials to advance shared vision of a free, prosperous, secure and resilient Indo-Pacific. The assistant secretary will also underscore US commitment to the Cambodian people and their aspirations for a democratic and independent country where all voices are heard and respected, and Cambodia’s sovereignty is protected.
In Bangkok, Thailand, Kritenbrink will co-lead the 9th US-Thailand strategic dialogue alongside Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Permanent Secretary Eksiri Pintaruchi. He will also co-lead the 2nd strategic and defence dialogue alongside Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedidiah Royal. During these two dialogues, under the auspices of the US-Thai Communiqué on Strategic Alliance and Partnership, the assistant secretary will work to advance bilateral cooperation in areas of shared interest including economic growth, climate change, global health, security cooperation, and people-to-people ties.
In Hanoi, Vietnam Kritenbrink will meet Vietnamese officials and participate in the Asia-Pacific Dialogue. Building on the recent upgrade of US-Vietnam ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the assistant secretary will seek to further deepen US-Vietnam relations and advance our shared vision of a prosperous, open, resilient and peaceful Indo-Pacific region. – James Kon
