U.S. Secretary Of State Blinken And Japan Foreign Minister Motegi Discussed Cuba. Why Did U.S. Department Of State Not Mention It?
/United States Department of State
Washington DC
22 July 2021
Secretary Blinken’s Call with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi
Office of the Spokesperson
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Motegi emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Japan Alliance to peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world. Secretary Blinken thanked Foreign Minister Motegi for hosting Deputy Secretary Sherman for a successful U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea trilateral meeting in Tokyo. They also discussed concerns regarding the mass arrests and detentions of protestors in Cuba and agreed on the need for the Cuban regime to hear its people and serve their needs at this vital moment. In addition, Secretary Blinken conveyed his wishes to Japan for a safe and secure Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Tokyo, Japan
23 July 2021
Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk (English Translation)
On July 23, commencing at 9:35 a.m. for 40 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministers’ telephone talk with the Honorable Antony Blinken, Secretary of State of the United States of America. The overview of the talk is as follows.
1. At the outset, Secretary Blinken wished for the success of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, whose opening ceremony was to be held soon. In response, Minister Motegi extended his heartfelt welcome to Dr. Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States of America, who he greeted at the airport, and the U.S. team.
2. The two ministers exchanged their views on a broad range of issues, such as the outcomes of Minister Motegi’s visit to Central American and Caribbean Countries, the situation in Cuba, regional issues including China, and global issues such as COVID-19. Furthermore, both sides confirmed that Japan and the U.S. would continue to take the lead and cooperate with like-minded countries in strengthening the Japan-U.S. Alliance and realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
