US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit South Korea, Japan, and France from January 4 to January 9, as announced by the State Department on Friday. This trip is anticipated to be his final international engagement while in office.

During his visit to South Korea, Blinken will arrive amid significant political unrest. Recently, a standoff has emerged between investigators and the team of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, hindering efforts to arrest him.

Blinken is scheduled to hold discussions with his South Korean counterpart

Blinken is set to meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul on Monday, according to a statement from Seoul’s foreign ministry. Their discussions will focus on the “South Korea-US alliance, cooperation between South Korea and Japan, issues related to North Korea, and various regional and global challenges.”

The State Department’s announcement does not explicitly address the ongoing political crisis in Seoul, instead highlighting that Blinken will discuss “ways our two nations can enhance our vital cooperation on global challenges rooted in our shared values.”

South Korea has been engulfed in a political crisis since Yoon’s brief declaration of martial law on December 3, which involved deploying soldiers to parliament. He is currently under investigation for allegations of power abuse and inciting insurrection.

Investigators looking into Yoon’s declaration of martial law attempted to execute an arrest warrant on Friday but were obstructed by security personnel assigned to the president.

This warrant is set to expire on January 6, coinciding with Blinken’s scheduled meeting with Cho.

Blinken in Japan and France

During his visit to Japan, Blinken will engage with senior officials to assess the significant advancements made between the two nations.

The United States and Japan have strengthened their defense collaboration over the years, driven by shared concerns, particularly regarding what they refer to as countering Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific region.

Blinken will conclude his trip in Paris, where he will hold discussions with French officials about developments in the Middle East and European security, with a focus on the situation in Ukraine.