US: Blinken to pay virtual visits to Mexico, Canada

ANKARA US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet virtually Friday with Mexico and Canada to discuss health, security and partnership, the State Department said Thursday. "The United States and Mexico enjoy a strong partnership, and this trip reinforces the importance of that relationship under the Biden Administration," spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. Blinken will meet Mexico's Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard and Economic Minister Tatiana Clouthier to discuss "bilateral trade relationship, shared security challenges, regional migration, climate change, and other issues of mutual interest." Blinken and Ebrard will also have talks about cooperation to manage migration flows and travel across the US-Mexico border, said Price. Then he will follow up with Canada on the outcomes of President Joe Biden’s virtual meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Describing Canada as a country that the US enjoys "a close a comprehensive bilateral relationship," Price said that Blinken, Trudeau and Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau will discuss "a common approach to global challenges such as protecting our citizens from the pandemic and reinvigorating our economies, taking bold action on climate change, defending human rights in the Western Hemisphere and around the world, and bolstering our shared defense and security."