Blinken ends marathon tour warning ‘more needs to be done’ for Gazans

AFP | New Delhi, India

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up a marathon diplomatic push yesterday in India after a whirlwind Middle East trip and G7 talks, saying Israel’s pauses in its Gaza offensive would “save lives” but more was needed.

“Far too many Palestinians have been killed,” Blinken said in New Delhi, his last stop before heading home, where he repeated US support for ally Israel but was firm that more aid had to reach civilians in Gaza.

Blinken’s trip has included South Korea, a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Japan -- which sought to find common ground on the Gaza conflict -- and the Middle East, where he visited Israel and the occupied West Bank.

Israel announced on Thursday pauses in its battle against Hamas to formalise an arrangement that has already seen tens of thousands of Palestinians flee devastation in northern Gaza, steps Blinken said “will save lives”.

“I think some progress has been made,” Blinken said. “But I was also very clear that much more needs to be done in terms of protecting civilians and getting humanitarian assistance to them.”

‘Free and open’ Blinken and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin joined foreign minister Subrahmanyam  Jaishankar and defence minister Rajnath Singh for annual “twoplus-two” talks, which India said would focus on “defence and security cooperation”.

The conflict in Gaza poses a major challenge to hopes of a key trade and transport route linking Europe, the Middle East and India, unveiled during the G20 talks in September.

“In the face of urgent global challenges, it’s more important than ever that the world’s two largest democracies exchange views, find common goals, and deliver for our people,” Austin said. Delhi is part of the Quad alliance alongside the United States,  Australia and Japan, a grouping that positions itself as a bulwark against China’s growing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.

“We are promoting a free and open, prosperous, secure and resilient Indo-Pacific,” Blinken said, whose final engagement was to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Blinken’s Indian counterpart Jaishankar said they discussed “advancing our strategic partnership, including elevating our defence ties”.