The president of the United States, Joe Biden, will travel to South Korea and Japan from May 20 to 24 to strengthen his ties with the governments, economies and citizens of both countries , the White House reported Wednesday. In a statement, the press secretary of the US government, Jen Psaki, indicated that the trip will help advance the commitment of the United States with a “free and open” Indo-Pacific region , as well as the alliances of the North American country with the two Asian nations.

In South Korea, Biden will meet with newly elected President Yoon Suk-yeol ; and in Japan, with the Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida. With both, he will talk about possible opportunities to delve into “critical” security needs , improve economic ties and expand cooperation to achieve practical results. In addition, during his visit to Tokyo, Biden will also meet with the leaders of the group of countries known as the “Quad”: Australia and India, in addition to the aforementioned Japan and the United States itself.

The Biden administration considers the Asia-Pacific region as the heart of its foreign and defense policy to curb the expansion of China, which it especially accuses of wanting to control international trade routes. The world’s top two economies are clashing over trade, human rights and what Biden calls the broader struggle between autocracies and democracies.

North Korea has carried out a series of  unprecedented weapons tests such as the launch of a full-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), raising concern from the international community. China-related fears, as well as evidence from North Korea, have however been overshadowed since late February by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. India and several countries in the region fear that the Ukrainian crisis will make Washington lose interest in the Asia-Pacific region.

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