[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken argued that the United States did not obstruct diplomacy despite criticism that the United Nations Security Council failed to respond jointly to the Israel-Palestine situation due to U.S. opposition.
On the 18th (local time), at a joint press conference with the Icelandic Foreign Minister in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, Secretary Blinken emphasized, "On the contrary, diplomatic efforts are practically ongoing without pause."
He said, "The United States is quietly but very intensely engaged in diplomatic efforts," adding, "The issue is whether any measures or statements actually help achieve the goal of ending the violence."
The UN Security Council convened to seek ways to halt the conflict between Israel and Palestine but failed to adopt a joint statement.
This was due to the claim that the United States, an ally of Israel, was not helping the ongoing behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts.
Regarding Israel's bombing of the building housing the AP news agency, Secretary Blinken said, "We requested additional information from Israel," and added, "I understand that we have received some additional information through our information channels. However, this is not something I can comment on."
Secretary Blinken will attend the Arctic Council ministerial meeting held in Iceland on the 19th and 20th and will hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the 20th. This meeting marks the first U.S.-Russia foreign ministers' meeting since the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration.
The Arctic Council is a consultative body of eight countries adjacent to the Arctic, including Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Canada, the United States, and Russia.
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