BANGKOK, Thailand 鈥斅燯S Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Japan on Monday to offer condolences in person over the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, the State Department said.
Blinken, who was in Bangkok on Sunday, will 鈥渙ffer condolences to the Japanese people鈥 in meetings with senior officials in Tokyo, State Department spokesman Ned Price said.
Abe, Japan鈥檚 longest-serving prime minister, was shot during a campaign stop on Friday in an exceedingly rare gun crime in one of the world鈥檚 safest countries.
Abe built tight relations with the United States, especially in defence, as he tried to shed some of his country鈥檚 post-war pacifism.
鈥淭he alliance between Japan and the United States has been a cornerstone of our foreign policy for decades,鈥 Blinken said Saturday after Group of 20 talks in Bali.
鈥淧rime Minister Abe really brought that partnership to new heights.聽The friendship between the Japanese and American people is likewise unshakable,鈥 he said.
鈥淪o we鈥檙e standing with the people of Japan, with the prime minister鈥檚 family, in the aftermath of a truly, truly appalling act of violence.鈥
President Joe Biden earlier went in person to the Japanese ambassador鈥檚 residence in Washington to sign a condolence book.
RELATED STORY:聽
Blinken says US 鈥榙eeply concerned鈥 by Shinzo Abe shooting