US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has underscored the significance of cooperation between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and key US allies such as South Korea in dealing with regional and global issues. The call for unity among American allies comes amid growing competition between the United States and China, according to media reports.

"Secretary Blinken and Secretary General Stoltenberg underscored the value of NATO's partnerships with Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea," it added, referring to South Korea by its official name. the State Department said in a statement on Monday. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke today with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the centrality of the Transatlantic bond and Alliance unity as NATO addresses existing and emerging global challenges. The emphasis on cooperation between NATO and US allies in Asia comes amid U.S. endeavours to maintain what it calls rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.

The Unites States also unveils a new trilateral security initiative in the region last month with Australia and the UK that seeks to equip Australia with nuclear-powered submarines that many views as an attempt to counter China's growing military presence there. Washington has said the new trilateral step, called AUKUS, is not aimed at any specific country but at promoting the countries' shared values and ensuring rules-based order in the region.

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