Blinken cuts short Asia trip due to COVID, Thailand visit canceled

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has cut short his Southeast Asia trip due to a COVID-19 case among his traveling party and will not visit Thailand, the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok said Wednesday.The embassy said Blinken spoke with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai by phone, expressing his "deep regret" for being unable to meet with him on Thursday.It said the decision was taken "to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the health and safety of the U.S. traveling party and those they would otherwise come into contact with."Blinken, who…READ FULL ARTICLE