Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senator Katie Britt Joins Bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Japan, South Korea

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 16, 2024 – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) recently joined a bipartisan congressional delegation led by Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) in an official visit to Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

The Senators met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and ROK President Suk-yeol Yoon and participated in the Second Annual Trilateral Executive Dialogue, a high-level summit that gathered top U.S., ROK, and Japanese government and business leaders for security and economic talks.

“Strengthening our trilateral ties with Japan and the Republic of Korea is of vital strategic importance to Alabama and the United States. These relationships are critical for Alabama’s 21st-century economy and for America’s national security, especially given the growing aggression of the Chinese Communist Party in the Indo-Pacific. I was honored to join a bipartisan delegation of my Senate colleagues to have fruitful discussions with key regional partners that advance our mutual interests. Thank you to President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida for their hospitality and for the opportunity to attend the Second Annual Trilateral Executive Dialogue in Seoul,” said Senator Britt.

Japan and ROK are top Alabama export destinations. Japanese and Korean companies have also invested billions of dollars in Alabama in recent decades.

Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) also joined the trip.

In Tokyo, the Senate delegation met with Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoko Kamikawa, Minister of Defense Minoru Kihara, Minister of Trade, Economic and Industry Ken Saito, National Security Advisor Takeo Akiba, and leading Japanese lawmakers.

In Seoul, Senator Britt and her colleagues attended a dinner hosted by South Korea’s President Yoon and First Lady Keon-hee Kim, meeting with Minister of National Defense Won-sik Shin, National Security Advisor Tae-yul Cho, Minister of Trade Duk-geun Ahn, as well as top business leaders including Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chairman Euisun Chung, SK Chairman Tae-won Chey, Samsung Chairman Jay Y. Lee, LG Vice Chairman HC Shin, and Coupang Global CEO Harold HL Rogers.

Photos of the delegation’s key meetings can be found below:

- Senator Britt attends high-level Trilateral Executive Dialogue in Seoul

- Senator Britt speaks at high-level Trilateral Executive Dialogue in Seoul

- Senator Britt attends dinner hosted by ROK President Suk-yeol Yoon

- Senator Britt meets Japanese Prime Minister Kishida