U.S. top diplomat, defense chief to consult with NATO allies this week: statement

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during the release of the "2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" at the State Department in Washington, DC, U.S., March 30, 2021. Mandel Ngan/Pool via REUTERS

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Brussels on Tuesday to join Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in consulting with NATO allies and partners on range of priorities, the Department of State said on Monday.

Blinken, who will hold bilateral meetings with various European counterparts through Thursday, will "reaffirm the U.S. commitment to the transatlantic alliance as a critical partnership for achieving our mutual goals," department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu)