Kamala Harris' trip to Asia to reinforce Biden's 'America is back' message

UNITED STATES Vice-President Kamala Harris is about to embark on her second overseas trip since taking office seven months ago, and this time her Air Force Two jet heads to South-east Asia and will see her land in Singapore on Sunday, followed by Vietnam next Tuesday.

The 56-year-old's visit will be closely watched for what she says and does, for it will be the first time that she is heading overseas since the astonishing weekend takeover of Kabul by the Taliban, which prompted a hasty operation to withdraw the remaining US and allied personnel from the city's airport.

Ms Harris is the latest and most senior official of the US administration to make her way to Asia, a region that President Joe Biden has pledged to work closer with throughout his term. Back in March, Mr Biden said in his Interim National Security Strategic Guidance: "We will deepen our partnership with India and work alongside New Zealand, as well as Singapore, Vietnam and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, to advance shared objectives."