US vice president Kamala Harris’ planned departure from Singapore on Aug 24 was delayed for an unknown reason.
It was unclear how long Harris will remain in Singapore. She had been scheduled to depart for Vietnam, the second leg of a trip to Southeast Asia, at 4pm local time. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reason for the delay.
See: Harris looks to assure US allies over chaotic Afghan exit
The vice president has so far used the trip to emphasise the US's commitment to the region and to warn about the threat China poses, particularly regarding territorial disputes.
But the timing of the visit overseas has left Harris defending President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan. On Aug 24, she called the move “courageous and right,” while saying the US was “laser-focused” on evacuating US citizens and vulnerable Afghans.
Photo: Bloomberg