Harris will attend the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on behalf of Biden

MADRID, 8 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, announced on Wednesday that she will travel to Japan to lead the US delegation that will attend the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which will take place on September 27.

Thus, the United States wants to honor "the legacy of Prime Minister Abe" and underline "the importance of his leadership in defending the alliance between the United States and Japan and in advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific", as reported by the White House in a statement.

The other members of the US delegation will be announced later, although Harris will initially represent President Joe Biden.

Abe was shot on July 8 during a campaign rally. The confessed murderer, arrested at the scene of the crime, had pointed out the politician for promoting a religious group that ended up ruining her mother due to the excess of donations that she gave them.

However, the number two of the United States Government will visit other countries in the region, such as South Korea, to meet with senior officials such as President Yoon Suk Yeol.

"In both Tokyo and Seoul, the Vice President will meet with senior government officials and civil society representatives in a series of engagements that will highlight the strength of the United States' partnerships with Japan and the Republic of Korea, our commitment standing with a free and open Indo-Pacific, and our shared economic and security interests in the region and around the world," the letter reads.