Washington:

The United States will call for global action at a United Nations meeting on Friday against synthetic drugs including fentanyl, which has killed thousands of Americans, the State Department said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will warn of the threat “not just to the United States, but to all countries” when he addresses the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters on Thursday.

In recent years, the United States has been ravaged by the powerful opioid fentanyl, which kills tens of thousands of people every year.

“This administration has made addressing the fentanyl and synthetic drug crisis a top priority,” Miller said.

He added that Blinken would seek to secure specific commitments to address the public health crisis fueled by synthetic drugs.

The United States established the Coalition to Combat the Synthetic Drug Threat last year, and 149 countries have now joined.

Officials in Washington have been putting pressure on China, one of the main sources of fentanyl, and Mexico.

In early February, a U.S. delegation met with Beijing officials to discuss the issue.

Blinken will also visit South Korea on Monday for a democracy summit as the United States works to strengthen ties with Asian countries to counter China’s influence.

Miller said he would travel to the Philippine capital Manila on Tuesday to “reaffirm our strong commitment to our allies in the Philippines.”

The visit will include a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos to focus on the threat China poses in the region.

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