WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will leave for South Korea, Japan and France this weekend, the State Department said Friday.

Blinken's trip from Saturday to Thursday could be his final foreign visits during his tenure. He plans to reaffirm the importance of security and other cooperation with Washington's two key Asian allies ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House on Jan. 20 for a nonconsecutive second term.

In Japan, Blinken will hold talks with senior government officials "to review the tremendous progress the U.S.-Japan alliance has made over the past few years," according to the department.

He will make a two-day visit to Japan through Tuesday, the Japaenese Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

The top U.S. diplomat is also expected to underscore the need to further reinforce trilateral cooperation with South Korea to deal with regional and global issues.

In South Korea, which has experienced a period of political turmoil triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law in early December, the department said the secretary will reaffirm Washington's "ironclad" alliance with Seoul.

It also said he will discuss how the United States and South Korea can advance efforts to promote a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

In France, it said he will discuss challenges in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere with senior officials.