The CDC’s Order requiring proof of vaccination for non-U.S. citizen nonimmigrants to travel to the United States is still in effect. For more information see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers.
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A White House Christmas tradition — with lights, decorations, music and an appearance from the sitting president — turns 100 this year. President Biden lit the National Christmas Tree this week (November 30) on the Ellipse near the White House, and the centennial event included hip-hop icon LL Cool J, country singer Shania Twain and “The President’s Own” …
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World AIDS Day reminds us that HIV/AIDS continues to pose a threat to global health and global health security. With 650,000 people having lost their lives to AIDS-related illnesses last year, the United States government remains committed to working with our global partners to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
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While serving in Taiwan’s military, Lynia Huang noticed that social stigmas around mental health concerns prevented people from getting the care they needed. After leaving the military, Huang — who has a degree in social work — co-founded Bamboo Technology to make mental health care more accessible, and acceptable, to people on Taiwan.
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Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will travel December 5-11 to the United Kingdom, Italy, Vatican City, France, Germany, and the Czech Republic to further strengthen our bilateral relationships, deepen our unified support for Ukraine, coordinate on our response to the Russian Federation’s unprovoked war, and discuss our strategies in the Indo-Pacific.
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On World AIDS Day, we recommit to ending the HIV epidemic in the United States and around the world and rededicate ourselves to fighting the discrimination that too often keeps people with HIV from getting the services they need and living the full lives they deserve.
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In the midst of Russia’s continued brutal attacks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Secretary of State Blinken announced today during a meeting of the G7+ on the margins of the NATO Ministerial in Bucharest that the United States government is providing over $53 million to support acquisition of critical electricity grid equipment. This equipment will be …
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The World Health Organization estimates that one in three women have experienced or will experience gender-based violence (GBV) during their lifetimes. Since the pandemic started, 38% of women have personally experienced online violence and 85% of women know someone who has been targeted for online violence, a study by the Economist Intelligence Unit found. GBV prevention and …
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About a week before Americans and friends would gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, a convoy of trucks rolled to a stop in the war-ravaged Tigray region of Ethiopia. Humanitarian workers began to unload hundreds of tons of food. Fighting and instability had made the work dangerous, but now sacks heavy with wheat and split peas and …
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The people of Ukraine are fighting to maintain their daily routine despite Russia’s brutal attempts to deny Ukraine’s sovereignty and suppress their identity and culture. Russia’s “annexation playbook” seeks to undermine all aspects of civilian life in Ukraine. As it did in 2014 in Crimea, Russia implemented tighter controls when it staged sham referenda in four of Ukraine’s …
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Good afternoon, everyone. I just had an opportunity to visit Camp As Sayliyah. This is the joint Department of Defense, State Department operation to help bring Afghans, Afghan allies to the United States. It’s where we’re working to screen them medically, to vet them for security purposes, and to finish the consular processing that goes …
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Addressing the global food crisis requires sharing the harvest — and knowledge. Scientists in Africa are doing just that. Through Feed the Future, a U.S. program to combat global poverty and hunger, scientists harness local solutions to expand local crop yields and feed more people. Meet four scientists in Africa involved in Feed the Future programs …
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We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, condemn in the strongest terms the brazen launch of another Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) conducted on 18 November 2022 by the DPRK. This missile launch is another …
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On Transgender Day of Remembrance, the world pauses to remember the lives of the many transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming persons killed in acts of targeted, transphobic violence. On every continent, transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming persons confront violence, harassment, and discrimination that shock the conscience, simply based on their gender identity or expression. For far too many, their own governments …
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The uncrewed, 25.5-day mission sends the Orion spacecraft on a journey of more than 2 million kilometers, farther than any spacecraft built for humans has ever traveled. Artemis I will allow NASA to test Orion’s systems before the spacecraft carries astronauts during Artemis II.
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Fourteen years ago, the Leaders of the G20 met for the first time, facing the most severe financial crisis in our generation. We recognized, as large global economies, that collectively we carry responsibilities and that our cooperation was necessary to global economic recovery, to tackle global challenges, and lay a foundation for strong, sustainable, balanced, …
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Ocean-based climate solutions have a key role in keeping the goal to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach and improving global climate resilience. On the occasion of the “Oceans and Coastal Zones” thematic day at COP27, the United States highlights the following ocean-climate action.
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NASA’s Artemis program is inspiring the world as it seeks to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon and conduct a historic first crewed mission to Mars. The Artemis program, comprising a series of robotic and crewed science and exploration missions, is intended to be the broadest and most diverse …
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President Biden met today with Prime Minister Meloni of Italy on the margins of the G20 Summit in Bali to coordinate responses to a range of global challenges, including those posed by the People’s Republic of China, the climate crisis, and Russia’s use of energy as a weapon. The two leaders also discussed their commitment to continue providing …
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Today, the Leaders of Canada, the European Commission, the European Council, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States met on the margins of the G20 Summit in Bali and released the following statement: We condemn the barbaric missile attacks that Russia perpetrated on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure on Tuesday.
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The United States strongly condemns Russia’s latest missile attacks against Ukraine, which appear to have struck residential buildings in Kyiv and additional sites across the country. It is not lost on us that, as world leaders meet at the G-20 in Bali to discuss the issues of significant importance to the lives and livelihoods of people around the world, Russia again threatens those lives and …
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Justine Konde wanted to remove pests from her small farm in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, especially the pesky fall armyworm that damages her crops. She learned about effective pest control at a farmer field school organized by Feed the Future, a U.S. government program to combat global poverty and hunger. Having learned to control pests …
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On November 9 and 10, 2022, NATO’s 2022 Cyber Defense Pledge Conference will take place in Rome, at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The event is co-hosted by Italy and the United States with the support of the NATO International Staff. At the Madrid Summit in June, Allies reaffirmed that resilience …
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When disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic strike, developing countries that lack essential infrastructure suffer more and take longer to recover, President Biden said. “In our deeply connected world, that’s not just a humanitarian concern, it’s an economic and a security concern for all of us,” Biden told the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Schloss …
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After an invasive plant species destroyed his grandfather’s rice farm in India, Nathan Elias wanted to help. Elias, who lives in Texas, developed a system to help farmers detect and identify invasive species using their smartphones. Through a smartphone camera and mobile app, Elias’ tool sends farmers’ images to experts who can quickly identify invasive …
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On World Freedom Day, we remember the fall of the Berlin Wall and recall the hope felt around the world when freedom triumphed over tyranny. For decades, the Soviet Union ruled Central and Eastern Europe with an iron fist behind an Iron Curtain. But on that cold November night in 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, …
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U.S. presidential elections are big news worldwide every four years. But what happens in the midterm elections — so called because they come nearly two years into a president’s term — can have just as big an impact on the direction of the country. Most of the attention of midterm elections is focused on the …
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Greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping sector are significant, increasing, and on a trajectory that is not compatible with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Compared to country emissions, the sector would rank among the top ten largest emitters globally. To help place the sector on a pathway to align with the goal to limit …
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Soon, more than 190 nations will address climate crisis solutions at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. From November 6 through 18, at least 35,000 people are scheduled to attend public and private sector talks to advance efforts to implement climate …
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Heading into the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in November in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, the United States is on track to meet its climate commitments toward the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. “Glasgow was just the kickoff for a decade of ambition, action, …
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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani today in Munster, Germany. Secretary Blinken thanked Foreign Minister Tajani for his commitment to sustain Italy’s strong support for Ukraine. The ministers discussed ways to mitigate the impact of rising energy prices on consumers, shared concerns over the People’s Republic of China, …
Read More» Well, good morning, everyone. It is a great pleasure to be able to spend time with Mr. Tajani, Antonio. We – I think it’s fair to say we’ve really hit the ground running here at the G7. It’s as if we’ve been working together for months or years, not just a few days or a …
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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy to offer his congratulations on her appointment. The leaders underscored the strong relationship between the United States and Italy, and expressed their readiness to work together within the transatlantic alliance to address common challenges.
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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Secretary Blinken congratulated Foreign Minister Tajani on his appointment, and expressed his eagerness to work together to strengthen the Transatlantic partnership. The ministers discussed the ongoing need to support Ukraine and respond to Russia’s brutal war of choice, defend human rights …
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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to reaffirm the United States’ steadfast support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. Secretary Blinken expressed to Foreign Minister Kuleba that the United States rejects Russian Defense Minister Shoygu’s transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory and that the world would see …
Read More» I congratulate Giorgia Meloni on becoming the new Prime Minister of Italy. Italy is a vital NATO Ally and close partner as our nations together address shared global challenges. As leaders in the G7, I look forward to continuing to advance our support for Ukraine, hold Russia accountable for its aggression, ensure respect for human rights and democratic values, and …
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On this World Food Day, food systems and global food security are at a critical moment. The compounded impacts from a global pandemic, growing pressures from the climate crisis, high energy and fertilizer prices, and armed conflicts, including Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, have disrupted production and supply chains and dramatically increased global food …
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Food is an essential, but scarce, resource in many parts of world. Global conflicts, climate change and supply disruptions from COVID-19 have exacerbated the problem. This article takes a closer look at the impact of climate change on today’s food crisis. Extreme weather is a driver of world hunger. As global temperatures and sea levels rise, the result …
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In some states voter registration and ballot request deadlines for the November 2022 are as early as October 5th. Whether you are a first-time voter or have already received ballots and voted absentee in past elections, we recommend that you complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) each year to ensure you are able to …
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Today’s remarkable vote at the United Nations General Assembly is a powerful reminder that the overwhelming majority of nations stand with Ukraine, in defense of the UN Charter, and in resolute opposition to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and its people.
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U.S. presidential elections are big news worldwide every four years. But what happens in the midterm elections — so called because they come nearly two years into a president’s term — can have just as big an impact on the direction of the country. Most of the attention of midterm elections is focused on the …
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Today, the overwhelming majority of the world—nations from every region, large and small, representing a wide array of ideologies and governments – voted to defend the United Nations Charter and condemn Russia’s illegal attempt to annex Ukrainian territory by force. 143 nations stood on the side of freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity—even more than the …
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We, the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), convened today with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Our meeting took place against the backdrop of the most recent missile attacks against civilian infrastructure and cities across Ukraine, leading to the death of innocent civilians. We condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms and recall that …
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The pandemic strained global supplies of medical oxygen, needed for treating patients with severe COVID-19. Before the pandemic, roughly half of inpatient facilities in Africa had reliable access to medical oxygen, Thomas-Greenfield said. The U.S. government has already committed $50 million to provide medical oxygen, install oxygen storage tanks and upgrade medical infrastructure that delivers oxygen …
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The United States works with international partners to advance gender equity and equality around the world. Speaking on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Katrina Fotovat, senior official of the U.S. State Department’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, said supporting women’s economic empowerment, peace and security, and addressing gender-based violence are …
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The Kremlin’s strikes against Ukraine today again place the stakes of Russia’s brutal war into stark relief. Russian bombs hit children’s playgrounds and public parks in Kyiv; wave after wave of missiles struck Kyiv’s city streets and damaged heating and targets without military purpose throughout Ukraine. I extend my deepest sympathies to the people of …
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The United States strongly condemns Russia’s missile strikes today across Ukraine, including in Kyiv. These attacks killed and injured civilians and destroyed targets with no military purpose. They once again demonstrate the utter brutality of Mr. Putin’s illegal war on the Ukrainian people.
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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. He expressed his condemnation of Russia’s missile strikes across Ukraine, including in Kyiv, and conveyed his condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured in these senseless attacks.
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President Biden announced $810 million in funding for Pacific island nations, part of an increasing U.S. commitment to long-standing partners. “Security in the Pacific and for the Pacific Islanders remains as critical as ever to us,” Biden said September 29 at the first U.S.–Pacific Island Country Summit in Washington, which drew 15 countries.
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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to underscore that the United States will never recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Ukrainian territory.
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“The United States does not, and will never, recognize any of the Kremlin’s claims to sovereignty over parts of Ukraine that it’s seized by force and now purports to incorporate into Russia,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said September 30. Moscow’s latest illegal bid to change Ukraine’s borders by force prompted a quick international rebuke.
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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke by phone today with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Ukraine’s continued defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. They discussed Moscow’s latest illegal and illegitimate efforts to change Ukraine’s borders by force as well as mounting atrocities committed by Russia’s forces against the people of Ukraine, including …
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The United States unequivocally rejects Russia’s fraudulent attempt to change Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders, including by holding sham “referenda” in Ukraine’s Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya regions. This is a clear violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. In response, the United States and our allies and partners are imposing swift and severe …
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We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, are united in our condemnation in the strongest possible terms of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its continued violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Independence. …
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U.S. Department of State Special Envoy for Global Food Security, Dr. Cary Fowler, will travel to Rome September 29 to October 5 for meetings and consultations at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP).
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The Kremlin’s sham referenda are a futile effort to mask what amounts to a further attempt at a land grab in Ukraine. To be clear: the results were orchestrated in Moscow and do not reflect the will of the people of Ukraine. The United States does not, and will never, recognize the legitimacy or outcome …
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Ukraine exported more than 4 million metric tons of food in August, reaching hungry people in Africa, Asia and other parts of the world. Prior to Russia’s February 24 invasion, Ukraine shipped 6 million metric tons of grain a month. The recent shipments are the result of a deal brokered by Türkiye and the United Nations between Ukraine and …
Read More» The Office of Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Rome and Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute’s Italy representatives organized a first-time Alaska Seafood Culinary Experience at the restaurant Chic’n Quick in Milan, featuring Italian starred chef Claudio Sadler and U.S. celebrity chef Marc Murphy. Italy’s leading seafood importers, food retailers, restaurateurs, hoteliers, journalists, and food bloggers …
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Food is an essential, but scarce, resource in many parts of world. Global conflicts, climate change and supply disruptions from COVID-19 have exacerbated the problem. This article takes a closer look at the impact of recent conflicts on today’s food crisis. Ongoing conflicts in several nations contribute to the global food crisis and to increased …
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We, the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), strongly condemn the sham referenda that Russia attempts to use to create a phony pretext for changing the status of Ukrainian sovereign territory, which is subject to an ongoing Russian aggression. These actions clearly breach the United Nations Charter and international law and go diametrically against the rule …
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The United States will never recognize Ukrainian territory as anything other than part of Ukraine. Russia’s referenda are a sham – a false pretext to try to annex parts of Ukraine by force in flagrant violation of international law, including the United Nations Charter. We will work with our allies and partners to impose additional swift …
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Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, my fellow leaders, in the last year, our world has experienced great upheaval: a growing crisis in food insecurity; record heat, floods, and droughts; COVID-19; inflation; and a brutal, needless war — a war chosen by one man, to be very blunt. Let us speak plainly. A permanent member of the …
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Merci beaucoup, Monsieur President. President Michel, President Sall, Chancellor, thank you all so much for being part of this today. Let me actually start by inviting another colleague to the stage, President Petro of Colombia. Would you please join us if you’re here? And maybe he’s not. Ah, there we are. Mr. President. (Applause.) Good …
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We, the leaders of the Governments of Spain, the United States of America, the African Union, the European Union, Colombia, Germany, Indonesia, and Nigeria, having met on September 20, 2022, affirm our commitment to act with urgency, at scale and in concert, to respond to the urgent food security and nutrition needs of hundreds of …
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The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the main policy-making organ of the United Nations. The UN General Assembly is an opportunity for the world to come together to address the most pressing global challenges facing us today. At the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 77), the United States will reinforce the …
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The United Nations has helped countries worldwide improve human rights, limit nuclear proliferation, negotiate peace and lift over 1 billion people from poverty. At the 77th United Nations General Assembly September 13–27 in New York, the United States aims to build on the U.N.’s success and help prepare the institution to tackle 21st century challenges. …
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Born to immigrant parents and raised in the New York City area, Gabriel Garbar has always been curious about other cultures. Earlier this year he learned about Russia’s culture and education system as he helped teachers and students in Russia hone their English skills. Garbar was among 80 Americans participating in the State Department’s Virtual English …
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Together with our Allies and partners, we are delivering the arms and equipment that Ukraine’s forces are utilizing so effectively as they continue their successful counter-offensive against Russia’s invasion. President Biden has been clear we will support the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes.
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President Putin’s unjustified war against Ukraine puts millions around the globe at risk of increasing food insecurity. The Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, one of the world’s largest exporters of food, has led to the damage or outright destruction of many of Ukraine’s arterial roads, railways, ports, and food storage facilities that are essential to …
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This International Day of Democracy, we underscore our commitment to democracy as we strive for a more inclusive, equitable, and peaceful world. As President Biden has emphasized “…we must start with diplomacy rooted in America’s most cherished democratic values: defending freedom, championing opportunity, upholding universal rights, respecting rule of law, and treating every person with …
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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. The Secretary thanked the Prime Minister for his exemplary leadership during one of the most challenging periods in recent history and for Italy’s strong support for Ukraine. The Secretary underscored the importance of maintaining solidarity and resilience in the face of …
Read More» At today’s Syria Political-Humanitarian Briefing at the UN Security Council, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Representative to the United Nations, announced more than $756 million in additional humanitarian assistance to continue our unwavering support for the Syrian people. This funding is in addition to the nearly $808 million announced by Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield in Brussels earlier in …
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“Filtered. The word does not begin to convey the horror and the depravity of these pre-meditated policies,” said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield during a September 7 U.N. Security Council Meeting. Thomas-Greenfield detailed for the council the numerous mounting and credible reports of the Russian government’s filtration sites in parts of eastern Ukraine …
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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke by video conference today with Allies and partners to underscore continued international support for Ukraine, including through the ongoing provision of security and economic assistance and the sustained imposition of costs on Russia to hold the Kremlin accountable for its aggression. The leaders also discussed Russia’s weaponization of energy and the need for further coordination …
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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era. In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her. An enduring admiration for Queen Elizabeth II united people …
Read More» It has been seven months since President Putin’s February invasion of Ukraine, and the war’s terrible toll continues to mount. Thousands of civilians killed or wounded, 13 million Ukrainian civilians forced to flee their homes, historic cities pounded to rubble, horrifying reports of ongoing atrocities, nuclear power stations put at risk, food shortages, skyrocketing food …
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The Kremlin is orchestrating sham referendums in parts of Ukraine currently under its military control in a bid to legitimize Russia’s hold on these territories. Moscow is rolling out the same playbook it used in 2014 when Russia invaded Crimea and forcibly seized parts of eastern Ukraine. As it did in 2014 in Crimea, Russia has installed …
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The U.S. government works with trading partners to protect workers’ rights worldwide. Safeguarding worker rights has been a core principle of U.S. trade policy since 1988. The Biden administration’s worker-centered trade policy furthers that effort, seeking to ensure that prosperous trade benefits workers at home and abroad. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in June 2021 that trading partners …
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The U.S. government has provided nearly $1 billion in emergency food security assistance to countries in Africa suffering from extreme hunger and malnutrition. That is part of the $2.76 billion in U.S. funding that President Biden announced in June to address global food insecurity. The remaining funds are expected to be provided by year’s end to countries …
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The first shipment of Ukrainian grain to transit the Black Sea since Russia’s unprovoked invasion arrived in Africa August 30 and will help feed people in the Horn of Africa. The estimated 23,000 metric tons of Ukrainian wheat was delivered though the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) with assistance from the U.S. government. That amount of grain …
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To succeed in Russia’s state media environment, individuals need to promote the Kremlin line. Margarita Simonyan learned that lesson at a young age. As a reporter covering the war in Chechnya in the early 2000s, she promoted the Kremlin’s viewpoint. The Kremlin seemed to reward Simonyan for her loyalty by appointing her head of Russia’s first …
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The G7 Non-Proliferation Directors Group recalls the Statement of the G7 Foreign Ministers of August 10, 2022, in support of the IAEA´s efforts to promote nuclear safety and security at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.
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The Russian government is potentially engaging in torture and forced labor at filtration areas in eastern Ukraine, according to a new report from Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab. Satellite imagery also indicates the potential presence of graves at one facility. The report used open-source data cross-referenced against recent high-resolution satellite imagery. Only sites whose location and activities …
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After weeks of intensive but productive negotiations, the Russian Federation alone decided to block consensus on a final document at the conclusion of the Tenth Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Russia did so in order to block language that merely acknowledged the grave radiological risk at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in …
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Representatives from countries around the world and dozens of civil society organizations are huddled and working around the clock at UN headquarters in New York this week for negotiations “on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ).”
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We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, reiterate our strongest condemnation of the ongoing unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The Russian Federation must immediately withdraw its troops …
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The figures were reported recently by the Giving USA Foundation, using research from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. The fact that Americans gave nearly half a trillion dollars per year in the past two years is particularly impressive, and important, because the pandemic hurt many people economically in the U.S. and around the …
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Higher energy costs, climate change, COVID-19 and global conflicts are fueling the food crisis, especially in Africa, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said August 5. That is why President Biden announced in June $2.76 billion in U.S. funding to help protect the world’s most vulnerable populations and mitigate the impacts of growing food …
Read More» On August 9 the Department announced its intention to provide $89 million of FY 2022 funding to help the Government of Ukraine address the urgent humanitarian challenges posed by explosive remnants of war created by Russia’s brutal war of aggression.
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Today President Biden signed the United States Instruments of Ratification of the Accession Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty for the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden, which the U.S. Senate approved on August 3. We celebrate this historic moment, which underscores the U.S. commitment to our shared Transatlantic security.
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Desirée Cormier Smith, the newly appointed special representative for racial equity and justice at the U.S. Department of State — the first person to hold that position — is ready to tell anyone who will listen exactly what she does and how racial equity relates to U.S. foreign policy. As Cormier Smith explains, her job …
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Good afternoon, everyone. This is such an incredibly powerful, moving experience, but all the more so because to be guided by Antoinette gives it particularly special meaning. And thank you so much for sharing with me, sharing with us – Hector’s story is one that really resonates because we have our own struggle for freedom …
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I welcome the announcement tonight of a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza-based militants after three days of hostilities. Over these last 72-hours, the United States has worked with officials from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, and others throughout the region to encourage a swift resolution to the conflict. I thank President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and the …
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Fourteen years ago today, Russia invaded the sovereign nation of Georgia. As we have done since 2008, we remember those killed and injured by Russian forces. For decades, the citizens of Georgia in Abkhazia and South Ossetia have lived under Russian occupation and tens of thousands have been displaced, persecuted, and impoverished. Lives and livelihoods …
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We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, reaffirm our shared commitment to maintaining the rules-based international order, peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and beyond.
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We, the Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, are steadfast in our condemnation of Russia’s brutal, unprovoked, unjustifiable, and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. We condemn and will not recognise Russia’s continued attempts to re-draw …
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Today, the Senate overwhelmingly endorsed our close partners Finland and Sweden joining NATO. This historic vote sends an important signal of the sustained, bipartisan U.S. commitment to NATO, and to ensuring our Alliance is prepared to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. I thank the members of the Senate – especially Majority Leader Schumer, Minority …
Read More» On July 31, 2022, the United States conducted a precision counterterrorism strike in Afghanistan that killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s deputy and successor as leader of al-Qa’ida. Al- Zawahiri was one of the masterminds of the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, and had continued to urge his followers to attack …
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Eureka moments come to entrepreneurs in different ways — for Marta Vânia Uetela of Mozambique, her idea arose when a friend who lost his leg in a car accident had to find an affordable prosthetic to be able to walk again. He found that prosthetics were too expensive or the wait time to obtain one …
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My fellow Americans, on Saturday, at my direction, the United States successfully concluded an airstrike in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed the emir of al Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri. You know, al-Zawahiri was bin Laden’s leader. He was with him all the — the whole time. He was his number-two man, his deputy at the time …
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Can we give it up for Yendy, please? (Applause.) Please have a seat. Please have a seat. I said to Yendy he — he did an excellent job. You know, public speaking is very difficult, but you — you hope that, at the end of your presentation, that you not only share something that people …
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The U.S. Department of State’s Investment Climate Statements provide information on the business climates of more than 160 economies and are prepared by economic officers stationed in embassies and posts around the world. They analyze a variety of economies that are or could be markets for U.S. businesses. The Investment Climate Statements are also references …
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For more than 50 years, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) has helped prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, enabled progress on disarmament, and allowed peaceful nuclear technologies to contribute to global sustainable development. The United States is committed to upholding this landmark treaty, one that is never more important than in times …
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This week, President Putin’s war on Ukraine entered its sixth month. Costs continue to climb – thousands of civilians killed or wounded; 13 million Ukrainians forced to flee their homes; historic cities literally pounded into rubble; food shortages, skyrocketing food prices around the world – all this because President Putin was determined to conquer another …
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As I was walking out, I thought I heard a rumbling in my staff saying, “Oh, he’s back.” (Laughter.) Thanks for sticking around. Hello, everyone. I’ve just tested negative for COVID-19 after isolating for five days. (Applause.) Thankfully, I’ll now be able to return to work in person. But I — I want to thank …
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Russians who dare to speak out publicly against the war in Ukraine face long prison terms. Alexei Gorinov, a municipal deputy in Moscow, received a seven-year prison sentence July 8 for “spreading false information” about the Russian military. His crime? Gorinov called for “stopping the war and withdrawing Russian troops from Ukraine’s territory” during a March council …
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In March 2021, President Biden released Executive Order 14020 , Establishment of the White House Gender Policy Council, which mandated a whole-of-government strategy to promote gender equality, and corresponding Department and Agency Action Plans within nine months of the Strategy’s release. The U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality was released in October 2021, with the aim of …
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There are an estimated 1 billion people with disabilities worldwide. Their contributions benefit us all. In the United States, July is Disability Pride Month. It marks the 1990 enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a landmark U.S. rights law that extended civil rights protections to persons with disabilities and assured that all Americans would benefit from their talents.
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Several U.S. business hubs are among the world’s best places to launch a business. Startup Genome, a research organization that supports small businesses, places three American hot spots in the top five of its latest global startup ecosystem ranking: Silicon Valley (located in California’s Santa Clara Valley), New York City and Boston.
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The United States strongly condemns the Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian port of Odesa today. Just 24 hours after finalizing a deal to allow the resumption of Ukrainian agricultural exports through the Black Sea, Russia breached its commitments by attacking the historic port from which grain and agricultural exports would again be transported under …
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Our consular officers are your eyes and ears on the ground in countries around the world. We have no higher priority than the safety and security of our fellow citizens, and one of the primary ways we fulfill that responsibility is by informing U.S. citizens of not only travel information such as entry and exit …
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“The scale of this problem is vast,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken, announcing the report’s findings July 19 at the State Department, noting that nearly 25 million people are currently victims of trafficking. “The United States is committed to fighting it because trafficking destabilizes societies, it undermines economies, it harms workers, it enriches those who exploit …
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More than 80 international and domestic students gathered at the U.S. Department of State in Washington on June 29, to learn about human rights issues and how the State Department addresses humanitarian problems globally.
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As the world continues to grapple with COVID-19’s far-reaching impacts and the emergence of new variants, there remains an urgent need for political and diplomatic engagement and coordination to accelerate progress to end the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen health security. Accordingly, the United States and Japan will jointly host a virtual …
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Just-released brilliant and detailed images of distant parts of the universe taken by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope will help people better understand the cosmos. The Webb’s first, full-color image (at right) shows thousands of galaxies. This infrared image of the universe, the deepest and sharpest ever produced, was released on July 11 at the White House …
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With Ukraine’s assent, the United States and 44 other countries invoked the OSCE Moscow Mechanism for a second time on June 2, establishing an expert mission to examine the further human rights abuses and humanitarian impacts of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. In the report released at today’s OSCE Permanent Council meeting, the mission …
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We welcome the announcement by the EU making clear how its member states will implement economic sanctions on Russia with respect to Kaliningrad. We appreciate the unprecedented economic measures that our Allies and partners, including Lithuania, have joined us in taking against Russia for its unprovoked war against Ukraine.
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On the eve of the Ukraine Accountability Conference, the United States calls on Russia to immediately halt its systematic “filtration” operations and forced deportations in Russian-controlled and held areas of Ukraine. The unlawful transfer and deportation of protected persons is a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians and is a war crime. Russian …
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In line with the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to robust re-engagement and leadership in multilateral institutions, the United States marked its second session back on the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) by actively advancing respect for and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms during the body’s 50th regular session.
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The U.S. government and private sector are providing critical cybersecurity assistance to Ukraine, helping the country stay online during Russia’s brutal and unjust war. The Kremlin’s further invasion of Ukraine has used information warfare tactics, including cyberattacks on core infrastructure and dissemination of disinformation through state-sponsored malign networks, as well as mass disruption of internet service, according …
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One of the Kremlin’s most common disinformation narratives to justify its devastating war against the people of Ukraine is the lie that Russia is pursuing the “denazification” of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has referred to Ukraine’s democratically elected government as a “gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis,” while Russian state media and propagandists have repeatedly called for the “denazification” of the entire …
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The United States and its trans-Atlantic allies have agreed to a bold vision for NATO’s future to ensure a strong NATO alliance. The White House called the June 29–30 NATO Summit in Madrid “an historic moment for the Transatlantic Alliance.” For the first time, leaders from partner nations in Asia, including Australia, Japan, New Zealand and …
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Disinformation is one of the Kremlin’s most important and far-reaching weapons. Russia has operationalized the concept of perpetual adversarial competition in the information environment by encouraging the development of a disinformation and propaganda ecosystem. This ecosystem creates and spreads false narratives to strategically advance the Kremlin’s policy goals. There is no subject off-limits to this …
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I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to its ratification, the Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden (the “Protocols”). The Protocols were signed in Brussels on July 5, 2022, on behalf of the United States and …
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I announced earlier today that the United States is providing nearly $368 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support those affected by Russia’s brutal war on Ukraine. To date, more than11 million people– over a quarter of Ukraine’s population – have been forced to flee their homes due to Russia’s unjustified war, while 15.7 million people require …
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Jill and I send our warmest greetings to Muslims across the United States and around the world celebrating Eid al-Adha. The Eid traditions and Hajj rituals that commemorate the devotion of Abraham and his son to God are an opportunity for Muslims to renew their faith, and a reminder of the common roots of the …
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When disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic strike, developing countries that lack essential infrastructure suffer more and take longer to recover, President Biden said. “In our deeply connected world, that’s not just a humanitarian concern, it’s an economic and a security concern for all of us,” Biden told the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Schloss …
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Carbon dioxide is a natural part of the planet’s environment, but too much of it can wreak havoc on the climate. Currently, there is 47% more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than at the beginning of the Industrial Age. This causes temperatures to rise, the ocean to acidify, and extreme weather to become commonplace and …
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Sixty-five million years ago, an asteroid collided with Earth and killed two-thirds of life on the planet, ending the reign of the dinosaurs. Now scientists at NASA and space agencies in Europe are figuring out how to prevent future asteroids from threatening humans. “The threat of asteroids is real,” NASA scientist Elena Adams said during …
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When the Kremlin wants to gain influence in Africa or support a repressive leader without scrutiny, it often works with key oligarchs aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin. A Kremlin favorite is Yevgeniy Prigozhin, known as “Putin’s chef” because of his numerous catering contracts with the Kremlin. Prigozhin is best known for financing the Internet …
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Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable war of choice against Ukraine, facilitated by the Belarusian government, is abhorrent and a flagrant breach of its international obligations. Respect for human rights and peaceful relations between nations form the foundation of international sport.
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The United States and international partners have begun shipping pediatric COVID-19 vaccine doses to help other countries protect children and to end the acute phase of the pandemic. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced June 15 at a COVID-19 Global Action Plan meeting at the State Department that the United States is sending 2.2 million doses of …
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More than a million people of Ukrainian descent live in the United States, primarily in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. U.S. museums across the country elevate Ukrainian culture, history and art. “One of the things that President Putin’s war is trying to accomplish is to somehow erase Ukrainian identity,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken …
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Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine is contributing to rising food prices and threatening food supplies around the world. In Ukraine, Russia’s forces have destroyed farms, bombed warehouses, ruined fields, and seized tractors and other equipment for fortifications, according to news reports. Land mines have forced Ukrainians to abandon their farms, and a Russian Navy blockade of Ukrainian …
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On this day 54 years ago, the Treaty of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) opened for signature in London, Moscow, and Washington, DC. Today, the United States reaffirms its commitment to this critical treaty and celebrates the immeasurable contribution it has made to the security and prosperity of the nations and peoples of the …
Read More» Ukrainians continue to face a brutality highlighted once again this week by an attack that struck a shopping mall filled with civilians. They continue to fight for their country, and the United States continues to stand by them and their just cause. As the United States prepares to commemorate our independence, we remain committed to …
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Americans celebrate Independence Day on July 4 because that’s when, in 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, eventually transforming 13 English colonies into the United States of America.
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As part of our deep ongoing collaboration on outer space issues, officials from the United States and the European Union met for the 11th U.S.-EU Space Dialogue in Washington, D.C. Officials discussed cooperation on Earth observation and disaster response, global navigation satellite systems, spaceflight safety and space situational awareness, and opportunities for trans-Atlantic cooperation to …
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The June 29-30, 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid, Spain will be an historic moment for the Transatlantic Alliance. Building on the President’s first NATO Summit on June 14, 2021, and extraordinary Summits held on February 25, 2022 and March 24, 2022 in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, this Summit in Madrid will …
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The United States reaffirms our commitment to working alongside our allies and partners to further impose severe consequences on President Putin and his supporters for Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against the government and people of Ukraine. Today, the Departments of State and the Treasury are imposing sanctions on additional entities and individuals, including Russia’s …
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I congratulate Turkey, Finland and Sweden on signing a trilateral memorandum, which paves the way for Allies to invite Finland and Sweden to join NATO at the Madrid Summit. When I welcomed President Niinistö and Prime Minister Andersson to the White House last month, I told them that the United States strongly supports their membership. …
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As Secretary of State, I usually avoid commenting on Supreme Court rulings. But today’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade has raised understandable questions and concerns across the world and within our workforce. So let me be clear: under this Administration, the State Department will remain fully committed to helping provide access to reproductive health services …
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Today, we announced an additional $1 billion in additional military assistance for Ukraine. Pursuant to a delegation of authority from the President, I am authorizing our twelfth drawdown of arms and equipment from U.S. Department of Defense inventories for Ukraine’s defense since August 2021, valued at up to $350 million. This authorization, combined with $650 …
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This morning, I spoke with President Zelenskyy to discuss Russia’s brutal and ongoing war against Ukraine. I reaffirmed my commitment that the United States will stand by Ukraine as it defends its democracy and support its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of unprovoked Russian aggression. I informed President Zelenskyy that the United States …
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On June 14, 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service at the U.S. Embassy in Rome hosted a regional virtual workshop entitled: “Innovative Biotechnology – A Tool for Climate Change Mitigation, Food Security, and Alternative Energy Sources”. Two U.S. scientists were accompanied by experts from Italy, Greece, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ghana, and Nigeria. The scientists …
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Around one-third of all marine life will face extinction within 300 years if global temperatures keep rising, says a new report in Science. The extinction of ocean creatures would weaken global economies, harm land-based ecosystems and change life on Earth as we know it. “The ocean is our lifeblood, impacting a $500 billion global economy and …
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Members of the LGBTQI+ community in the United States and around the world have established an impressive legacy in art, history, literature, math, science and politics. Over the years, LGBTQI+ figures took significant risks to enter and succeed in competitive fields, knowing their identities could jeopardize their own careers or those of others. Despite discrimination and harassment, …
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On World Day Against Child Labor, we renew our commitments and efforts to combat child labor and protect children. The United States was one of the first countries to sign the international treaty against child labor. When President Clinton signed what is known as the Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention in 1999, he recognized that to …
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The United States partners with other countries and international organizations to protect and empower workers around the world. By supporting international labor groups and leveraging trade and development projects, the United States contributes to the protection of workers’ rights and better working conditions for many of the world’s workers. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken …
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Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces in Ukraine have destroyed apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, shopping centers and ambulances, leaving thousands of civilians killed or wounded. Mounting evidence indicates that the Russian Federation’s forces are torturing and killing civilians in the cities they capture. After Russia’s forces withdrew from the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, city officials recovered …
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On behalf of the United States of America, I express my wish for a more peaceful, open future for the people of Russia as they commemorate Russia Day. June 12, 1990, marked an important step in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Russia for freedom, democracy, and the breaking down of barriers that separate …
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As of June 12, 2022, the CDC order requiring all persons to show a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the United States, is rescinded. Starting at 12:01 a.m. on June 12, 2022, the CDC will no longer require air travelers to show a negative COVID-19 …
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The health and productivity of our ocean is under threat. Greenhouse gas emissions are making our ocean warmer, higher, more acidic, and less productive. Meanwhile, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is threatening fish stocks and marine biodiversity, while plastic pollution is choking our ocean.
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There is only one global ocean — a vast body of water that covers 71% of the Earth. That ocean is geographically divided into five ocean basins: the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic and Southern. A healthy planet needs a healthy ocean. The interdependency of the five basins and humans’ dependence on the marine environment will …
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It’s so important from our perspective that the United States, likeminded governments, but especially with civil society, with NGOs, with think tanks, with the private sector, work to protect human rights online, work to demonstrate that our democracies can deliver for people as we navigate this extraordinary digital transformation that is having an impact on …
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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will host a roundtable discussion on global food security with a number of philanthropies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector entities on Monday, June 6, at 4:00 p.m. EDT. Secretary Blinken will be joined by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
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In the United States, several government agencies work together to ensure food safety through a system many consider to be one of the best in the world. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration work together to protect consumers …
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June 6, 2022, marks the 78th anniversary of D-Day, when the largest amphibious military operation of modern times landed 156,000 Allied soldiers by sea and air on five beachheads in Normandy, France. D-Day was the start of Allied operations in World War II that would liberate Western Europe and defeat Nazi Germany 11 months later. Most of …
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Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces in Ukraine have destroyed apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, shopping centers and ambulances, leaving thousands of civilians killed or wounded. Mounting evidence indicates that the Russian Federation’s forces are torturing and killing civilians in the cities they capture.
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In the one hundred days since Russian President Putin ordered his forces to further invade Ukraine, the world has seen the courage and determination of the people of Ukraine as they fight for their country. Since February 24, the United States has provided more than 6.3 billion dollars of security, humanitarian and economic assistance to …
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Water is the source of life, and it nurtures and sustains livelihoods and civilizations. Secure and sustainable access to safe water is an essential element of national security, and the Department of State is working together with our partners and allies to facilitate water cooperation and engagement on water management across our development programming and …
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The annual Report to Congress on International Religious Freedom – the International Religious Freedom Report – describes the status of religious freedom in every country. The report covers government policies violating religious belief and practices of groups, religious denominations and individuals, and U.S. policies to promote religious freedom around the world. The U.S. Department of …
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On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Italy on the 76th anniversary of the founding of the Italian Republic. On this day, Italy and the United States celebrate our shared heritage and values including freedom, democracy, rule of law, and our flourishing cultural ties. Millions of Americans proudly claim …
Read More» The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for Monkeypox in Multiple Countries.
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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Di Maio discussed Russia’s brutal and unprovoked war against Ukraine and affirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine and others suffering from the effects of the war. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister also stressed the …
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On a day in 1985, like many immigrants visiting a U.S. supermarket for the first time, Hakakian was stunned by the “staggering variety” of types of cereals in America. The aisle of shelves, she says, might be seen by those outside the U.S. as a sign of frivolity. But for her, the shelves have come …
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The movement to safeguard the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) people in the United States is part of a larger U.S. tradition of ensuring minority rights. That tradition began when President Ulysses S. Grant signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1871. Now recognized as the world’s first legislation aimed …
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President Biden is ensuring the United States remains a safe haven for refugees and that those who apply to immigrate to the country under humanitarian programs are treated with dignity and respect. In a February 4, 2021, executive order, Biden took steps to strengthen the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), a collaboration between government and community groups that reflects …
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Memorial Day honors America’s military men and women who lost their lives in service to their country. The holiday is observed on the last Monday of May, a time of year when weather is turning warmer and schools and universities are adjourning for summer break. To Americans, Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial beginning of …
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We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, condemn in the strongest terms the test of yet another Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) conducted on May 25, 2022, by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). …
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They lie here in glory and honor — in quiet rows in Arlington, in cemeteries in Europe that I visited and many of you have, in graves across our country, in towns large and small — America’s beloved daughters and sons who dared all, risked all, and gave all to preserve and defend an idea …
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One of the most significant sites for such commemoration is Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for U.S. military personnel of every major American conflict since the Revolutionary War. The cemetery sits across the Potomac River from Washington in Northern Virginia. In 2021, President Biden visited there on Memorial Day and said, “May the light …
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It’s a real pleasure to be here at The George Washington University. This is an institution that draws outstanding students and scholars from around the world and where the most urgent challenges that we face as a country and a planet are studied and debated. So thank you for having us here today. And I …
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And a big thanks to start to our colleagues at the Office of International Religious Freedom for getting us all together tonight, for organizing this reception, and Rashad, especially to you for your leadership, which has been extraordinary. Just over the past few months, Rashad and his team have helped drive our foreign policy priorities …
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President Biden supported and welcomed Finland’s and Sweden’s applications to join NATO, saying the two democracies will strengthen the alliance and bolster trans-Atlantic security. “I am proud to welcome and offer the strong support of the United States for the applications of two great democracies and two close, highly capable partners to join the strongest, …
Read More» The United States, along with the European Union and the United Kingdom, has created the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA). This joint initiative will directly support the efforts of the War Crimes Units of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine (OPG) to document, preserve, and analyze evidence of war crimes and other atrocities …
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Today, the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom announced the creation of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA), a mechanism aimed at ensuring efficient coordination of their respective support to accountability efforts on the ground. The ACA will reinforce current EU, US and UK efforts to further accountability for atrocity crimes in the context …
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Russia has demonstrated that it is an unreliable supplier of energy to Europe through unjustified and unacceptable actions such as cutting off electricity and natural gas to Finland, halting natural gas exports to Poland and Bulgaria, and threatening similar actions against other European nations. The United States and the European Commission condemn Russia’s use of …
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Walk the streets of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, Queens and other areas in New York City and you’ll likely see signs in Russian and English, along with plenty of support for Ukraine. New York City is home to 600,000 Russian-speaking immigrants, the most of any U.S. city. And many here — as well as others in communities across …
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The U.S. government has provided more than $688 million in humanitarian assistance to help the people of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began on February 24. The aid comes as Russia’s war of aggression has displaced 7.7 million people within Ukraine and forced more than 6 million to flee to neighboring countries. This humanitarian assistance — through the U.S. Agency for …
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Russia’s war against Ukraine has damaged more than 260 sites important to Ukraine’s culture, new reports show. “This is a struggle for our cultural heritage,” said Ihor Poshyvailo, general director of the National Memorial and the Maidan Museum, during an online discussion April 28 hosted by the National Museum of American Diplomacy. The Russian military’s constant bombing of Ukraine …
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Countries and organizations around the globe are redoubling efforts to vaccinate the world against COVID-19, save lives now, and prepare for future pandemics and other health crises. At the Second COVID-19 Summit, held virtually May 12, leaders of numerous countries, the private sector and nongovernmental groups committed a total of $3.2 billion to expand access …
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I warmly welcome and strongly support the historic applications from Finland and Sweden for membership in NATO and look forward to working with the U.S. Congress and our NATO Allies to quickly bring Finland and Sweden into the strongest defensive alliance in history.
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In order to mobilize action to address global food insecurity, Secretary Blinken will host a ministerial-level meeting in New York on May 18, bringing together a broad, regionally diverse group of 30-35 countries, including those most affected by food insecurity and those in a position to take action to strengthen global food resilience and security. …
Read More» The United States is committed to ending hunger and malnutrition and building more sustainable, equitable, and resilient food systems around the world. In support of these ongoing efforts, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken is traveling to New York City May 18-19 to convene meetings to mobilize action on global food security.
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Three months ago, we lowered our flag over the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, just days before Russian forces streamed across Ukraine’s border to carry out President Putin’s unprovoked, unjustified war of choice. When we suspended operations at the embassy, we made the point clear: while we would relocate U.S. embassy personnel for their safety …
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The U.S. Department of State is announcing the launch of a new Conflict Observatory to capture, analyze, and make widely available evidence of Russia-perpetrated war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine. The program encompasses the documentation, verification, and dissemination of open-source evidence regarding the actions of Russia’s forces during President Putin’s brutal war of choice.
Read More» The U.S. Department of State is announcing the launch of a new Conflict Observatory to capture, analyze, and make widely available evidence of Russia-perpetrated war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine. The program encompasses the documentation, verification, and dissemination of open-source evidence regarding the actions of Russia’s forces during President Putin’s brutal war of choice.
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Thanks very much, and thanks to all of you for joining us today. As you all might remember, last June at the U.S.-EU Summit, President Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel established the U.S. and EU Trade and Technology Council. The U.S.-EU TTC, as we call …
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Russia’s war in Ukraine has resulted in more than 5.7 million refugees fleeing Ukraine into neighboring countries while an estimated 7.7 million people are internally displaced in the country, according to the U.N. A major consequence of this war is that, while Russian President Vladimir Putin destroys farms in Ukraine, people around the world go …
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We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, are steadfast in our solidarity with and our support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s unjustifiable, unprovoked and illegal war of aggression, a war in which …
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I most recently saw him in Rome, when we were there for G20, as a lead-up into the Glasgow COP26 Conference on Climate, where Italy was a – the prime co-sponsor with the U.K. That was a very productive meeting. Countries from well more than 20 countries, some – some guests were there as well. …
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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. of the United States and Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy met today at the White House. The leaders reaffirmed the strong and broad U.S.-Italian partnership reflected in the deep and enduring ties between our people and our countries, of which our alliance through NATO and the U.S. partnership with …
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Well, Mr. Prime Minister, it’s great to have you here. You’ve been a good friend and a great ally. And it’s my pleasure to welcome you to the White House and have a chance to repay some of the hospitality that you — you extended to me at the G20 Summit and in Rome. And …
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On this day, 72 years ago, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman put forward the idea for what would eventually become the European Union. His vision became real 30 years ago with the signature of the Treaty on European Union in Maastricht. Schuman’s animating principle was that closer cooperation and creative thinking could bring about lasting …
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Ten days ago, I sent to Congress an urgent proposal to provide needed military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. The plan was substantial in size, because the need is substantial: we must stand by Ukraine as it defends itself from Russian aggression.
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We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, underscore our grave concern over the selection process for the Chief Executive in Hong Kong as part of a continued assault on political pluralism and fundamental freedoms.
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Today, on 8 May, we, the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), alongside Ukraine and the wider global community, commemorate the end of the Second World War in Europe and the liberation from fascism and the National Socialist reign of terror, which caused immeasurable destruction, unspeakable horrors and human suffering. We mourn the millions …
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Our unprecedented sanctions are already exacting an immense toll on Russia’s economy and our export controls have strangled Russia’s access to critical technology and the supply chains it needs to sustain its military ambitions. Putin’s war is projected to wipe out the last 15 years of economic gains in Russia. As a result of our …
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I join my fellow Americans and people across the world as we prepare to mark the 77th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Together, we commemorate the shared resilience and resolve of all the soldiers and civilians that led to the Allied victory over the Nazis. We mourn the merciless slaughter of tens of millions …
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We live in perilous times for press freedom. At least eleven journalists have been killed in Ukraine in recent weeks. Another 11 have been wounded by gunfire. Others have been kidnapped and assaulted, and at least one remains missing. In Russia, the Kremlin has tightened its vice-grip on civil society, including through passage of a …
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I tell you what, Linda: If I were CEO of this company, I’d be worried. (Laughter.) Well, good afternoon, everybody. And thank you, Jim, for the invitation to be here today and, Linda, for the warm welcome today. And Congressman Sewell — -woman Sewell, thank you for all you do for the people of this …
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Morning, everyone. Ned, thank you very, very much. And it is particularly good to be here, and I wanted to start by saying welcome, everyone, to the Foreign Press Center. It’s been too long since those words have actually been said. This is the first in-person event, as Ned said, that we’ve been able to …
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Supported by a grant from the United States Embassy to Italy to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in museums, professionals from The Phillips Collection in Washington, DC will conduct a week of collaborative workshops from May 2 – 9 with Italian contemporary art museums in Turin (GAM – Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea), Rome …
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As Muslims in the United States and around the world conclude the month of Ramadan and celebrate Eid al-Fitr, Jill and I extend our warmest wishes to all who are celebrating this joyous occasion. Eid marks the completion of a holy month dedicated to devotion and reflection, when families and communities come together to celebrate …
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ISIS has made significant inroads into Africa. An 84-member coalition committed to countering ISIS globally is working to deter further advances on the African continent by ISIS affiliates. The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS will hold its annual ministerial in Marrakesh, Morocco, on May 11 to address the growing threat from ISIS in Africa and …
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Nations are sending a loud message in response to Russia’s February full-scale invasion of Ukraine: They’re ordering Russian officials to leave. An estimated 400 Russian diplomatic officials were expelled from Europe since the invasion, according to Foreign Policy magazine. Among NATO members, at least 24 out of 30 member states asked Russian officials to leave.
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Today we released the first-ever public report on the U.S. government’s implementation of the 2021 Presidential Memorandum on Advancing the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Persons (LGBTQI+) Around the World. The report details our efforts to protect and promote the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons globally over the past year. …
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Hello, everybody. Good morning. I just signed a request to Congress for critical security, economic, and humanitarian assistance to help Ukraine continue to counter Putin’s aggression and — at a very pivotal moment. We need this bill to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom. And our NATO Allies, our EU partners — they’re going …
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President Biden looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy to the White House on May 10, 2022. The visit will reaffirm the deep bonds of friendship and strong partnership between the United States and Italy. The leaders will discuss their ongoing coordination with Allies and partners on measures to support of the people …
Read More» On March 24, President Biden announced the launch of the European Democratic Resilience Initiative (EDRI) to bolster democratic resilience, advance anti-corruption efforts, and defend human rights in Ukraine and its neighbors in response Russia’s war of aggression. Working with Congress, the Biden Administration aims to harness the EDRI to provide up to $320 million in new funding …
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Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Risch, thank you. It’s very good to be with you, to be with every member of this committee today. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you about the administration’s proposed budget for the State Department. And as both of you noted, I just returned from Kyiv with Defense Secretary …
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Driven by President Biden’s comprehensive COVID-19 response, there are now more tools than ever before to protect people from the virus, including highly-effective treatments. Over the past 15 months, the Administration has pulled levers across the federal government and deployed resources Congress provided to expedite the development, production, and procurement of COVID-19 treatments. As a …
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U.S. citizens considering international travel should plan ahead and be informed about travel requirements before making decisions or firm travel plans. We urge U.S. citizens considering international travel to check their passport expiration date early and if renewal is needed, to submit applications as far ahead of their travel dates as possible. Travelers should check …
Read More» Fifty-two years ago, millions of people gathered across our country in a rally to protect our planet. This collective action gave birth to a new movement and spurred the creation of landmark environmental laws that protect the air we breathe and the water we drink. Today, we must recapture that spirit and, as I said in my Inaugural …
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Good morning, everyone. Sorry to keep you waiting a little bit. I had the honor of spending some time with the Ukrainian Prime Minister, who’s in town today. And he is meeting with some of my Cabinet members, including the Secretary of Treasury and others. And we had a — a good discussion. I talked …
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Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke today with French MFA Secretary General Francois Delattre, German MFA State Secretary Andreas Michaelis, Italian MFA Secretary General Ettore Sequi, and UK Minister of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly. Deputy Secretary Sherman condemned Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked war of choice against Ukraine and its brutal …
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Since taking office, President Biden has prioritized expanding clean energy technologies as part of his historic efforts to tackle the climate crisis – all while helping American families lower their energy costs and creating good-paying, union jobs. Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) – like rooftop solar, battery storage, heat pumps, and electric vehicles – will cut …
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Food waste worsens world hunger and adds to greenhouse gas emissions, a leading cause of the climate crisis. The United Nations estimates that roughly one-third of all food is wasted or lost globally each year. Worldwide, thrown-out food accounts for 8% of all greenhouse gas emissions. In the United States, activists and organizations promote food recycling. Their …
Read More» President Putin’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine, conducted with the complicity of the Lukashenka regime, continues to cause needless suffering and thousands of civilian casualties. The world has witnessed the horrors of this war in the images from the Ukrainian towns of Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel, and in Ukrainian towns and cities still occupied or under …
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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. hosted a videoconference today with Allies and partners to discuss international support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, including the ongoing provision of security, economic, and humanitarian assistance. The leaders affirmed their solidarity with the Ukrainian people and condemned the humanitarian suffering caused by Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified …
Read More» On April 8, the United States pledged $600.8 million over the next four years to support the eighth replenishment of the Global Environment Facility (GEF-8). This is the United States’ largest GEF pledge ever. This pledge aligns with continuing U.S. priorities and supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to addressing climate change, conserving global carbon sinks and other critical …
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Today, National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy held the eleventh meeting of the National Climate Task Force to launch a week of Administration actions leading up to Earth Day that build on President Biden’s historic progress to tackle the climate crisis and reduce emissions across every sector of the economy – furthering the President’s efforts to …
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Plastic pollution affects every place on the planet, from the belly of an animal in remote Antarctica to the trees of the Sahel to the highest mountains in the Himalayas. It can take centuries to degrade. The world produces about 272 million metric tons of plastic waste each year. That’s close to the weight of …
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Muslim Americans, like all Americans, represent diverse cultures and traditions found around the world. Ramadan displays this diversity in many ways, including the food prepared for early morning suhoor and sunset iftar meals. Of the estimated 3.45 million Muslim Americans of all ages living in the United States in 2017, 58% were born in another country, according to the Pew Research …
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The Department of State has no greater responsibility than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas. We are committed to providing U.S. citizens with up-to-date and timely information, so they are informed as they make international travel plans and when they are abroad.
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I just want to acknowledge a few people at the outset, particularly the president, Mary Sue Coleman. Grateful for her support for so much of what we do. There are a few people who have been involved with you either now or very recently who are – have been good friends or close colleagues. Carol …
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The Kremlin is claiming the atrocities committed by Russian forces in Bucha, Ukraine — documented by satellite imagery — were a provocation staged by the West. Here’s what a staged provocation really looks like. Evidence suggests Russia used a staged incident to justify its full-scale further invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The Kremlin has …
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The annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – the Human Rights Reports – cover internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and worker rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international agreements. The U.S. Department of State submits reports on all countries receiving assistance and all United Nations member states …
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Greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping sector are significant and rising. Shipping would be the eighth largest emitter if it were a “country,” and by 2050, emissions from the sector are projected to increase by up to 50% from 2018 levels under a business-as-usual scenario. This trajectory is not compatible with the goals of the …
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Athletes from an array of sports — professional and amateur — are showing in a variety of ways their support for Ukraine and its people amid Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war.
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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will deliver on-camera remarks on the release of the 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices at 1:30 p.m. on April 12, 2022, in the Press Briefing Room at the U.S. Department of State. Acting Assistant Secretary Lisa Peterson of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor will take questions in the Briefing Room immediately …
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In March 2018, Sergei Skripal, a British citizen who used to work as a Russian intelligence officer, and his daughter, Yulia, nearly died after coming into contact with Novichok, a military-grade nerve agent originally developed by the former Soviet Union.
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We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, condemn in the strongest terms the atrocities committed by the Russian armed forces in Bucha and a number of other Ukrainian towns. Haunting images of civilian deaths, …
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Two weeks after my last trip here with President Biden, we’re back in Brussels as part of this administration’s ongoing and urgent efforts with allies and partners to counter the Russian Government’s war of aggression in Ukraine and to stand up for the principles necessary to maintaining international peace and security. Together, we are sustaining …
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I applaud the overwhelming vote today in the General Assembly of the United Nations to kick Russia off the UN Human Rights Council. This is a meaningful step by the international community further demonstrating how Putin’s war has made Russia an international pariah.
Read More» Today, the United States, with the G7 and the European Union, will continue to impose severe and immediate economic costs on the Putin regime for its atrocities in Ukraine, including in Bucha. We will document and share information on these atrocities and use all appropriate mechanisms to hold accountable those responsible.
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In a display of the strengthening ties between the United States and Italy, the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), the U.S. Mission in Italy, and other U.S. and local officials celebrated the groundbreaking of the new U.S. Consulate General in Milan on April 6.
Read More» Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, and UK Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss today in Brussels, where they reiterated their commitment to supporting Ukraine in the face of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion.
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This year’s observance of World Health Day on April 7 reminds us of the need to protect people and their environment. The United States answers the call by leading an international effort to strengthen World Health Organization (WHO) regulations that will better prepare the world to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to future disease outbreaks.
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The United States is united with our allies and partners to ensure the Government of Russia pays a severe price for causing such death and destruction in Ukraine, and particularly for the horrors in Bucha and elsewhere. In furtherance of this goal, today we are implementing full blocking sanctions on two key Russian financial institutions: Sberbank, …
Read More» The world has been shocked and appalled by the atrocities committed by Russia’s forces in Bucha and across Ukraine. Ukraine’s forces bravely continue to defend their country and their freedom, and the United States, along with our Allies and partners, stand steadfast in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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The United States supports peace and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians and is committed to preserving the possibility of a two-state solution. “Israelis and Palestinians deserve to enjoy equal measures of freedom, security, opportunity, and dignity,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said following a March 27 meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in Jerusalem. “And …
Read More» This morning’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on mitigation makes clear what we can do to stop or slow planetary warming. The report also reveals how current global efforts to mitigate the climate crisis fall far short of what is needed. Without full implementation of current national pledges and robust, aggressive, and ambitious further action we cannot keep …
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Days after Syria’s government launched a chemical weapons attack upon its citizens in the town of Khan Shaykhun on April 4, 2017, the Russian government began a disinformation campaign to protect Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The 2017 sarin gas attack in Syria killed 90 people, including 30 children.
Read More» The United States will continue to impose severe costs on the Russian Federation in response to President Putin’s illegal war. Today, we are targeting entities and individuals in our efforts to shut down the Kremlin’s sanctions evasion networks, which play an important role in the Russian Federation’s ability to continue its unconscionable war on the citizens …
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Americans face rising prices at the pump because of Putin’s Price Hike. Since Putin accelerated his military build-up around Ukraine, gas prices have increased by nearly a dollar per gallon. Because of Putin’s war of choice, less oil is getting to market, and the reduction in supply is raising prices at the pump for Americans. …
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During today’s High-Level Pledging Event on Supporting the Humanitarian Response in Afghanistan, the United States announced we are providing nearly $204 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help the people of Afghanistan, bringing the total amount to more than $720 million since August 2021. This new funding includes nearly $134 million from the Department of …
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Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke today with French MFA Secretary General Francois Delattre, German MFA Political Director Tjorven Bellmann, Italian MFA Secretary General Ettore Sequi, and UK Minister of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly. The Deputy Secretary reiterated the United States’ support for Ukraine’s diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire …
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President Biden spoke today with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine about the ongoing work by the United States and its allies and partners to deliver military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and to impose severe costs on Russia for its brutal aggression against Ukraine. The leaders discussed how the United States is working around the …
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Good afternoon. Today, I’d like to update you all on where we stand on COVID-19. Because of the strategy we executed over the past year on vaccinations, testing, treatments, and more, we’re now in a new moment in this pandemic. It does not mean that COVID-19 is over; it means that COVID-19 no longer controls …
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The European Union and the United States held today in Washington, D.C., the first U.S.-EU High-Level Dialogue on Russia. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland represented the United States and European External Action Service Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs Enrique Mora represented the European Union. This high-level meeting follows the commitments …
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President Biden met with NATO allies March 24 to demonstrate unity with Ukraine and condemn Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war. During his first trip to Europe since Russia’s forces further invaded Ukraine, Biden announced more than $1 billion in additional U.S. humanitarian assistance for those affected by Vladimir Putin’s war. He also unveiled new measures to …
Read More» The United States applauds recent expulsions of Russian intelligence officers by our partners in Europe and around the world. As our partners have outlined, these actions are in response to these individuals’ activities, which are in contravention of their diplomatic status, and the Russian Federation’s aggression in Ukraine.
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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom. The leaders affirmed their determination to continue raising costs on Russia for its brutal attacks in Ukraine, as well as to continue …
Read More» Today, Acting Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Lisa Peterson hosted the 2022 U.S.-EU Human Rights Consultations in Washington, D.C. EU Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore led the European Union delegation for this series of meetings.
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Art and culture professionals from Ukraine, the United States and around the world are rushing to save Ukraine’s most treasured sites from Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war. The Russian military’s constant bombing of Ukraine has caused horrific human suffering. Bombs have hit communities throughout Ukraine, killing thousands and forcing millions of people to flee. “The situation for museums …
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Four Ukrainians share their thoughts about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked attacks against their communities in Ukraine. “We need the world’s help now,” says one.
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Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman met today with Italian MFA Secretary General Ettore Sequi in Washington, D.C. They discussed shared efforts to assist Ukraine in the face of Moscow’s unprovoked and unjustified war, to deliver humanitarian assistance to those fleeing Russia’s aggression, and to press the Kremlin to end its brutal attacks.
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President Biden met with Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy on the sidelines of the G7 today. The Leaders discussed the U.S. and Italy’s shared commitment to continue holding Russia accountable for its actions in Ukraine, and to support the government and people of Ukraine.
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Good evening, everyone. With all the press that’s here, you must be getting very tired. Am I the 16th or 17th? At any rate, all kidding aside, thank you for taking the time. I — today marks one month since Russia began its carnage in Ukraine, the brutal invasion of Ukraine. And we held a …
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NATO leaders met today on the one-month anniversary of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine to reiterate our strong support for the Ukrainian people, our determination to hold Russia accountable for its brutal war, and our commitment to strengthening the NATO Alliance. We had the privilege of hearing directly from President Zelenskyy, and we …
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Since launching his unprovoked and unjust war of choice, Russian President Vladimir Putin has unleashed unrelenting violence that has caused death and destruction across Ukraine. We’ve seen numerous credible reports of indiscriminate attacks and attacks deliberately targeting civilians, as well as other atrocities. Russia’s forces have destroyed apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, critical infrastructure, civilian vehicles, …
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People around the world are showing support for the people of Ukraine and condemning Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war — including many who were born in Russia and are now living in the United States. “Russian people have a moral duty to stand up and say something when Russia is doing something bad,” a 40-year-old woman named Yevgenia told …
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Water is one of the world’s most precious resources. Whether mitigating and adapting to climate change impacts, strengthening global health security, improving access to food, or securing energy resources, water is essential to addressing these issues and building a better future. Millions of people around the world lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation, …
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Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke today with French MFA Secretary General Francois Delattre, German MFA Political Director Tjorven Bellmann, Italian MFA Secretary General Ettore Sequi, and UK Minister of State for Europe and North America James Cleverly. Deputy Secretary Sherman condemned President Putin’s increasingly brutal tactics that continue to kill civilians in this …
Read More» Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman spoke today with European External Action Service Secretary General Stefano Sannino to continue close U.S.-EU coordination to support Ukraine and hold the Russian Federation accountable for Putin’s unprovoked war and unconscionable attacks that continue to kill civilians in Ukraine. They also affirmed their continued commitment to strengthen the U.S.-EU partnership and …
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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom. The leaders discussed their serious concerns about Russia’s brutal tactics in Ukraine, including its attacks on civilians. They underscored their continued support for Ukraine, including by providing security assistance to …
Read More» Contrary to recent false and unattributed comments, Italy continues to demonstrate itself as a strong exporter of security and robust contributor to NATO along the Alliance’s Southern and Eastern Flanks. The Department of Defense appreciates the significant contributions Italy has made to Ukraine and in support of the Alliance. The U.S. will continue to work …
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Thank you very much, and good morning, everyone. Stu, thank you for those very kind words, but also thank you for so many decades of extraordinary service to this country and to its ideals. This is something of a sacred place for me. Every time I walk through these doors, it has the same impact. …
Read More» Today, Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Senior Advisor Cedric Richmond, and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese met with 16 CEOs of major companies across several industries including energy, food, and manufacturing to provide a briefing on the latest developments on Putin’s unprovoked and unjustified …
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So let me start again with apologies. Two years into this, we’re still having challenges with Zoom and the like, but anyway, I was just saying first it’s – really appreciate everyone coming together this afternoon. I was making a bad joke about how, when you usually talk to a secretary of state, it’s probably …
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Three weeks ago, Russia launched its unprovoked war on Ukraine. With every day that passes, the numbers of civilians, including children, killed and wounded continues to climb. Russia continues to attack civilian sites, including – this week alone – a hospital, three schools, a boarding school for visually impaired kids in the Luhansk region of …
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Each March 17, people from Ireland, the United States, and around the world celebrate the Emerald Isle’s rich heritage and culture. Today and every day, the United States and Ireland cooperate closely on a number of critical issues. We work together to strengthen global health security, increase our shared prosperity, combat climate change, advance democratic …
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COVID-19 is the greatest public health crisis we’ve faced in my lifetime and it required the country to build from scratch an emergency response infrastructure that could quickly and equitably get people life-saving protections. Jeff put his decades of management experience to work formulating and executing on a plan to build the infrastructure we needed …
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Since the start of the pandemic, we have provided nearly $20 billion in health, humanitarian, economic, and development assistance to over 120 countries, including rapid response support for urgent health needs and technical assistance to expand vaccine access. We have also invested and supported the expansion of regional COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing in Africa and Asia. …
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The International Court of Justice today issued a significant ruling in Ukraine’s case against the Russian Federation under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The ruling clearly and unequivocally ordered Russia to immediately suspend the military operations Russia commenced last month and further directed Russia to ensure that anyone …
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In recent days, Russia has escalated its premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified war on Ukraine, striking hospitals, demolishing schools, leveling civilian infrastructure, and killing hundreds of civilians. As Ukrainian forces bravely continue to combat Russia’s renewed invasion, the United States and its Allies and partners stand steadfast in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and …
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Good afternoon. I want to begin by thanking President Zelenskyy for his passionate message this morning. I listened to it in the private residence, and he was convincing. And — significant speech. He speaks for a people who have shown remarkable courage and strength in the face of brutal aggression — courage and strength …
Read More» National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke today with General Nikolay Patrushev, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, to reiterate the United States’ firm and clear opposition to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. Mr. Sullivan clearly laid out the United States’ commitment to continue imposing costs on Russia, to support the defense of Ukraine’s …
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On March 15, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met in Rome with Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy to discuss international cooperation in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This followed Mr. Sullivan’s meeting with Luigi Mattiolo, Diplomatic Advisor to the Prime Minister. The two senior officials discussed continued measures, including in coordination with the G7 …
Read More» The United States is providing over $186 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support internally displaced persons and the more than three million refugees affected by Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified war in Ukraine. This will provide further support for humanitarian organizations responding to the crisis and complement the generosity of the neighboring countries that …
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The world has been transfixed as Russia has perpetrated a premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified attack on Ukraine. Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine has resulted in widespread human suffering and casualties, including the deaths of innocent civilians, including children. Today, the Department of State is continuing to impose severe costs on Russian military leaders.
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The United States, with support from Allies and partners, is taking action to promote accountability for the Russian and Belarusian governments’ human rights abuses and violations within and outside their borders. In doing so, we reiterate our condemnation of President Putin’s premeditated, unjustified, and unprovoked war against Ukraine, as well as the Lukashenka regime’s support and facilitation of the Russian Federation’s invasion. President …
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National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met today with Chinese Communist Party Politburo Member and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission Yang Jiechi in Rome, Italy. Their meeting followed up on the November 15, 2021 virtual meeting between President Biden and President Xi. Mr. Sullivan raised a range of issues in U.S.-China relations, with …
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Thousands of Russians in more than 140 cities across the country are risking their liberty to peacefully protest Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war on Ukraine. More than 13,000 protesters have been detained in Russia since the invasion began February 24, according to OVD-Info, a rights group that tracks political arrests. Yet brave Russian citizens continue …
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On Monday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and officials from the National Security Council and State Department will be in Rome. Sullivan will meet with Chinese Communist Party Politburo Member and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission Yang Jiechi as part of our ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication between …
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The people of Ukraine are inspiring the world as they defend their country from Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified invasion of their country. The United States and our Allies and partners stand in solidarity with the people and government of Ukraine in the face of the Kremlin’s aggression.
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Good morning. I’m sorry to keep you waiting. I’ve just spoken for some time with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. I told him, as I have each and every time we’ve spoken, the United States stands with the people of Ukraine and their bravely — as they bravely fight to defend their country. And they are …
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Today, President Biden and G7 Leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom as well as the European Union will announce new economic actions to hold Putin accountable for his continued assault on Ukraine and further isolate Russia from the global financial system. Each partner will implement actions consistent with their national …
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March 10, 2022 During her trip to Warsaw, Poland, today, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris announced nearly $53 million in new humanitarian assistance from the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), to support innocent civilians affected by Russia’s unjustified invasion of Ukraine. This additional assistance includes support to the UN World Food Program (WFP) …
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On December 9-10, 2021, President Biden hosted the first of two Summits for Democracy, a global gathering of 100 government leaders, hundreds of members of civil society, and the business community, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing democracies in the 21st century. At the Summit, the U.S. Government announced that the time between leaders’ …
Read More» The Kremlin is intentionally spreading outright lies that the United States and Ukraine are conducting chemical and biological weapons activities in Ukraine. We have also seen PRC officials echo these conspiracy theories. This Russian disinformation is total nonsense and not the first time Russia has invented such false claims against another country. Also, these claims …
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Good morning, folks. Sorry to keep you waiting. I was on a couple of phone calls. Today I’m announcing the United States is targeting the main artery of Russia’s economy. We’re banning all imports of Russian oil and gas and energy. That means Russian oil will no longer be acceptable at U.S. …
Read More» Today, President Biden will sign an Executive Order (E.O.) to ban the import of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas, and coal to the United States – a significant action with widespread bipartisan support that will further deprive President Putin of the economic resources he uses to continue his needless war of choice.
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On International Women’s Day, the United States is proud to join the global community in celebrating the achievements and contributions of women and girls from around the world, while simultaneously recognizing the barriers they continue to face. The United States stands firm in its longstanding commitment to the advancement of gender equity and equality and …
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On International Women’s Day, we recognize the achievements of women and girls in the United States and across the globe, celebrate the progress we’ve made, and recommit ourselves to the work that remains to deliver the full measure of equity, dignity, and opportunity due to all women and girls.
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On February 24, 2022, Russian military forces conducted an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, causing hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes. The people of Ukraine have been caught in the middle of conflict for nearly eight years, and there are currently 2.9 million in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. In addition to the …
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On Sunday, March 7, 1965, time stopped and blood spilled as brave and righteous Americans sought to cross a bridge named after a Klansman in Selma, Alabama, to reach the other side of justice. Led by the late John Lewis, they marched to secure their sacred right to vote. Their heroism was met by batons …
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Since President Putin launched his unprovoked, unjustified, and unconscionable invasion of Ukraine over a week ago, the international community across continents has spoken with powerful unity to denounce Russia’s aggression and demand its cessation. Giving voice and purpose to that common cause requires ready international venues such as the United Nations, where the Russian government …
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We applaud the steps taken by governments, U.S. and global companies, and other institutions around the world to condemn Putin’s war of choice in Ukraine, including those that call out and contest the Russian Government’s further efforts to undermine the free press and spread disinformation.
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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke this evening with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. President Biden highlighted the ongoing actions undertaken by the United States, its Allies and partners, and private industry to raise the costs on Russia for its aggression in Ukraine. In particular, he welcomed the decision this evening by Visa and Mastercard …
Read More» France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America take note of the statement of 2 March by the spokesperson of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and subsequent developments regarding the situation in Libya. We echo the UN Secretary-General’s call on all actors to refrain from actions that could undermine stability …
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We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union reiterate our profound condemnation of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable war of choice against Ukraine, enabled by the Belarussian government.
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We join in marking World Wildlife Day with many partners around the world. Together, we can conserve the diversity of life on this planet, which is critical for supporting healthy ecosystems. Many wildlife species are under increasing threats from wildlife trafficking and nature crime. Wildlife trafficking is a security threat and an especially harmful form of …
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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken travels to Belgium, Poland, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia from March 3 to 8, 2022. The trip continues extensive consultations and coordination with our NATO Allies and European partners about the Russian Federation’s continued premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified war against Ukraine.
Read More» The United States remains united with our allies and partners in our commitment to ensure the Government of Russia pays a severe economic and diplomatic price for its aggression against Ukraine. Today we are targeting Russian elites and their financial networks and assets, major Russian disinformation outlets that contribute to the destabilization of Ukraine, and …
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I got to tell you a story. (Laughter.) I hadn’t planned on this. When Jill and I met and fell in love, she let me know her favorite day in the calendar was Valentine’s Day. The first Valentine’s Day that we were together when I was Vice President — the Vice President’s office faces the …
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Today, for the first time in 40 years, the United Nations Security Council convened an Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly under the Uniting for Peace mechanism in response to Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified, and unconscionable war on Ukraine. This extraordinary move by the United Nations demonstrates the extent of global outrage at Russia’s horrific …
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On March 1, Russia’s Prosecutor General ordered the communications authority RosKomNadzor to restrict access to the independent outlets Radio Ekho Moskvy and Dozhd TV, blocking their websites and ability to broadcast. The outlets were baselessly accused of “calling for extremist activity and violence” and sharing “deliberately false information about the actions of Russian military personnel …
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Madam Speaker, Madam Vice President, our First Lady and Second Gentleman. Members of Congress and the Cabinet. Justices of the Supreme Court. My fellow Americans. Last year COVID-19 kept us apart. This year we are finally together again. Tonight, we meet as Democrats Republicans and Independents. But most importantly as Americans. With a duty to one another to the …
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Vice President Kamala Harris today had five separate calls with European leaders from NATO’s eastern flank to discuss our collective response to Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The Vice President spoke individually with: Prime Minister Kaja Kallas of Estonia; Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins of Latvia; Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte of Lithuania; Prime Minister …
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High Commissioner Bachelet, Mr. President, fellow members, the United States is pleased to rejoin the UN Human Rights Council. More than at any other point in recent history, the principles at the heart of this Council’s work – and the entire United Nations – are being challenged. As we meet, Russia is carrying out a …
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On February 26, 2022, Ukraine filed an application at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to initiate proceedings against the Russian Federation under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Ukraine seeks to address Russia’s groundless claims that genocide has occurred in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts of Ukraine and …
Read More» The U.S. Department of State submitted the 2022 edition of the annual International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) to Congress today. This two-volume, Congressionally-mandated report assesses foreign governments’ efforts to reduce illicit drug production, trafficking, and use as well as their work to counter drug trafficking-related money laundering. The INCSR was first published in 1986, …
Read More» President Joseph R. Biden hosted a secure conference call today with Allies and partners about our unified response to Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked war on Ukraine. The leaders recognized the bravery of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian aggression and discussed their continued support to Ukraine, including security, economic, and humanitarian assistance. They also discussed …
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In coordination with our allies and partners, the United States is taking further measures today against the Russian financial system in response to Russia’s continuing premeditated war against Ukraine. Unwavering in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we will continue to act with our allies and partners in imposing costs on Russia if …
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