U.S. Department of State Weekly Digest Bulletin

Albania’s 110th Independence Day
11/28/2022


Albania’s 110th Independence Day
11/28/2022 12:01 AM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

On behalf of the United States of America, it is my honor to congratulate the people of Albania on your 110th Independence Day. The United States is also proud to celebrate the 100th anniversary of U.S.-Albanian diplomatic relations and the broad, strong partnership that we have built together.

The United States has been honored to work alongside Albania at the United Nations Security Council as you continue to make powerful contributions on the global stage. Albania has demonstrated leadership and courage by supporting Ukraine and shining light on the actions of malign actors in Europe and around the world. Albania’s valued contributions as a NATO Ally help keep the Alliance strong, prepared, and resolute. The United States also thanks Albania for its partnership and support in relocating Afghans.

We congratulate Albania on achieving the start of EU accession negotiations in July and remain committed to supporting you along your transatlantic path. Together, we are working to combat corruption and organized crime, provide energy while advancing our shared climate agenda for Europe, and strengthen cyber defense.

As we embark on our next century of relations, we are proud to stand side-by-side with the Albanian people.




The United States and Romania: Strategic Partners for 25 Years
11/28/2022


The United States and Romania: Strategic Partners for 25 Years
11/28/2022 08:20 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between the United States and Romania. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Bucharest, Romania November 28-30 for a meeting of the NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs and will meet with senior Romanian officials, including President Klaus Iohannis and Foreign Minster Bogdan Aurescu.

President Clinton announced the Strategic Partnership during a historic visit to Romania in 1997. Speaking at Bucharest’s University Square, he said “ have agreed to establish a Strategic Partnership between our nations, a partnership important to America because Romania is important to America—important in your own right and important as a model in this difficult part of the world. Romania can show the people of this region and, indeed, people throughout the world that there is a better way than fighting and division and repression. It is cooperation and freedom and peace. Our friendship will en­dure the test of time. As long as you proceed down democracy’s road, America will walk by your side.”

For the past 25 years, the United States and Romania have walked that road together and strengthened bilateral relations, supported Romania’s democratic development and Euro-Atlantic integration, fostered shared prosperity, and worked together to face regional and global challenges. Our Strategic Partnership is rooted in a shared commitment to democratic values, including the rule of law, open markets, respect for and the promotion of human rights, and the strong bonds between the peoples of Romania and the United States.

Security cooperation is central to our Strategic Partnership as NATO Allies.In support of our pledge to collective defense and our shared national security interests, Romania continues to strengthen its capabilities for NATO and multinational operations and has repeatedly deployed forces and assets, including significant contributions of troops, equipment, and other assistance in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Kosovo.
Romania hosts the NATO Multinational Division Headquarters South East, which is NATO’s fully operational command and control node for the region – a NATO Force Integration Unit, and a fully operational Multinational Brigade South East.
In 2005, the United States and Romania signed a defense cooperation agreement, establishing a framework for access for U.S. forces, which established several joint-use facilities in Romania. Approximately 3,000 U.S. troops are currently stationed in Romania.
In 2014, the U.S. Navy formally established Naval Support Facility-Deveselu, where the EPAA Aegis Ashore missile defense site has been constructed. The base houses approximately 200 U.S. sailors and Navy contractors on a persistent, rotational basis.
Mihail Kogalniceanu (MK) Airbase near Constanta is an important multi-modal transportation hub for U.S. forces and currently houses approximately 2,800 U.S. Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). It is expected future U.S. Brigade Combat Team elements will also be headquartered at MK.
The 71st Airbase located at Campia Turzii currently hosts approximately 100 U.S Airforce Airmen supporting USAF MQ-9 operations.
The Roadmap for Defense Cooperation for 2020-2030, signed in October 2020, outlined strategic priorities for the bilateral relationship and included collaboration on cybersecurity, military modernization, and multi-domain operations in the Black Sea.
Since 2016, the United States has provided nearly $500 million in State and DoD security assistance and security cooperation funding to Romania.
Our countries are working closely together to uphold democratic institutions and oppose authoritarianism globally. We appreciate Romania’s long-standing support and cooperation on the Republic of Moldova and the issues it faces.

Shared economic prosperity has been another important focus of our Strategic Partnership.The United States is a major and growing commercial partner of Romania. Twenty-five years ago, the United States imported $400 million in Romanian goods annually and exported $258 million in American goods. Our partnership has grown these numbers to $3 billion in imports from Romania and $1.4 billion in American exports in 2021.
This is in addition to the nearly 8,000 firms operating in Romania supported by American investors and approximately $4 billion in U.S. foreign direct investment in Romania—a number which will only increase as Romania continues to strengthen its investment climate through legal transparency.
In 2019, the United States ranked as the fifth largest foreign investor in Romania when European subsidiaries of American companies were taken into account.
The U.S. Government, with U.S. firm NuScale Power, will provide $14 million in support for the Front-End Engineering and Design study for Romania’s deployment of a first-of-its-kind small modular reactor (SMR) plant.
As Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Change John Kerry previewed with President Iohannis at COP 27, we are pleased that the U.S. Export Import Bank is working on a generous package of financing for the Cernavoda nuclear power plant that will provide clean, safe, reliable energy, which will power Romania for generations to come.

The Strategic Partnership has fostered mutual understanding and enduring ties between our peoples based on our shared values.Romania and the United States are bound together through innumerable people-to-people ties in tourism, culture, sports, and the arts, as well as research and academics.
We promote mutual understanding through a robust network of exchange programs, including the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) for high school students and a robust Fulbright program managed by the bilateral Fulbright Commission.
Our universities’ doors are open and each year approximately 1,000 Romanian students enroll in America’s premier institutions of higher education.
Romania ranks second in the world in the number of young people who visit the United States each year through our Summer Work and Travel Program, well over 5,000 annually.
The United States assists in preserving Romania’s unique and beautiful cultural heritage. Recent grants through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation include $500,000 for the restoration of a 14th Century fortified Saxon church in the village of Alma Vii, $80,000 to preserve the Elie Wiesel Memorial House in Sighet, and $60,000 for restoration and preservation works at the Jewish Cemetary in Alba Iulia.

And the United States and Romania stand with Ukraine.We appreciate the warm welcome Romania has provided to millions of civilians fleeing Putin’s violence. While many have safely traveled onward, thank you to Romania and its people for continuing to host many thousands of refugees.
We applaud Romania for delivering food, water, medical supplies, fuel, and material support to Ukraine and for hosting a logistics hub for international assistance to flow into Ukraine.
Romania has also played a critical role in facilitating the transport of Ukrainian grain, cereals, and other goods through its Port of Constanta for further transport out to other countries. To date, Romania has facilitated approximately 6 million tons of grain exports; this has been critical for ensuring global food security.
Romania has consistently advocated for Ukraine’s greater integration into Transatlantic and European institutions. Romania has also been unequivocal in its support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
The United States is honored to stand with Romania as you stand with your neighbors in Ukraine. Vice President Kamala Harris visited Romania in March 2022. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited Romania in May 2022.
Since February, the United States has provided nearly $49 million in humanitarian assistance to support the Ukraine response in Romania.
To strengthen Romania’s defense and deterrence capabilities, we have provided more than $121 million in security assistance this year through Foreign Military Financing (FMF), including Congress’s Ukraine Supplemental legislation.


Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca At the Romanian Athenaeum
11/29/2022

Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca At the Romanian Athenaeum
11/29/2022 06:15 AM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Bucharest, Romania

Romanian Athenaeum

PRIME MINISTER CIUCA: (Via interpreter) Mr. Secretary, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it’s a great honor and privilege to welcome Secretary Blinken to Bucharest. This is a milestone when we celebrate the 25th anniversary of our strategic partnership between Romania and the United States. Very glad to hear that 25 years ago, when President Clinton announced the launch of the strategic partnership here in Bucharest, you were here with him.

I’m happy and proud to announce that our strategic partnership has reached its highest levels in its 25-year history. Twenty-five years is a very important milestone, which makes us aware that in 1997 a new generation was born that was raised and grew with the strategic partnership. I’m sure that this generation will do its best to defend the values that we cherish – freedom and all the values that we share. I’m sure that this generation, together with the Romanian people, fully appreciates the importance of the strategic partnership and our membership to NATO.

I’m also happy that we can enjoy this exhibit together in a beautiful building, which has been a landmark in Romanian history. Your presence here confirms the importance that the United States grants to the strategic partnership with Romania and the United States, and I would like to assure you that the Government of Romania will do its best to strengthen and expand this strategic partnership.

The political-military component of the strategic partnership is very important. And your presence here today in Bucharest is in the context where the ministry of foreign affairs of Romania together with Minister Aurescu have organized the meeting of NATO foreign ministers, a meeting which takes place shortly after the Madrid Summit and for the first time since Romania hosted the 2008 NATO Summit in Bucharest. Going back to the political-military component of our strategic partnership, I would like to thank you for the U.S. commitment to deterrence, defense, and strengthening the eastern flank.

Of course the economic component of the strategic partnership is also very important, and I would like to appreciate the increase of U.S. investment in Romania. In this context, energy has become much more important than we would have thought a little while ago. I’d like to emphasize the cooperation, bilateral cooperation, in the nuclear field, and the fact that the U.S. Government has committed to fund the number three and number four reactors in Cernavodă with $3 billion also highlights this strategic partnership.

Also the development of small nuclear reactors in Romania is extremely important, and this is also a highlight of the cooperation between U.S. and Romanian experts. We have already chosen the location for these future reactors at Doicești. There are also other directions of cooperation in the field of energy, and we are looking at developing especially the wind source of energy. All of these efforts will expand and will broaden our capability to become independent from the energy standpoint. And of course Romania as a strategic partner offers its capabilities to other partners and allies who don’t have the capability to produce their own energy.

Mr. Secretary, we have a broad cooperation in between Romania and the United States, and I would like to assure you that based on our shared values and interests. Because the strategic partnership represents the fundamental pillar of our security and foreign policy, we will continue to strengthen it in the future.

Thank you very much, and I look forward to developing our strategic partnership.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Prime Minister, thank you so much for welcoming us here this morning. To you, to my friend Bogdan, the foreign minister, it is wonderful to be back in Bucharest. As the prime minister said, I was here with President Clinton when he and President Constantinescu announced the strategic partnership 25 years ago. It was a moment when the Romanian people inspired the world with their own quest for freedom.

I don’t think that the two presidents could have imagined even then the extent that this partnership would grow and flourish – security, economic, people-to-people ties. And as the prime minister said, we are steadfast Allies in NATO defending the values that we share, including when those values are under assault by Russia in Ukraine. And we’ve built a strong and growing economic partnership, including with powerful new horizons around nuclear energy. And of course, we have ever-stronger people-to-people ties, as evidenced here today by some of the work that’s brought us together: educational exchange, cultural exchange, in so many ways connecting our countries over the last 25 years.

So it’s particularly wonderful to be back in this moment when we’re working so closely together. And I have to tell you, Prime Minister, a great way to start the day in this extraordinary place with a little bit of music, so I thank you for that as well.

PRIME MINISTER CIUCA: (Inaudible.)

SECRETARY BLINKEN: We will. Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER CIUCA: Thank you very much.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you.




Undersecretary Nuland’s Travel to Poland
11/29/2022

Undersecretary Nuland’s Travel to Poland
11/29/2022 08:15 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland will travel to Lodz, Poland November 30 to December 1, where she will attend the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Under Secretary Nuland will reiterate the United States’ commitment to the OSCE’s foundational principles to advance security, prosperity, human rights, and territorial integrity — particularly in the face of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Under Secretary Nuland will also meet with Polish officials to thank Poland for its leadership as OSCE chair and underscore the U.S. commitment to NATO’s Eastern Flank.


Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Romanian President Iohannis
11/29/2022

Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Romanian President Iohannis
11/29/2022 08:12 AM EST



The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest, Romania. They discussed bilateral cooperation in response to Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine and our close and continuing partnership as NATO Allies. The Secretary and President Iohannis also discussed our collaboration on regional energy security and spoke about our shared democratic values and commitment to the rule of law.




Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Romanian President Iohannis
11/29/2022


Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Romanian President Iohannis
11/29/2022 08:04 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest, Romania. They discussed bilateral cooperation in response to Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine and our close and continuing partnership as NATO Allies. The Secretary and President Iohannis also discussed our collaboration on regional energy security and spoke about our shared democratic values and commitment to the rule of law.


Energy Security Support to Ukraine
11/29/2022

Energy Security Support to Ukraine
11/29/2022 11:18 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

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 rapidly delivered to Ukraine on an emergency basis to help Ukrainians persevere through the winter. This supply package will include distribution transformers, circuit breakers, surge arresters, disconnectors, vehicles and other key equipment.

This new assistance is in addition to $55 million in emergency energy sector support for generators and other equipment to help restore emergency power and heat to local municipalities impacted by Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s power system. We will continue to identify additional support with allies and partners, and we are also helping to devise long-term solutions for grid restoration and repair, along with our assistance for Ukraine’s effort to advance the energy transition and build an energy system decoupled from Russian energy.

Since Russia’s further invasion on February 24, working together with Congress, the Administration has provided nearly $32 billion in assistance to Ukraine, including $145 million to help repair, maintain, and strengthen Ukraine’s power sector in the face of continued attacks. We also have provided assistance in areas such as EU integration and regional electricity trade, natural gas sector support to maximize resource development, support for nuclear safety and security, and humanitarian relief efforts to help Ukrainians to overcome the impacts of energy shortages.

Since 2014, the United States has provided over $160 million in technical support to strengthen Ukraine’s energy security, including to strengthen EU interconnectivity, increase energy supply diversification, and promote investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean energy technologies and innovation. Much of this support has helped prepare Ukraine for its eventual interconnection with Europe’s ENTSO-E electricity grid, including the island mode test in February 2022 that not only demonstrated Ukraine’s progress in meeting the EU’s technical requirements, but also proved to be critical considering Russia’s subsequent military activity aimed at disrupting power supplies and distribution in Ukraine.

Specific examples of U.S. energy security support this year include:

USAIDBased on consultations with Ukrenergo, relevant municipalities, and the Ministries of Energy, Regions, and Infrastructure in Ukraine, USAID is responding to nearly $80 million of high priority energy sector procurement needs, focused on the areas of emergency power generation, electric system repair, natural gas, and heating.
Procured and delivered approximately $23 million of items to support Ukraine’s energy sector. This support includes back-up generators; first aid and body armor equipment for utility workers; mobile boiler houses; and miles of piping and associated equipment for heating networks.
Currently finalizing procurement of $10.6 million of electrical equipment for the restoration of high-voltage substations as well as heavy equipment for power system repairs in five municipalities.
Approximately $46 million of additional procurements underway with expected delivery dates in 2023. These procurements are focused on provision of mobile boiler houses and related equipment as well as additional repair materials for the electric power system. We expect this assistance to provide heating for 7 million civilians in 19 oblasts, beginning later this winter.
Provided modeling, analytical, and methodological technical assistance to Ukrenergo that helped ensure:
Successful completion of island mode test on Feb 24, 2022.
Emergency synchronization with European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) on March 16, 2022.
Launch of commercial exports in June 2022.
Retuning of Ukraine’s generation fleet in order to fulfill Ukraine’s requirement from the ENTSO-E catalog of measures.
Improved the flexibility and resilience of the gas transmission system by:
Procuring and providing training on upgraded national dispatch software.
Delivering a mobile backup dispatch center.
Completing a financial stress test and financial model of the impact of the war on GTSO operations and recommendations for remediation.
In cooperation with the Energy Community Secretariat, USAID engaged energy regulator (NEURC) to reconsider emergency measures to suspend the competitive electricity market trading.
Provided analytical and technical support to the Rada Subcommittee on Energy that resulted in:
Passage of the Law on Energy Storage, creating a market-based regime for energy storage aligned with the European regulations.
Market monitoring and surveillance legislation (e.g., REMIT) passing its first reading. A second reading expected in December 2022.
Passage of the law establishing corporate power purchase agreements for renewable energy.
In support of USAID Administrator Power’s commitment of $55 million to support winter preparation, USAID analyzed winter heating supply and demand and prepared a plan to assist local municipalities with emergency heat systems, including mobile heating units, heating tents, and pipelines and advanced procurement of these systems in close cooperation with the municipal governments. Of that, the following has been delivered:
2,200 generators to communities, district heating companies, and health facilities across the country.
Equipment to Kyivteploenergo, Kyiv’s district heating company, that allowed them to restore service to 22,000 customers and establish 1,000 emergency heating points across the city.
Serve as procurement authority for the Ukrainian Energy Support Fund, established in April 2022 by the European Union’s Energy Community Secretariat and Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy.
Developed a financial model for liquidity support to Ukrainian electricity market and key Ukrainian entities Ukrenergo, Guaranteed Buyer, Energoatom and Ukrhydroenergo.
Continuously analyzed balance sheets and cash flows of electricity and gas transmission system operators and their regulatory tariffs.
Analyzed financial impact of the war for renewable energy generation and financial liabilities for Ukrainian entities Guaranteed Buyer and Ukrenergo.
Prepared emergency modeling for electricity and gas sectors:
Utilized the detailed ENTSO-E model for static and power flow simulations and system reliability analyses for several contingency scenarios.
Using the gas system simulator for winter gas need analyses.

Department of Energy (DOE)With the increased attacks on Ukraine’s electricity grid and energy infrastructure in October, DOE worked with the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy and DOE national laboratories to collate, vet, and help prioritize lists of emergency electricity equipment for grid repair and stabilization.
Engaged at the CEO level U.S. private sector and public utilities and equipment manufacturers to identify $35 million of available electricity grid equipment in the United States compatible with the Ukrainian system for emergency delivery. Identified $17.5 million to support purchase and transportation of this equipment.
With support from Congress, initiated work on full integration of Ukraine with ENTSO-E to support resumption of Ukrainian energy exports to other European countries in the region, including funding for energy infrastructure analysis, collection of satellite data and analysis for system mapping, and work on cyber security.
Initiated work on a new dynamic model of interdependent gas and power systems of Europe and Ukraine to advance identification and mitigation of critical vulnerabilities.
Delivered emergency diesel fuel and other critical materials needed for safe operation of Ukrainian nuclear power plants, as well as initiated the purchase of three truck-mounted emergency diesel backup generators to be delivered to improve plant safety in the event of the loss of offsite power.

U.S. Department of StateBuilding on eight years of technical engagement, the State Department continued to provide technical support to Naftogaz and UkrGasVydobuvannya to advance corporate governance reform, increase domestic gas production, provide strategic planning, and assess critical sub-surface and above-ground technical issues that impact the company’s core business functions.
The State Department is developing new programs focused on emissions abatement, decarbonization, and diversification to support Ukraine’s ambitious clean energy and climate goals and address the impacts of reduced supplies of natural gas from Russia.
The State Department led a decades-long U.S. government engagement to develop and expand natural gas reverse flow (west-to-east) routes to enhance European and Ukrainian energy security. Ukraine is now able to import natural gas from Europe, eliminating the need for Ukraine to purchase natural gas from Gazprom.




Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg
11/29/2022


Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg
11/29/2022 12:03 PM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Bucharest, Romania ahead of the NATO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Secretary Blinken and Secretary General Stoltenberg discussed priorities for the upcoming meeting, including continued support to Ukraine, strengthening Alliance deterrence and defense, and enhancing resilience. They also expressed continued support for Finland and Sweden’s accession process.


Secretary Antony J. Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Before Their Meeting
11/29/2022

Secretary Antony J. Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Before Their Meeting
11/29/2022 11:55 AM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Bucharest, Romania

Palace of Parliament

SECRETARY GENERAL STOLTENBERG: So Secretary Blinken, Antony, welcome to the NATO foreign minister meeting here in Bucharest. It’s always a pleasure to meet with you. And thank you so much for your personal commitment – support for NATO, to our transatlantic bond.

We meet here in Romania, and I think that is very timely and important, because Romania is a neighbor to Ukraine, and we see a war raging on there, a war where President Putin is failing but he’s responding with more brutality, attacking Ukrainian cities, attacking critical infrastructure. And President Putin – he is now turning winter into a war – or a weapon of aggression against the Ukrainian people, and therefore we need to support Ukraine. And I’m extremely grateful for the strong support from United States – military support, economic support, and everything you do to help the Ukrainians.

And I’m absolutely confident that the message from the meeting here today and tomorrow will be that NATO Allies will provide and continue to provide unprecedented support to Ukraine. We need to stand together because it is in our security interest to ensure that President Putin doesn’t win, because that will send a message that authoritarian leaders can’t get their way by using brutal military force.

We also address the challenges that China poses to NATO, to our interests, our security. And of course, we also meet with Foreign Minister Kuleba from Ukraine but also the foreign ministers from our close partners in Moldova, Georgia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

So once again, welcome. It’s great to see you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Yes. Thank you so much. Thank you for bringing us together here in Bucharest. I agree with you. This meeting could not be more timely, and it couldn’t be in a better place, for the reasons that you said.

NATO is stronger and more united than at any time I can remember, and I’ve been doing this for nearly 30 years. That’s in no small measure thanks to the leadership of the Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who has been remarkable in making sure that our Alliance stays together, united in purpose, united in action. We will be reaffirming our support for Ukraine as we go forward. We will be reaffirming our support and the work that we’re doing to strengthen our own Alliance, work that was critically important at the Madrid Summit, and that we’ll now be carrying over to Vilnius next year.

We’ll have two soon-to-be new members of the Alliance – Sweden and Finland – with us for these meetings today. That’s important as well. But the fundamental principle that we have and that we brought to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, that we bring to other challenges, including challenges that China poses to our interests, is that we are doing it together; we’re doing it united. That is NATO’s greatest strength. It’s the strength that the Secretary General has helped to nurture, and it’s a strength that we’re going to see on display here over the next two days.

Thank you.




Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Slovak Foreign Minister Rastislav Kacer Before Their Meeting
11/29/2022

Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Slovak Foreign Minister Rastislav Kacer Before Their Meeting
11/29/2022 12:33 PM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Bucharest, Romania

Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Slovak Foreign Minister Rastislav Kacer Before Their Meeting

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon, everyone. It’s a pleasure to get a chance to meet with Foreign Minister Kacer in his new capacity, but we’re longtime acquaintances and colleagues. We go back many years, including to your time in the United States as envoy there, or all of the remarkable work you’ve done over many years on NATO-related issues.

So it’s really good to have a chance to actually meet in person, and also to express the gratitude of the United States for the strong partnership that we have with Slovakia that’s been demonstrated very powerfully in our common efforts to help Ukraine defend itself against the Russian aggression, to support the Ukrainians, to strengthen our own Alliance here at NATO, and to stand up for the values and interests that we share. I also very much appreciate the work that Slovakia has done on energy in particular, and helping Ukraine make sure that it has what it needs to help it through the winter.

Lots to talk about in a brief period of time; we’re both, I know, very pleased as well to be together as colleagues at NATO.

Mr. Minister.

FOREIGN MINISTER KACER: Thank you very much. It’s an honor and pleasure to meet here at the margins of the NATO ministerial. This is my first NATO ministerial, although I have spent most of my life, professional life, almost all of my professional life on NATO agenda, and I have very good memories for that period when we were trying to get membership.

Now thinking of Ukraine, it is claiming their own ambition. What was the effort behind it? How many years this was while we were handing over the instrument of ratification, treasury (inaudible)? So we have a lot of (inaudible).

And I want to thank you for the support of the United States for freedom and democracy in Slovakia, in Europe (inaudible) extremely important. Without you, the process – all of the process would be much harder. And now I think we all see that it made great sense. Probably we wouldn’t have expected time ago that Russia would do what they did, that they would break everything, that they would crush all what was dear in the relationship among states. But now we see that what we invested in joint security, now it brings fruits. And we can jointly help Ukraine fight for their own freedom and sovereignty. And it’s not only morally right to do, but I think the only bearable strategic choice.

Thank you for that. Thank you for being with us (inaudible) soldiers. And it was (inaudible).

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you.




Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu at a Joint Press Availability
11/29/2022


Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu at a Joint Press Availability
11/29/2022 01:01 PM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Bucharest, Romania

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

FOREIGN MINISTER AURESCU: (Via interpreter) Hello. Good afternoon.

(In English) Welcome to Bucharest, the State Secretary of the United States, Antony Blinken. Dear Tony, welcome to Bucharest. For me it’s a great honor – it’s a great day, actually, because this visit comes at a very timely and very symbolic moment at the same time because this year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of our Strategic Partnership, which is very dynamic, very vibrant. And let me confess that I’m personally attached to this Strategic Partnership since in the last 14, 15 years I was personally involved in the development of our Strategic Partnership. And I think one of the highlights was when I was serving as chief negotiator of the Joint Declaration of the Strategic Partnership for 21st Century between Romania and the United States of 2011, and also chief negotiator of the Ballistic Missile Defense Agreement of the same year that was one of the – and still is one of the great achievements of our political-military dimension of our Strategic Partnership.

And let me now switch to Romanian. Your visit – (via interpreter) Dear Tony, your visit in Bucharest takes place in this context that is very special of our anniversary of 25 years from the launching of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the U.S., which is a main pillar of Romania’s external and security policy. And I am happy that even though we have several important events hosted in Bucharest these days – the meeting of (inaudible) leaders and also the NATO ministers’ meeting – I am happy that we were able to have successful bilateral discussions.

Our joint evaluation is that this partnership is stronger than ever, which is confirmed by the many beneficial strategic decisions and projects – beneficial both for Romanian and for American citizens in the fields of security, energy, and the economy. We have to be very clear that the joint goal of Romania and the United States is to continue to develop and strengthen this partnership – this Strategic Partnership. This is why we discussed today and we agree that the next round of Strategic Dialogue between Romania and the United States will be held in Bucharest in the spring of next year. We – together we reviewed the main progress in the Strategic Partnership from the visit that we had on – after the visit that I had in Washington in November last year.

I will just mention some of them. At that time were talking about increasing the military presence, the U.S. military presence in Romania, which happened. We have a solid presence of the U.S. in Romania, more than four – almost 4,000 soldiers. We also talked about consolidating the allied defense and deterrence position in the region of the – of the Black Sea. We talked about Romania’s joining the OECD, and again I want to thank the United States for their support in this process. We are already at an advanced stage with that, we are a candidate, and we are soon starting the negotiations for joining.

We also discussed about progressing in our – with nuclear civil projects, including in terms of financing. We also discussed about how important it was to have a positive report of the State Department on trafficking in human beings. And indeed, we already have a positive report on that. We also discussed about stronger coordination for the regional security challenges, and this is obviously happening.

We also have good news. Today we have a hearing in the United States Congress of the future ambassador of Romania – of the United States to Bucharest, sorry. And I’m happy that we have this coincidence, although I don’t think it’s really a coincidence.

We also discussed about a status of our joint projects in energy security. And beyond the very important projects that we have on the Cernavodă plant and other projects of the small modular reactor plants, both Romania and the United States have a shared goal to provide energy security for Ukraine and Moldova, the Republic of Moldova. And we discussed about what we can do from now on to improve the energy security of the Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. We showed how Romania is supporting the Republic of Moldova by providing a very important amount – almost 80 percent now – of their power needs. We also presented the results of the trilateral that we created – Romania, Moldova, Ukraine – with a powerful energy component.

Of course we also discussed about the priority that we place on Romania’s joining the Visa Waiver Program, which is a joint goal of the – of Romania and the United States. And after my visit in Washington, we have a powerful dialogue politically and technically to prepare Romania to meet the requirements for joining this program. And we agree that we are going to continue with this collaboration, make it stronger, and early next year initiate the public communication campaign on this topic.

Of course we discussed about security and the implications in the region of the context of the war that the Russian Federation has initiated against the Ukraine. And again, we thank the United States for their unshaken commitment for the security of the eastern flank states, and especially for the security of Romania. During these days at the reunion of the – of the meeting of the NATO ministers, we are going to discuss about implementing the decisions of the Madrid Summit, especially those that concern consolidation of the defense and deterrence position on the eastern flank and in the Black Sea region.

We also discussed about developing our cooperation in equipping the Romanian military with modern equipment, as Romania has decided to move from 2 percent to 2.5 percent of the GDP for defense expenditure starting next year. And we also discussed about how Romania helps the Ukraine to face the consequences of the war initiated by Russia against its state. And I mean, the assistance that we provided to more than 2.5 – or .9 million refugees entering Romania, the support that we provide for these Ukrainian grain transiting Romania through our Romanian ports, the Danube and the Constanța port.

And we also discussed about a possible joint project to continue to develop the capacity of the Sulina Canal to allow more greater transit. Also, it is very important to see that all these efforts that Romania has put into developing its infrastructure are going to be very useful when we are going to start the reconstruction of Ukraine.

We also discussed about the strategic approach of the security of the Black Sea, increasing resilience in this region and making the Black Sea a safe, free, prosperous region – post-conflict, of course. We presented our own evaluations and projects in a document that is actually an update of a document that we presented last year in Washington, which will help the United States consolidate their strategy regarding the Black Sea and security of the Black Sea.

We also discussed about the Three Seas Initiative because Romania is going to host the summit of this initiative next year, and we have a strategic interconnection project – with the project ready to see on a project connecting Danske to the Romanian ports. And we hope to see a greater involvement of the United States.

We also discussed about many important aspects, but I think the most important thing is that today we agreed that our Strategic Partnership, now 25 years after its initiation, is not only extremely strong and solid, but it also has multiple other opportunities to become deeper and more developed. And the Romanian – Romania and the United States fully agree that they have to continue, develop, and deepen this partnership. We are going to continue our discussions at the NATO ministers meeting with aspects that have to do with the strategic importance of the Black Sea.

I want to thank again the Secretary of State. Tony, thank you very much, again, for this.

MODERATOR: And the floor is yours.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you very, very much, Bogdan. And good afternoon, everyone. Buna ziua to all of you. We just concluded what was a very productive meeting. And I really want to start by thanking our Romanian hosts – President Iohannis, the Prime Minister Ciucă, my friend the Foreign Minister Bogdan – for their hospitality, but also, and most important, for their partnership, not just today but every day.

My first visit to Bucharest was in 1997. I was here with President Clinton for the announcement of the Strategic Partnership. And I remember that day as if it were yesterday – the tens of thousands of Romanians who packed University Square under the bright sun, the tricolor flag that President Clinton unfurled, and the pledge that he made: As you proceed down democracy’s long road, America will be by your side. So it’s a particular pleasure to return now to Bucharest 25 years later as we mark the launch of that partnership, but even more as we work together to build it out for the next 25 years.

When you do think about the 25 years that have just passed, it is remarkable the extent to which the relationship between Romania and United States has flourished. It’s a partnership bolstered by a robust and growing economic tie, energy ties, and investments that expand opportunities for Romanians and Americans alike; a partnership that’s strengthened by our cooperation in international organizations and initiatives like the Three Seas, which Romania will be hosting in 2023; a partnership rooted in personal ties dating back decades, but enriched every single day by the thousands of students, workers, entrepreneurs, and tourists who are traveling between our countries.

And it’s fundamentally a partnership that is rooted in shared democratic values – in international law, in our joint commitment to a rules-based order. The United States will continue to support Romania’s work to build robust democratic institutions to combat corruption, to strengthen even more the rule of law.

In Romania, the United States could not wish for a more stalwart or more committed ally. Romania hosts thousands of U.S. and NATO troops at air and naval bases in service of our NATO Alliance. We collaborate closely together on Black Sea operations, which are and will continue to be an important strategic focus for NATO. And we stand united in the face of President Putin’s brutal war against Ukraine.

Since February, working hand in hand with dozens of allies and partners around the world, we have acted with speed, with coordination, with determination to support Ukraine in the face of this Russian aggression. We’ve surged security assistance to Ukraine that has helped tilt the battlefield in Ukraine’s direction. We’ve choked off the engine of the Russian war economy with unprecedented sanctions and export controls. We’ve provided economic, humanitarian, and now energy assistance to Ukrainians as President Putin targets the infrastructure that provides heat, electricity, and clean water to civilians as winter sets in.

In each of these efforts, Romania’s leadership has been critical, and Romanians have opened their doors and opened their hearts to millions of innocent civilians, mostly women and children fleeing Putin’s violence, tens of thousands of whom remain here in Romania. Romanians have delivered food, water, medical supplies, and fuel to Ukrainians in need. Romania has facilitated the export of more than 6 million tons of Ukrainian grain, helping prevent millions of people around the world from going hungry.

And of course, Romania is hosting NATO’s Multinational Division Headquarters Southeast and other key command centers that will help strengthen NATO’s defenses on its eastern flank. Romania not only meets but it exceeds the commitments that Allies made to spend 2 percent of GDP on defense by 2024.

Now, we know that Romania is leadership in all of these efforts has come with costs to the Romanian people, as it has for people across Europe and, indeed, around the world. Russia’s war has raised the cost of energy, food, and other essentials for Romanian households as they head into winter. And the Romanian Government has been subject to threats and cyber attacks from Russian groups.

But I think it’s fair to say that few nations understand better than Romania, why it is so important to stand up for the right of all nations – big and small – to have their sovereignty, their territorial integrity respected, to insist that one country can’t simply seize the land of another by force, erase its borders, destroy its identity.

Having proceeded down its own long road to democracy and now standing up for democracy everywhere, Romania can count on America to continue to be by its side. When then-Vice President Biden visited Romania back in 2014, he said NATO nations never stand alone. That was true then; it’s true now. We will defend every inch of NATO territory. We’ll continue to invest in strengthening the Alliance and Romania’s leadership in that Alliance. We’ve provided more than $120 million in security assistance to Romania just this past year. And as President Biden announced at the NATO Summit in Madrid, the United States will headquarter a rotational brigade combat team here in Romania.

We’ll keep supporting Romania’s humanitarian leadership. Since February we’ve contributed over $48 million to humanitarian assistance programs in Romania for Ukrainian refugees. We’ll help bolster Romania’s energy resilience. Earlier this month, at COP27, our climate envoy, John Kerry, announced with President Iohannis that the United States will finance a robust package for clean, safe, reliable nuclear power for Romania to help make sure that Romania’s energy supply cannot be held hostage by Russia. We’re working together on a cutting-edge small modular reactor, as the foreign minister noted, which will strengthen Romania’s energy security but also position it as a leader in the clean energy transition, while also creating thousands of jobs in both of our countries.

Earlier today I had the privilege of joining Prime Minister Ciucă at the Romanian Athenaeum, where we visited a moving exhibit that celebrated the partnership between our countries over the last 25 years. Looking over those 25 years, I was reminded of the context in which it began: 1989, eight years prior, the Romanian people came together to stand up to a brutal regime. Right where President Clinton would give his famous speech, Romanians faced down tanks sent by their own government on the orders of an imperial power. They endured hunger strikes. They buried friends and family members gunned down by the police. And ultimately, they prevailed. The dictator fell. Democracy took root. The world saw the power of the Romanian people’s solidarity, and in the months after, Romanians continue to fight for their democracy united as one.

As we prepare to enter the winter months ahead, let us be fortified by the memory of the courage of the Romanian people in their darkest moment. Let us remember that unity was a key to their success, as it will be for ours.

MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Thank you. Any questions? Please. Yes. (Inaudible.)

QUESTION: One question for Secretary Blinken. Considering that this NATO ministerial meeting takes place in Bucharest, there is a lot of weight on the strategic importance of the Black Sea region from where Russia launched its multiple aggression against Ukraine since 2014 and now from February 24. Last year when you received Foreign Minister Aurescu at the State Department, you discussed a multiyear strategy for the Black Sea. What is the current status, state of play within the administration and the Congress of this document, and what role do you see Romania playing in this strategy, given that Romania advocates for more NATO troops and also for more military equipment?

And also, for Foreign Minister Aurescu, if you want to add Romania’s view on the matter since you earlier mentioned that you handed to your U.S. counterpart Romania’s evaluation on the matter? Thank you very much.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you very much. When it comes to the Black Sea region, this is an area of vital strategic importance to us and to NATO. We have three allies that are littoral states as our close partners, Ukraine and Georgia. Russia has turned parts of the Black Sea into a war zone. We’ve seen missiles from warships coming into Ukrainian cities and towns. Russian forces, of course, have blocked Ukrainian ports, causing what has been the worst food security crisis in years. And thankfully because of important efforts by the United Nations and Turkey, we were able to get the Black Sea Corridor moving. And of course, Romania has been playing a critical role in the export of grain and other foodstuffs from Ukraine to help feed the world.

So we are not going to be deterred going forward. We’re going to be reinforcing NATO’s presence from the Black to the Baltic Seas. And in that effort, we are working constantly between each other as well as with NATO to effectively inform and reinforce our Black Sea strategy. Romania is a vital contributor to that effort and of course to the broader effort of making sure that we have the strongest possible defensive alliance when it comes to NATO. As you’ve heard, contributing 2.5 percent of GDP above the 2 percent Wales pledge to defense; and of course, Romania in its own right is a key contributor to Black Sea security.

We are committed as we move forward to building a modern, interoperable military, and that will have benefits across the entire NATO space, including when it comes to the Black Sea. As I’ve noted, Romania hosts the NATO Multinational Division Headquarters South – East, which is NATO’s regional command and control node – this is a critical institution – a NATO Force Integration Unit, a fully operational multinational brigade. And we have at present well over 3,000 U.S. forces here in Romania.

So in all of this, simply put, the Black Sea region is a critical component of NATO’s defense, NATO’s strategy, but it is not static. It’s one that we continue to work on both directly together between us as well as in the context of NATO. It’s something I intend on bringing up later today when we meet with all of the NATO foreign ministers.

FOREIGN MINISTER AURESCU: Well, thank you so much for the question. As I mentioned, last year in November when I visited Washington, we discussed about the project of creating a U.S. strategy for the Black Sea. We considered that it’s very important to bring also Romania’s contribution, and at that time I have forwarded comprehensive document with the vision of Romania on how this Black Sea strategy should look like in our view. And the vision was of a comprehensive strategy to go beyond the security dimension – the classic security dimension and to add dimensions related to the freedom of navigation, to the resilience of the countries around the Black Sea which needs to be consolidated. And I have also included there – well – ideas regarding the development of the economies in the Black Sea region and consolidating the Black Sea as a hub and a transit point of – between Europe and Caucasus and Central Asia, because indeed Black Sea has a lot of potential.

After the war started in Ukraine, we considered that it is extremely relevant to think again in the new context what would be the – let’s say – main parameters of this U.S. strategy on the Black Sea, which is not just a U.S. strategy; it is far more than that, going beyond the vision of the United States, because I very much appreciated the openness of the United States to bring within this strategy the ideas and the vision of the riparian states, including of Romania.

So today I forwarded another updated version of that vision of Romania on this strategy, consolidating the approach, which is a comprehensive one, that was included in the document for the last November. And I hope that this would be of some interest and help for the new U.S. strategy, taking into account the current context.

And I want to say that it is not just the interest of the U.S. administration; it is also the interest of the U.S. Congress that passed a piece of legislation regarding the creation of a U.S. strategy. I have met the initiators of that bill in the margins of the Madrid Summit but also in Constanța on the 1st of July when the U.S. Helsinki Commission held its first ever meeting on the shores of the Black Sea immediately after the Madrid Summit. And I think there is a lot of potential in this U.S. strategy, and I do believe that the vision of Romania will be included and taken into account in that.

MODERATOR: Thank you. And France-Presse.

QUESTION: Yes, I’m in the back here in the jungle (inaudible).

Hi there. Leon Bruneau, Agence France-Presse. I apologize for moving to another region, but I do have questions for both of you. First, Mr. Secretary, there is a major showdown in a couple of hours, I think it is, between Iran and the United States at the World Cup in Doha. This against the backdrop of protests – massive protests for a couple of months of women and human rights and what have you. There are major geopolitical connotations to this game and a whole bunch of facets. The U.S. Soccer Federation was criticized because it played around with the Iranian flag. What are your thoughts on this game? And I’m not talking – I’m talking here soccer diplomacy, as you mentioned in Doha yourself. What are the geopolitical implications of this very important game, which I assume you’ll be watching? If I could also ask a question on China – very quick question, a simple question: Does the United States support the protests in China that are ongoing now, and what are your thoughts on the crackdown that is apparently happening?

And a question for the foreign minister. Thank you very much for hosting this here for this NATO meeting. I was wondering the – your country is on the front line of this war in Ukraine, at least in the impact – regarding the impact of that war. The United States and NATO and others say that they will support the Ukraine as long as it takes. And my question to you, to Romania, is: How long can you sustain that? And further, do you think NATO and the United States are doing enough? And lastly, does Romania want a permanent U.S. military presence in your country? And thank you very much.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. When it comes to soccer, or to football, as it’s sometimes more properly known, let’s let the athletes do their thing. I’m looking forward to a very competitive match between the United States and Iran. I will be cheering on Team USA. I plan to watch the match later tonight, and having seen them play in Doha in their first game against Wales, I’m certainly confident in their abilities to do well on the field. And look, I don’t think there are any particular geopolitical aspects to this other than that we have what should be a competitive game, and let’s let the game speak for itself.

When it comes to the protests – protests that we’re seeing in China, protests that we’re seeing for different reasons in Iran, in other places – our position is the same everywhere, which is that we support the right of people everywhere to peacefully protest, to make known their views, their concerns, and their frustrations.

FOREIGN MINISTER AURESCU: Thank you so much for the question on Ukraine. We have supported Ukraine from day one of the war. And this support was in terms of humanitarian support, in terms of support for the transfer of grain that I have already mentioned, so 8.4 million tons of agricultural products, out of which 7.1 million tons of grain. This means a lot compared to the Solidarity Lanes within the European Union, which amounts to about 16 million tons of grain and other products which were transported; and compared also to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which managed to facilitate the transfer of 11.1 million tons of grain and other agriculture products of Ukraine. So it was a huge effort, and I think this huge effort will continue because I do think that we need to support Ukraine as long as it takes.

So there is no fatigue here about supporting Ukraine, and we will continue with the same efforts because we think that supporting Ukraine means in fact supporting the security of Romania, the security of the Romanian citizens, the security of the European Union, the security of the Euro-Atlantic area. Because the war against Ukraine, the war unleashed by Russia, is not just war about Ukraine or against Ukraine, it is not just an attack on the security of our neighbor. It is an attack of the security of the region, it’s an attack of the security of Europe, and attack of the Euro-Atlantic security. It’s about changing or the attempt to change the parameters of the Euro-Atlantic security architecture. And we have to respond in a resolute manner in order to protect these parameters and to ensure that the rules-based international order is ensured. And this is the mission that we have here in the front line of the response of the international community to what happens in Ukraine.

That’s why we are meeting here on the shores of the Black Sea, because this speaks about not only the role of Romania in this international context, and the work that we have done and we will continue to do; it is also about the strategic importance of the Black Sea in this context. And that’s why we are meeting today with Minister Kuleba in a session which is dedicated to listening to the needs of Ukraine in order to better support Ukraine, to coagulate our support in terms of supporting the defense capacities of Ukraine. We will have another session among ourselves dedicated to how to increase the support within the comprehensive assistance package that NATO designed in order to support nonlethal aid for Ukraine, and this effort will continue.

About a permanent U.S. presence in Romania – well, we have advocated for quite a long time for more U.S. and NATO presence in Romania. We discussed this last year. We have discussed this over the previous years. But now I think we have a very robust U.S. presence in Romania, a very robust NATO presence in Romania, but we have, of course, to continue to implement the decisions of the Madrid Summit, which are speaking about transforming the level of the battlegroup in Romania from the battalion level to the brigade level. We are speaking about assigning specific reinforcement forces from various allies to the various battlegroups on the eastern flank, including the battlegroup in Romania. We are discussing about how to implement the decision of the Madrid Summit in terms of prepositioning equipment. And we are working on these issues.

So on the road to the Vilnius Summit next year, we will work a lot on these aspects related to the implementation in concrete terms of the Madrid Summit decisions. Do you think NATO or U.S. have done enough? No, there is not enough – no time there is enough support, but we will continue with that because this is about our security, and it is about our values – our common values.

MODERATOR: Thank you. The press conference is over. Thank you very much.




Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Slovak Foreign Minister Káčer
11/29/2022
Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Slovak Foreign Minister Káčer
11/29/2022 01:29 PM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Rastislav Káčer in Bucharest on the margins of the NATO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Secretary Blinken thanked Foreign Minister Káčer for his commitment to sustaining Slovakia’s strong support for Ukraine and advancing our shared values around the world. The ministers also discussed ways to cooperate on energy diversification and regional security




Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib Before Their Meeting
11/30/2022


Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib Before Their Meeting
11/30/2022 05:12 AM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Bucharest, Romania

Palace of Parliament

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good morning, everyone. It’s a pleasure to get a chance to meet with Foreign Minister Lahbib, really for the first time. We’ve spoken, and of course we’ve been at the various NATO meetings, but this is our first opportunity to really get together in person, and for me to say again a belated congratulations on taking on the job. Belgium of course is, to the United States, a close, trusted ally and partner. It’s the center of activity for so much of our diplomacy between the European Union, NATO, and of course our own strong bilateral partnership, which is growing ever deeper and stronger, both on issues that join us together directly, issues in the Euro-Atlantic region, and indeed around the globe.

So as always, we have a lot to talk about, and I’m really pleased for the opportunity to do so on the margins (inaudible).

FOREIGN MINISTER LAHBIB: It’s a pleasure and an honor, as I said, and the occasion to speak a little French with Antony is always a pleasure. We are a small country in the center of Europe, and it’s very important to have discussion and your support as an ally of the country, and we thank you for that.




Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Belgian Foreign Minister Lahbib
11/30/2022


Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Belgian Foreign Minister Lahbib
11/30/2022 07:30 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib in Bucharest on the margins of the NATO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Lahbib emphasized the importance of transatlantic unity in the face of global security challenges and Russia’s war against Ukraine. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister also stressed multilateral efforts to address the energy crisis caused by Russia and the importance of investment screening to safeguard national security.




Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba Before Their Meeting
11/30/2022

Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba Before Their Meeting
11/30/2022 07:52 AM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Bucharest, Romania

Palace of Parliament

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, hello, everyone. It’s, as always, a great pleasure to be with my friend Dmytro Kuleba. We had a very good session yesterday with the foreign minister – and all of our NATO colleagues – focused on the very resolute support for Ukraine from all of the countries represented here – support for Ukraine’s efforts to continue to deal with the Russian aggression, to defend its sovereignty, its independence, its territorial integrity, security support, economic support, humanitarian support. And what is very clear to me from having spent the last two days with all of our colleagues is that that support remains strong, resolute, determined. And that’s what I’ve heard from virtually everyone sitting at the table here at this NATO meeting.

Second, we had an opportunity, Dmytro, yesterday, together with a number of countries – G7 countries and others – to talk about the acute needs that Ukraine has now in terms of its own energy infrastructure. Because President Putin is failing to defeat Ukraine militarily, he is now prosecuting war against its civilians, and he’s doing that by trying to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, to turn off the lights, to turn off the heat, to turn off the water so that civilians suffer. And we heard directly from the foreign minister what conditions are like in Ukraine.

What I can also say is that there is a strong determination and conviction – again, among many, many countries – to help to make sure that we’re helping Ukraine defend its energy infrastructure and, as necessary, repair and replace what is being destroyed by the Russian aggression.

So there’s lots to talk about, as always. I’d simply just add that what’s going on now in Ukraine that we’re seeing every day – this assault on the energy infrastructure, this assault against civilians in every corner of the country – is not normal and can’t be normalized. And there needs to be an understanding of the brutalization of the country that is quite simply barbaric.

FOREIGN MINISTER KULEBA: Thank you for your words. And I would like to special thank you for the leadership of the United States on two most acute issues: the supply weapons to Ukraine so that we are able to defeat Russia on the frontline, and also the provision of Ukraine’s energy needs, which are needed to protect our civilian population and live through the winter.

Yesterday, we heard a number of commitments – new commitments – from various NATO members with regards to providing Ukraine with more defensive weapons and energy equipment. Secretary Blinken rightly emphasized the need for everyone to act in the most coordinated way possible, because we literally have no time. Everybody (inaudible) the frontline, but also in any household across Ukraine, because when you have neither electricity nor water supply you literally become a part of the frontline and you need immediate support.

It is true that virtually everyone yesterday reiterated continued support to Ukraine, and I was pleased to hear from virtually everyone that this support to Ukraine will continue as long as necessary. I can only add one element to that. This – the people of Ukraine will be most grateful if this support is delivered as fast as it is necessary and it continues as long as it is necessary. Time really matters.

We have a lot on our plate today. These are all well-known issues. And we are browsing the world together with Secretary Blinken, looking for more assistance and building various combinations, and in particular we’ll be talking, discussing, reach out to the Global South. We need to have more countries on board in this common struggle for the world based on rules. Thank you.




Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba
11/30/2022

Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba
11/30/2022 10:39 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on the margins of the NATO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bucharest. The Secretary reiterated to Foreign Minister Kuleba the United States’ enduring commitment to Ukraine’s defense and deterrence capabilities, especially the provision of air defense options to combat Russia’s escalating missile strikes against civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. The two also discussed outcomes of meetings – including with G7-plus partners – on Ukraine’s immediate energy infrastructure needs, as well as building long-term energy security and resilience in Ukraine.




Secretary Antony J. Blinken At a Press Availability
11/30/2022

Secretary Antony J. Blinken At a Press Availability
11/30/2022 11:08 AM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Bucharest, Romania

Palace of Parliament

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good afternoon, everyone. Before I speak to what we’ve been doing here for the last couple of days, I just want to first congratulate Team USA on a terrific win last night at the World Cup in what was a very competitive match. I also want to salute the performance of the Iranian team, which played with so much heart during this tournament. I’m proud of the American players for all the skills that they demonstrated on the field as well as their dignity off the field. Having watched our team play in Qatar a week or so ago, then watching the match last night with my colleagues and friends, Foreign Minister Kuleba from Ukraine and Foreign Minister Cleverly from the UK, I’m reminded again of how soccer is such a powerful unifying force. It’s a common language that virtually the entire world speaks. I’m looking forward to the exciting round of 16 that’s coming up. We’ll be watching it closely, and so many others around the world will be doing the same thing.

Now, we have just concluded two days of very productive meetings here in Bucharest with our NATO Allies. Let me start by thanking our Romanian hosts for their incredibly warm hospitality and also recognize their many contributions over this difficult past year. And I especially thank NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for his leadership – leadership that has proven to be decisive in what is a challenging time for our Alliance.

We’re meeting at a critical juncture. As Ukraine continues to seize momentum on the battlefield, President Putin has focused his ire and his fire on Ukraine’s civilian population. Over the past several weeks, Russia has bombed out more than a third of Ukraine’s energy system, plunging millions into cold, into darkness, as frigid temperatures set in. Heat, water, electricity – for children, for the elderly, for the sick – these are President Putin’s new targets. He’s hitting them hard.

This brutalization of Ukraine’s people is barbaric. We are clear-eyed about the difficult winter that lies ahead. We know President Putin’s playbook: freeze and starve Ukrainians, force them from their homes, drive up energy, food, and other household costs, not only across Europe but around the world, and then try to splinter our coalition. President Putin thinks that if he can just raise the costs high enough, the world will abandon Ukraine, that we’ll leave them to fend for themselves. His strategy has not and will not work. We will continue to prove him wrong. That’s what I heard loudly and clearly from every country here in Bucharest.

We know that standing up for Ukraine means accepting difficult costs, particularly for our European allies, but the cost of inaction would be far higher. Caving to Russia’s aggression, accepting its brazen attempts to redraw borders by force, to tear up the rulebook that has made all of us more secure – that would have repercussions not only in Europe but quite literally around the world.

And so the message coming out of our meeting is this: Our collective resolve to support Ukraine is and will continue to be ironclad, now, throughout the winter, and for as long as it takes for Ukraine to succeed. We will maintain and bolster our security, humanitarian, and economic support for Ukraine. NATO Allies and partners have provided $40 billion in arms to Ukraine; more is on the way. The United States has contributed more than 19 billion in security assistance and nearly $15 billion in direct economic and humanitarian support. We’ll also continue to ramp up costs on the Kremlin and those enabling President Putin’s war. We welcome the European Union moving forward on its ninth sanctions package that will further curtail the Kremlin’s capacity to rage its brutal war when that package is passed.

When Russia began to accelerate its attacks against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, the G7 foreign ministers acted swiftly and acted together. We agreed to create a new coordination group to synchronize our defense of Ukraine’s energy grid, just as the Ramstein process has coordinated our provision of the weapons that Ukraine needs to defend its territory.

When we convened that group yesterday here in Bucharest, I announced that the United States will commit over $53 million to send equipment to help stabilize Ukraine’s energy grid and keep Ukraine’s power and electricity running. We’ve also submitted a request to Congress for $1.1 billion to secure Ukraine and Moldova’s energy sector and restore their energy supply. And we will take strong, coordinated action to ensure that President Putin cannot hold the rest of the world hostage to weaponized energy.

In the spring, the European Union committed to fully phasing out Russian natural gas. The United States is helping to speed up this transition, sending 53 billion cubic meters of LNG to our friends in Europe so far this year – more than double last year’s amount – to help provide a bridge to a clean energy future that’s also free from Russian influence.

The united response of our allies and partners to Russia’s aggression has given Ukraine momentum in the fight. We agree with President Zelenskyy: diplomacy is ultimately the only way to definitively end Russia’s war of aggression. We support the need for a just and durable peace. Russia’s savage attacks on Ukrainian civilians are the latest demonstration that President Putin currently has no interest in meaningful diplomacy; that short of erasing Ukraine’s independence, he will try to force Ukraine into a frozen conflict, lock in his gains, rest and refit his forces, and then, at some point, reattack again. That tactic cannot possibly lead to a just and durable peace. President Putin must be disabused of the notion that it can succeed.

The best way to actually hasten the prospects for real diplomacy is to sustain our support to Ukraine and continue to tilt the battlefield in its favor. That will also help ensure that Ukraine has the strongest possible negotiating position and hand to play when a negotiating table emerges. Short of Russia ending the aggression it started, that is the only path to a peace that is both just and durable.

The collective strength and resolve of NATO in this crisis have demonstrated that alliances and partnerships are our most important strategic asset, and that strength will soon grow with the addition of Sweden and Finland as our newest NATO Allies. Their participation in this meeting here in Bucharest shows their readiness to bring their strengths to bear in our Alliance.

Even as we remain focused on maintaining a unified, coordinated effort to support Ukraine, we’re also working to increase NATO’s resilience for the future as it faces new challenges, including those posed by China. In June, Allies met in Brussels and agreed that China’s stated ambitions and assertive behavior present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to Alliance security. The members of our Alliance remain concerned by the PRC’s coercive policies, by its use of disinformation, by its rapid, opaque military build‑up, including its cooperation with Russia. But we also remain committed to maintaining a constructive dialogue with China wherever we can, and we welcome opportunities to work together on common challenges.

The seven-plus decades since NATO’s founding have proven that, fundamentally, its strength lies in the reality that we’re a living, evolving Alliance, one that is built not merely to endure crises but to use them to emerge stronger, more united, better prepared. This past year has been a powerful reminder of who we are as an Alliance, of our capacity to adapt and evolve, of our unity in the face of threats, and of the sheer force of our collective commitment to the values and interests that we came together originally to defend. And seeing that, I’m confident that NATO will continue to meet the challenges of this moment as well as the challenges to come.

Now, before I close, as we would say back in Washington, a moment of personal privilege. I’m soon going to be losing from my team Evan Glover, who has been my trip director and very close aide, to an exciting opportunity with our embassy in Jerusalem. It’s often said of close colleagues that they’re always by your side; in Evan’s case, that happens to be almost literally true.

Evan’s been by my side essentially all day every day these past two years, whether in Washington or around the world. He’s a close advisor. He keeps my team and me prepared, on track, on time – well, on time-ish, anyway. But his duties have gone well beyond those in the job description. He’s had to wake me up in the middle of the night, listen to me occasionally strum a guitar – my apologies – and greet me upon returning from all-too-infrequent jogs in various capitals around the world.

In short, Evan’s been subjected to a lot, but he’s met every challenge with unrelenting determination, smarts, and good humor. I could not be more grateful. Evan, if you’re out there somewhere, thank you, my friend.

And thanks to all of you.

MR PRICE: For questions, we’ll start with Courtney McBride, Bloomberg.

QUESTION: Thank you. Mr. Secretary, how does the U.S. ensure and commit to Ukraine that the energy infrastructure support that you and allies and partners are providing will not just be rapidly destroyed, as we know that those civilian infrastructure elements are among the most vulnerable? Are the U.S. and your allies and partners pairing the energy assistance with protection, such as Patriots or other air defenses, or are simply conceding that you will have to replace the same infrastructure again? Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Yeah. Thank you. No, you’re exactly right. These are flip sides of the same coin. Even as we’re working in a very coordinated way with countries around the world to help Ukraine repair and replace as necessary the infrastructure – the generators, the transformers, the grids that are being destroyed – we’re also trying to be very deliberate, and this is primarily the Pentagon and others, in trying to establish the best possible defense for critical energy infrastructure in Ukraine so that we don’t have a process that keeps repeating itself. Stuff gets replaced; it gets destroyed; it gets replaced again.

So we have to do both, and we are doing both. I’ll leave it to the planners and the strategists on the military defense side to speak more specifically about that. But yes, a part of this is making sure that not only are we getting Ukraine the weapons that it continues to need to defend itself and ward off the Russian aggression, but that some of that is used in a very deliberate way to, as best as possible, protect the energy infrastructure.

But it’s also critical that even as we’re doing that, we of course help Ukrainians get things back online that have been taken offline by Russian bombs and missiles. That’s where this very coordinated effort that we’ve been engaged in comes in, primarily through the G7 and a number of other countries, but also in close coordination with what the European Union is doing and also institutions like the World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

And what we’ve established is very akin to what was done on the military equipment side in Ramstein. The same kind of process to make sure that Ukrainians are getting, as quickly as we can possibly get it to them, everything they had to keep their electric grid going.

MR PRICE: Henry Foy, FT.

QUESTION: Henry Foy, Financial Times. Thank you, Secretary of State. We know that the U.S. and other allies, particularly the UK, are keen for NATO to move on from just assessing the threat and challenge that China poses to actually addressing it. After the discussion you had this morning, are you confident that all of your allies see the challenge posed by China the same way that your administration does? And what concrete measures have you asked your allies to think about in terms of addressing that? Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. First, let me step back to say that much of what we’ve done over the last couple of years has been to re-engage, reinvigorate, re-energize our alliances and partnerships, recognizing, as I said earlier, that in many ways, they’re our most powerful strategic asset because the more we can address challenges collectively, the more effective we’re likely to be. And I think some of the fruits of those labors are evident here at NATO, including with regard to the challenge posed by China.

What I’ve seen, not only at NATO but also, for example, with the European Union as well as in other parts of the world, is a growing convergence in the approach to the challenges that China poses. We start with a recognition that the relationship for all of us is complex as well as incredibly consequential. Complex because we see it as competitive – we’re very much at an inflection point in the world where we’ve moved beyond the post-Cold War world and there’s a competition on to shape what comes next. There’s a recognition of that. There’s a recognition that there’s also, in many ways, what the Europeans call a systemic rivalry between China and many of our countries.

But there’s also a recognition that, wherever possible, we have to find ways to cooperate on the really big issues that affect not just people in our respective countries – in China and the United States or in European countries – but literally people around the world: climate, global health, macro-economics, et cetera. And so we are acting on all of those fronts.

And the more we’re able to do that together, again, the more effective we’re going to be. But evidence of that convergence is that, first, everything that I heard around the table today in Bucharest. We had a discussion this morning about China and the challenges that it poses. You saw it before then in a joint statement emanating from our first G7 leaders’ meeting last year in the United Kingdom, and again this year coming out of Germany when the G7 leaders got together. We’ve restarted a dialogue between the European Union and the United States on China that’s actually meeting again in the coming days. And here at NATO, the Strategic Concept that the leaders put out at the last summit refers to China for the first time, and it calls out the systemic challenge that it poses and our collective responsibility to address that challenge.

And again, I heard that convergence loud and clear this morning. And what we talked about today is, again, making sure that we are working to adapt in concrete ways to meet the challenge. Let me be very clear, though: As we’ve said repeatedly, we do not seek conflict with China; on the contrary, we want to avoid it. We don’t want a new Cold War; we’re not looking to decouple our economies. We’re simply looking to be clear-eyed about some of the challenges that China poses and, again, as I said, to make sure that in addressing those challenges we’re doing it with others. Everything that I heard today just reinforces the convergence on that point.

MR PRICE: Ed Wong, New York Times.

QUESTION: Hi, thank you, Mr. Secretary. I’d like to follow up on the China question, and you just mentioned that you talked about the need to address China in concrete ways. Can you give us some more detail on exactly what that means? And given the fact that a lot of the issues you and your aides are bringing up – mainly infrastructure issues, port usage, technology issues – these are all trade issues, and how do you expect officials in NATO to discuss very much trade-related issues when those are negotiated in other fora?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Sure. So what we’re seeing and what we’re doing across a number of institutions, as well as in our relationships with individual countries, is to look at the areas where China poses a challenge to our interests and to our values, and to take appropriate steps accordingly. And so for example, what you’ve seen over the last couple of years is growing convergence and action together on things like investment screening mechanisms to make sure that when China is making investments in our countries – something that, again, we want to sustain – we also need to be careful that in particularly sensitive areas – strategic areas, strategic industries, companies, infrastructure – that we take security considerations fully into account before allowing any investments to go forward.

We want to make sure – and we are – that when it comes to exporting sensitive technologies to China that could go to further its own military capacity, that we’re cautious about that and that, again, we’re acting wherever possible together to make sure that, if we have export controls, we’re doing it in a coordinated manner. So that’s a part of what we’re doing. Countries want to make sure that when products in China are made using forced labor, that they can’t come into our countries. We’re sharing information and coordinating on that.

And when it comes to NATO, NATO is of course a military Alliance, but it’s also a political Alliance, where we try to develop common perspectives on challenges, we share information, and, as appropriate in the NATO context, we look at what we can do effectively together. This is not about taking NATO to Asia or, in the parlance of NATO, acting out of area. This is about some of the challenges that China poses in-area to countries that are members of NATO and making sure that, for example, we’re building resilience around our infrastructure.

We’ve seen the fragility of critical infrastructure in a variety of ways, including from the Russian attacks on Ukraine. We want to make sure that it’s resilient as possible to face all potential future challenges. In that and many other ways, we’re working, again, not only in NATO but across institutions and in our relationships with individual countries.

MR PRICE: Veronika Boiko, ICTV Ukraine.

QUESTION: Thank you. ICTV Ukraine. In Ukraine, there is not a single powerplant that was not damaged as a result of Russian attacks, and it will take months to restore it. However, winter is coming, so how the United States will help Ukraine to protect this infrastructure from future attacks? And Ukrainians – not only air defense systems, but also other weapons and equipment, as well as rounds of munitions – fighter jets would help to protect Ukraine’s sky and civilians. So will Ukraine get it, and how quickly can Ukraine get it?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. First, on the energy infrastructure, as we’ve discussed, what President Putin is focused on right now is trying to destroy as much of that infrastructure as possible literally across the country. If you look at a map of the attacks that Russia has undertaken since October 10th when it began this very deliberate campaign to destroy the electric grid and the energy infrastructure, that map shows attacks on that infrastructure in every part of Ukraine. So in many ways, the frontlines are not simply in eastern Ukraine and southern Ukraine – they’re nationwide.

So we have taken that fully into account in everything that we’re doing. And as I said before, we’re acting urgently to do two things. One, to make sure that, in a coordinated way, we are getting to Ukraine as much as we possibly can as fast as we can to repair, to replace, to build resilience in its energy infrastructure. At the same time, the other side of that coin is trying to make sure that that infrastructure is as effectively defended as it possibly can be so that we don’t get into this cycle of repairing and replacing equipment, having the Russians destroy it, doing the same thing all over again. And that’s something that the military and other planners are focused on.

So even as we’re providing and continue to provide Ukraine with air defense systems, Ukraine is thinking about the most effective way to deploy them – not just to protect civilians and cities, but to protect the infrastructure. And that work is ongoing. As I mentioned earlier, we have just – the United States has just provided $53 million in new equipment: transformers, generators, spare parts. That’s going to get to Ukraine not in a matter of months, but in a matter of days or weeks, again, to make sure that we’re helping get the electric grid back and functioning.

At the same time – and this goes to your second question – what we have done from day one – in fact, before day one, when we saw the aggression mounting and we were warning the world that it was coming – we didn’t simply warn the world; we took action to make sure that Ukraine had in its hands the weapons that it would need to defend itself if the aggression actually happened. So going back more than a year ago, we did the first drawdown of military equipment, including things like Stingers and Javelins. There was another very significant drawdown a year ago last Christmas – again, before the Russian aggression – and every week since then, we have continued to adapt to what’s happening to make sure that we could get Ukraine the systems that it needs to deal with the particular threat it was facing at any given time.

That threat has evolved over these months. As the initial focus was on Kyiv, it shifted east and south; the nature of the terrain changed, the nature of what the Russian aggression was doing changed, and so we evolved with that. And that is a process that’s going on every single day. Throughout, we’ve wanted to make sure that not only are we getting weapons systems to Ukraine, but that Ukrainians can use them effectively – sometimes that requires training – that they can maintain them effectively. All of that requires work. But what I can tell you is it’s happening every day and it’s evolving every day, and it’s based on what Ukraine needs to most effectively deal with Russia’s aggression.

MR PRICE: We have time for one final question. Missy Ryan with The Washington Post.

QUESTION: Thanks very much. Hi, Mr. Secretary. You and other NATO leaders have stressed the historic cohesion and unity that characterizes the Alliance at this moment. But at the same time, Alliance countries remain divided on the proposed oil price cap. And also, despite some progress, they have not been able to finalize the accession of Sweden and Finland despite initial hopes that that could be done by last year’s Madrid Summit. How do you square that? And also, given Turkey’s continued reservations about Finland and Sweden and the lack of any apparent substantive resolution on that, would the United States be okay with Turkey holding up those countries’ accession until after the Turkish elections next spring? Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, Missy. So sometimes it’s easy to miss the forest for the trees. The forest is dense, strong, substantive, and that is convergence among allies and partners on all of the critical issues – and not only convergence, unity of purpose and unity of action. And we just talked about everything that we’ve been doing and have been doing for months to help Ukraine defend itself and now to help it sustain and defend its energy grid. And at every step along the way there have been suggestions that that unity would fray, would disappear, would be diminished, and thus far, at least, that’s simply not been the case.

And as I said earlier, everything I heard here in Bucharest just reaffirms a shared determination when it comes to Ukraine, but not just when it comes to Ukraine – when it comes to many of the other issues that our leaders have been talking about and acting on for the last couple of years, many of which are in the new NATO Strategic Concept.

When it comes to the accession of Sweden and Finland, first, all NATO countries have ratified the – have – excuse me – signed the protocols of accession. Twenty-eight of the 30 have actually ratified, so – and that’s happened with remarkable speed. I think if you go back and look at previous enlargements of NATO when it’s brought in new members, it has taken a lot longer than that to go through this process. So this is happening in record speed.

Turkey, Sweden, and Finland are engaging directly, as well as with NATO, to make sure that Turkey’s concerns are fully addressed, including concerns about its security. That process has been moving forward. And I’m very confident – and again, based on what I’ve heard these last couple of days – that Finland and Sweden will soon be formally new members of the Alliance.

Thank you. Thanks, everyone.




Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Participation in the U.S.-EU Dialogue on China and the Indo-Pacific Consultations
11/30/2022

Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Participation in the U.S.-EU Dialogue on China and the Indo-Pacific Consultations
11/30/2022 11:58 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

On December 1 and 2 in Washington, Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman and European External Action Service Secretary General Stefano Sannino will participate in the U.S.-EU Dialogue on China and Indo-Pacific Consultations. This will be the fourth high-level meeting of the U.S.-EU Dialogue on China. On December 2, Deputy Secretary Sherman and Secretary General Sannino will participate in an event at American University to discuss U.S.-EU shared priorities in the Indo-Pacific.




Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Andrea Mitchell of NBC
11/30/2022
hell of NBC
11/30/2022 01:36 PM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Bucharest, Romania

Palace of Parliament

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you so much for being with us today.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: It’s great to be with you, Andrea.

QUESTION: You are an avid soccer fan – I want to ask you about Ukraine, of course, the subject of this meeting, the main subject of this meeting here at NATO – but I want to ask you about soccer, about the game, the importance of the game. You’ve said that soccer is not geopolitical, but at this world cup it really was. The Iranian state media was challenging U.S. policies publicly at a news conference, so it was certainly part of the text. And there was global outrage over what’s happened to women – hundreds arrested, many killed, many others injured – outrage around the world.

So isn’t there inevitably some significance, some impact of the U.S. victory over Iran?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, first, Andrea, let me just say how proud I am, like so many Americans are, of Team USA – how well they’ve performed in this World Cup, including last night in the game against Iran. And by the way, I thought the Iranian players performed with incredible valor and heart throughout this tournament, and it was great to see these athletes doing what they do. And yes, I also believe strongly – because I see it every place I go – that football, as it’s called in most parts of the world – soccer, as we call it – really is a universal language spoken pretty much everywhere. And it has a powerful way of bringing people together. People not only play soccer, they watch it, they argue about it, they get passionate about teams, whether it’s a national team or whether it’s a club team. That’s a powerful thing.

Of course, when you have countries that are playing against each other that are in a totally different area in a rivalry, a competition, or have a fraught relationship, that can spill over. And I think the American players were incredibly dignified off the field, just as they were successful on the field. But our focus was on the game last night, but our focus every day and the world’s focus is what’s happening in the streets of Iran – the extraordinary courage of women in particular who have been standing up, speaking up, speaking out for their basic rights. And we’ve seen that since the killing of Mahsa Amini some months ago.

So that’s where the attention is. We’ve been working to make sure that, to the best of our ability, those who’ve been involved in trying to repress the ability of the Iranian people and women to speak up and speak out, we’ve been sanctioning that. We’ve also been trying to make sure that Iranians have the ability to be able to communicate with one another and stay connected to the outside world, including through the provision of technology.

So we’re focused on that. Sometimes these things blend together, but for the most part we’re trying to do whatever we can do to make clear that we support what Iranians are asking for, demanding in the streets, which is to be heard, to be able to make their views known peacefully, and not to have this terrible repression that we’re seeing.

(Interruption.)

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, with so many women arrested, some killed, is there anything – anything – the U.S. Government can do besides sanctions and helping them with internet access?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, Andrea, first it’s really important to make clear that this is about Iranians, this is about the women, the young people who are protesting, trying to – it’s not about us. It’s not about any other country. In fact, one of the profound mistakes that the regime makes is in accusing the United States or any other country of somehow being responsible for, instigating what’s happening. That’s not at all the case. And to misunderstand their own people is at the heart of the problem that they’re facing.

But like the most important thing that we can do is first to speak out very clearly ourselves in support of the people’s right to protest peacefully, to make their views known, and as I said, to take what steps we can take to go after those who are actually oppressing those rights, including through sanctions; and also to try to help the Iranian people remain connected to each other and connected to the world. That’s exactly what we’re doing.

QUESTION: The women tell me that they think that change is now inevitable; that there is no turning back. Do you agree with that?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: It’s very hard for us to judge. First, we don’t have diplomatic relations. Our visibility inside Iran is limited. And again, it’s fundamentally about the Iranian people, their own aspirations, their own desires, their own needs for their futures, for their country. That’s what will determine what happens and where this goes.

QUESTION: Now that they are accelerating their nuclear program to the point where they’re just below the level of weapons-grade, is there – there’s no diplomacy going on clearly from their side. They’re not serious about it. So is the military option now the only option to stop them from having a nuclear weapon?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, we continue to believe that diplomacy is the most effective way to deal with —

QUESTION: It’s not happening.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: — with the nuclear program. That’s why we engaged in it over this – these past couple years. When there was an agreement, the so-called JCPOA that put Iran’s nuclear program into a box, the decision to pull out of that agreement allowed the program to get out of the box. And now what we’re seeing is, as you said, Iran continuing to take steps to make that program ever more dangerous, and it is something that we are very concerned about – not just us, but many allies and partners around the world, starting with our European partners. So we’ve made clear to Iran in a variety of ways that if they continue to take steps to advance their program, we will also have to take steps to oppose that and to deal with that.

QUESTION: Let me ask you about Ukraine. The secretary general said that Vladimir Putin is weaponizing winter. People are starving, they’re freezing, they need water. And Putin is carpet-bombing at this point. Is there any way to make sure that as we spend millions repairing these substations that he’s not just going to take them out and – it’s playing whack-a-mole.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: So we’re doing two things – because you’re exactly right – but what Putin is not able to do on the battlefield, he’s actually now taking to civilians across the country by trying to deny them heat, deny them electricity, deny them water, to freeze them, to brutalize them in ways that we haven’t seen in Europe in decades. And that’s playing out across the entire country. It’s not just the frontlines in eastern and southern Ukraine; it’s literally every part of the country.

So two things are necessary, two things that are – we’re focused on. One is, yes, making sure that to the best of our ability we are getting to Ukraine what it needs to repair, to replace, to make more resilient its energy and electricity infrastructure. But at the same time – you’re exactly right – we also need to make sure, again to the best of our ability, that Ukrainians can defend that infrastructure. Otherwise, you just get into a cycle where stuff is destroyed, we help them replace it, it gets destroyed again, and that gets repeated.

So throughout this Russian aggression, we’ve been working to make sure at every stop along the way that Ukraine had in its hands the military equipment and weapons it needed to defend itself, to deter the Russian aggression, to push back. And the needs for Ukraine have evolved, depending on the nature of what Russia is doing. Now —

QUESTION: But they’ve asked for – they’ve asked for bigger, longer, stronger weapons earlier. Was it a mistake not to give them more air defenses – Patriots – sooner?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: We’ve been doing it all along; in fact, even before day one. When we saw the Russian aggression mounting, when we warned the world that it was likely to come, we didn’t just say that. We didn’t just warn people. Going back more than a year ago, we started to provide the Ukrainians with air defense systems, with things like Stinger missiles, Javelins, to deal with tanks.

QUESTION: What about the Patriots now?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: And then throughout as we’ve seen that the nature of the threat from Russia change, moved to different parts of the country, used different tools, we’ve helped the Ukrainians adapt by making sure that the weapon systems that we were giving them – and many others are giving them – are actually fit for the threat that they’re facing. It’s not just getting them weapon systems; it’s making sure that they’re trained on them, it’s making sure that they can maintain them. There’s a whole process that goes into that. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has convened a group of countries over many months now to make sure that we’re doing that in a coordinated way. We’ve now just done the same thing on the energy side with G7 countries as well as in coordination with the European Union, making sure that just as we’re doing on the defense side, on the energy and electricity side we’re organized and coordinated. We’re bringing all of that together to help Ukraine get through the winter.

QUESTION: In China, they are cracking down on the protesters. In some ways does that give us more leverage? Has President Xi Jinping been weakened by this?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, I can’t speak to what this says about his standing. But what I can say is this: First, the zero-COVID policy that we’ve seen in China is not something that we would do, and we’ve been focused on making sure that people have safe and effective vaccines, that we have testing, that we have treatment, and that has proven effective. China has to figure out a way forward on dealing with COVID, a way forward that answers the health needs but also answers the needs of the people. We can’t address that for them.

I think any country where you see people trying to speak out, trying to speak up, to protest peacefully, to make known their frustrations, whatever the issue is – in any country where we see that happening and then we see the government take massive repressive action to stop it, that’s not a sign of strength, that’s a sign of weakness.

QUESTION: Paul Whelan’s family is so worried about his health, his condition. They haven’t heard from him; he missed his Thanksgiving call. The embassy has had no contact. What can you tell us about what’s happened to Paul Whelan?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: First, one of my number-one concerns anywhere in the world is for Americans who are being arbitrarily detained, and that goes for Paul Whelan, Brittney Griner, and others in Russia; it goes for Americans in a number of other countries who are being imprisoned for political reasons, used as pawns. We’ve been very focused with Russia on trying to get Paul Whelan home, trying to get Brittney Griner home, get others home. Part of that goes to making sure that we actually have the ability to have access to them, to have contact with them, which is a requirement under basic international law, basic diplomatic conventions that Russia –

QUESTION: Do we know how he is now?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: So the last time that our own team has had an opportunity to see Paul was I believe November 16th, when we actually had a visit with him. We spoke on the phone with him I think roughly around the same time. We’ve not had contact since then; we’ve asked for it. We’re pursuing it every single day.

QUESTION: We don’t know where or how he is? Could he be hospitalized?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, I can’t speak to his condition now, his situation now. We are working every day to make sure that we have contact with him, that we understand what the exact situation is. Even as we’re working to bring him home, to bring Brittney Griner home, this isn’t the end of what we see Russia doing in terms of abusing very basic understandings that countries have had when it comes to having access to our citizens who are being detained.

QUESTION: I want to ask you, given your family background, your stepfather’s survival through the Holocaust, and what you know about world history, are you concerned we now have these Oath Keepers convicted – some for seditious conspiracy, but there are these – there’s a rise in white nationalism, in anti-Semitism all over the country. Is anti-Semitism becoming normalized, even with the former president hosting an anti-Semite? And do you have concerns about what this says to the world about America?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: My focus and my job is on anti-Semitism around the world. And we know —

QUESTION: But what about here at home?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, one of the things I stay out of is our own politics. That’s not my job, that’s not my brief. My brief is to make sure that our values and interests are advanced around the world. And one of my real concerns is the rise in anti-Semitism around the world. And it’s often a canary in the coal mine. Whenever we see anti-Semitism rise, usually (inaudible) —

QUESTION: How can we preach to the rest of the world when we see it so rampant in our political life at home? It’s not politics, it’s American values.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: In a variety of ways, we of course have to deal with our own challenges. But one of the hallmarks of the United States, one of the things that continues to set us apart, is that we do deal with them – openly, transparently. We confront them. We don’t sweep them under the rug. We actually talk about them, and we don’t pretend that they don’t exist. Even when we have problems that are painful, that are difficult to deal with that create conflict in our own society, we engage them. And one of the things that I’m able to say when I go around the world, whether it’s on anti-Semitism or any other issue, is, “Yes, even if we have problems at home, we’re actually dealing with them. We’re confronting them. We’re not pretending they don’t exist. We urge you to do the same thing.”

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you very much.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks.




Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Christiane Amanpour of CNN
11/30/2022

Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Christiane Amanpour of CNN
11/30/2022 02:48 PM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Bucharest, Romania

JW Marriott

QUESTION: Secretary Blinken, welcome to the program. I just wanted to ask you, because you’ve just been meeting with your Ukrainian counterpart —

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Christiane, great to be with you.

QUESTION: — who has told you all that they need weapons faster, faster, and faster. So is it true that NATO is running out of ammunition for, for instance, artillery that the Ukrainians are using?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Christiane, from day one – in fact, even before day one, before the Russian aggression started but we saw it coming – we’ve been working with the Ukrainians to get them what they need to defend themselves and to push back the Russian aggression. In every step along the way, in consultation with them, in consultation with allies and partners, we’ve adjusted as the nature of the aggression has shifted to make sure that they were getting into their hands as quickly as possible exactly what they needed to deal with Putin’s war. And that process continues.

We’re now very focused on air defense systems – and not just us – many other countries. And we’re working to make sure that the Ukrainians get those systems as quickly as possible, but also as effectively as possible, making sure that they’re trained on them, making sure that they have the ability to maintain them. And all of that has to come together, and it is. We have a very deliberate process established by the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, in Ramstein, Germany that meets regularly to make sure that the Ukrainians are getting what they need when they need it.

QUESTION: So let me ask you, then, about the somewhat confusion from the Pentagon and from you all at NATO regarding American Patriots. As you say, they definitely need anti-air defense systems, and clearly you must think they need more as Putin ratchets up his missile attack and his missile wars against cities. So will the United States give Patriot systems, and if not, why not?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: So I’m not going to speak to specific systems. The Pentagon is focused on that. What we’ve been working to do is to make sure that, at any given time, they have the most effective systems possible to deal with the threat that they’re facing. We just recently, for example, provided them with a very effective system called NASAMs that they’re using very effectively. Before that, of course, we had the HIMARs, which they used to great effect both in southern and eastern Ukraine.

So virtually every single day, Christiane, the Pentagon is looking at this, listening to the Ukrainians, consulting with allies and partners, and, if we don’t have something, trying to find it elsewhere. That’s part of this entire coordination process.

QUESTION: What goes through your mind when you see how President Putin and the Russian military is basically shifting from what you all are terming failures on the battlefield and losses of territory to this relentless, relentless attack on the cities? Again, are you satisfied that as much anti-air and the sophisticated missile defense systems are getting to them in time?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Christiane, what we’re seeing, to put it in one word, is barbaric. And precisely because Putin is not able to succeed on battlefield, he’s taking the war to Ukraine’s civilians. And he’s doing it in a very deliberate way – going after the entire energy and electric infrastructure to turn off the lights, to turn off the water, to turn off the heat, and that at a time when of course Ukraine is heading into winter.

The head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, talked about weaponizing winter, and that’s exactly what Putin is doing. It’s also why not only are we seized with making sure that Ukraine has the systems it needs to defend itself, but we’re also seized with making sure that we’re doing everything possible – again, as quickly as possible – to help them repair and replace everything that’s being destroyed by the Russian onslaught.

And just as we put this process together some months ago in Ramstein, Germany to get them the defensive weapons systems that they need, so too we’re doing that with energy, with equipment, with transformers, with generators, with spare parts. We met here in Bucharest not just with NATO Allies but with the G7 countries and some other countries to put in place a very coordinated process to make sure that, as fast we can, we’re getting Ukraine what it needs to get through the winter, to make sure that men, women, children are not literally freezing to death.

We heard from Foreign Minister Kuleba, my friend and counterpart, who just came from Kyiv and described for all of the ministers here what life is like under this Russian onslaught. And by the way, this is not normal. This is the brutalization of a country and directly attacking everything its civilians, its citizens need to simply survive. And I hope that the world understands it and sees it that way. We are seized with this and we’re acting on it to get Ukraine everything we possibly can to get through the winter.

QUESTION: So just one last question, then, on this issue of weaponry and what they need. You know The New York Times has reported that you all at NATO are considering investing in, for instance, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria – factories that have made Soviet-era ammunition – for artillery that apparently Ukraine is mostly using. Is that correct?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: We’re looking at every option to make sure that, again, they get what they need and what can be most effective for them. Some of that does to go Soviet-era systems that they’ve had in their inventory for decades and, for example, making sure that the ammunition is there for those systems. And in some cases that may require producing things that haven’t been produced for some time. So we are looking across the board at all of that.

And Christiane, even as we’re working to get Ukraine what they need most urgently, we’re also working to make sure that, over the medium and long term, we’re helping them build up their capacity to deter and defend against future aggression, because when this war eventually comes to an end, one of the things that’s going to be so critical is making sure that we’ve done everything possible to ensure that it doesn’t repeat itself, that Russia doesn’t renew its aggression against Ukraine. Part of that is making sure that Ukraine has over the long term the ability to deter aggression and to defend itself if aggression comes.

QUESTION: Can I move on to Iran? Because on the one hand, you and others obviously accuse Iran of supplying the Russians with much weaponry, but also especially these kamikaze drones that have caused a huge amount of damage and death. But I also want to ask you about your reaction to reports that Iran has told you and the international community and the IAEA that it plans to upgrade and increase its production and purity – power – of uranium near to bomb capacity, move that to an area that’s difficult for you all to attack – I believe it’s the Fordow – and to increase its nuclear fuel production in other places that both the United States and Israel are accused of having sabotaged.

What is your reaction to that? Have they told you that?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, first, Christiane, I think the world is rightly focused on what’s happening on the streets in Iran throughout the country, and that is incredibly brave young people – mostly women – who are standing up speaking out for their most basic rights. And that of course has been the case since the killing of Mahsa Amini some months ago. And that’s where the world’s focus is; that’s where our focus is. We’ve taken steps, as you know, to sanction those who’ve been responsible for trying to repress people peacefully protesting. We have worked as well to make sure that Iranians have, to the best of our ability, the communications technology that they need to continue to communicate with one another and to stay connected to the outside world.

At the same time, we have continued to believe that the best way to deal with Iran’s nuclear program is through diplomacy. As you know, we had an agreement, the so-called JCPOA, that put Iran’s nuclear program in a box. Unfortunately, the decision was made to pull out of that agreement, and what we’ve seen virtually ever since is Iran building back its program. We’ve been very clear with them – and not just the United States, but others, including European partners – that they should not take additional steps to increase their nuclear capacity, including by enriching to higher levels. And if they pursue that direction, we’ll be prepared to respond.

QUESTION: Regarding the protests inside, we’ve seen some Iranian protesters at the actual games in Doha – the World Cup – be wrestled to the ground for wearing the woman life – Women, Life, Freedom t-shirt and other such things. We know that the match between the United States and Iran last night, which the U.S. won, was highly charged to the point that President Biden, who’s not known as a soccer fan, said afterwards: USA, USA; that’s a big game, man; they did it; God love ‘em. So all of this is going on around these very serious issues that you’re talking about. Is there anything that the United States will do to support the protests, this – other than sanctioning some of the people who you’ve said that you’ve sanctioned?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, first, Christiane, I watched the game last night. I think Team USA performed remarkably. I also have to salute the performance of the Iranian players throughout the tournament, as well as in the game yesterday. And yes, it was a highly charged atmosphere, but I’m glad that the players actually had a chance to play the game and that we got the result that we got.

But this is – what’s happening in Iran is first and foremost about Iranians, about their future, about their country, and it’s not about us. And one of the profound mistakes that the regime makes is to try to point the finger at others – at the United States, Europeans – claiming that we are somehow responsible for instigating or otherwise fanning the flames of the protests. That is to profoundly, fundamentally misunderstand their own people.

But as I said, not only have we sanctioned those responsible for cracking down on protesters, we’ve also worked to make sure that, again, to the best of our ability, technology, communications technology that the Iranian people need in order to continue to be able to communicate with one another and to be connected to the outside world is available to them. And so we’re focused on that.

There are other steps that we’re taking diplomatically, across international organizations and with many other countries, to make clear how the world sees the repression that’s going on in Iran to try to hold down those who are simply trying to peacefully express their views. But the main focus has to remain on the Iranian people. This is about what they want, what they need, what they expect.

QUESTION: And finally, your next trip is to China. I believe it’s going to be your first such trip as Secretary of State. And President Biden has been, and he was trying to, as he said, lower the temperature and make sure that we don’t enter a new Cold War. But I want to ask you, given what China did along with Saudi Arabia to block any meaningful word on fossil fuels and emissions at COP27 – and the fact that all they pretty much talk about in terms of international relations are security and Taiwan – if they’re not going to play ball on climate and if they’re angry about Taiwan, and particularly Nancy Pelosi’s visit, what is it that you all have to talk about? What can you hope to get out of visiting China?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, first, Christiane, President Biden and President Xi had, I think, an important meeting in Bali, and one that was productive in the sense that it’s vitally important that we communicate clearly and directly to one another about our interests, about our intentions, about our policies because – precisely because we’re in a competition with China, the potential for miscommunication, for not at least understanding what each other is trying to do, that’s something we have to guard against. And that’s necessary particularly if, as President Biden has said, we want to ensure that the competition we’re engaged in does not veer into conflict. No one has an interest in that.

So first and foremost, the trip that I’ll take early next year is about continuing that communication, making sure that we have lines of communication that are open, that are clear even when we disagree and, indeed, disagree profoundly. The world also expects us to manage this relationship responsibly, to make sure that – again, to the best of our ability – we avoid any conflict and, yes, that where we’re able to cooperate, especially on issues that affect not only Americans and not only Chinese but people around the world, that we at least try to do that.

It’s going to be up to China to decide whether it wants to participate in that kind of cooperation on things like climate, on global health, on the macroeconomic environment that we’re all living in as we try to get beyond COVID and pursue an economic recovery. We can’t decide that for China. We can make clear that we’re prepared to engage and to cooperate where it’s in our interest to do so and where the world expects that of us. China will have to decide whether it wants to do the same thing.

QUESTION: Well, I’m being told that we’ve run out of time, Secretary Blinken. I just wonder whether you will answer one more question on the French president’s state visit. Do you have time?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Go ahead, Christiane.

QUESTION: Okay. French President Macron is being hosted by President Biden. It’s the first Biden administration state dinner, state visit. And at the same time, there is a – quite a difference between what Europe and the United States is saying – for instance, over trade; Macron’s accused the U.S. of an aggressive protectionism approach, plus the whole price of gas – they want a lower price of gas. What do you think will come out of this visit for Europe, and what are you hearing from your European colleagues now?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, we’re really looking forward to this visit. It is, as you said, the first state visit for President Biden, and I think the fact that President Macron is the first person that the President’s welcoming on a state visit speaks volumes about the importance that we attach to the relationship. Not only that, what I’ve seen over the last two years – with France specifically, Europe more generally, including the European Union – is greater and greater convergence on the issues that matter most, whether it’s Ukraine, whether it’s the approach to China, whether it’s dealing with everything from climate to food insecurity to energy.

And do we have differences on certain things? Of course. We always do, but we always work through them. And so, for example, when it comes to some concerns that we’ve heard in Europe over some of the provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that go to creating incentives for investing in the United States – we’ve heard some concerns expressed by our European partners – we immediately set up a task force with the European Union to work through those concerns, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

QUESTION: Secretary of State Antony Blinken, thank you so much for joining me.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks. Great to be with you.




Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Travel to London, Rome, Vatican City, Paris, Berlin, and Prague
11/30/2022

Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Travel to London, Rome, Vatican City, Paris, Berlin, and Prague
11/30/2022 05:38 PM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

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.

In London, Deputy Secretary Sherman will reaffirm the special relationship between the United States and the UK and address a range of shared foreign policy priorities, including support for Ukraine, in meetings with UK National Security Advisor Sir Tim Barrow; Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee Sir Simon Gass; Minister for the Americas David Rutley, MP; and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Permanent Under Secretary Sir Philip Barton.

The Deputy Secretary will then travel to Rome, where she will meet with senior Italian officials including Diplomatic Advisor Francesco Talo and Secretary General Ettore Sequi to discuss mutual priorities, building on President Biden’s recent bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Meloni. The Deputy Secretary will deliver remarks to university students at LUISS on the importance of the transatlantic partnership, the U.S.-Italy relationship, and continued support to Ukraine. The Deputy Secretary will also meet with UN Food & Agriculture Organization Director General Qu Dongyu to discuss the ongoing global food security crisis, which has been exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

At the Vatican, she will discuss shared priorities with Holy See Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

In Paris, she will meet with Diplomatic Advisor Emmanuel Bonne, Secretary General Anne-Marie Descôtes, Director General for International Relations and Strategy Alice Rufo, and other senior French officials, to discuss international efforts to support Ukraine and to build on the December 1 State Visit by President Macron.

Deputy Secretary Sherman will then travel to Berlin, where she will discuss mutual priorities with senior German officials including National Security Advisor Jens Ploetner and Secretary General Andreas Michaelis. She will also deliver remarks at Fredrich-Ebert-Stiftung on U.S.-German cooperation in advancing our foreign policy goals in the Indo-Pacific and hold a roundtable with business leaders.

In Prague, Deputy Secretary Sherman will meet with Foreign Minister Lipavsky and other senior Czech officials, where she will highlight the Czech Republic’s leadership during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, as well as its outsized support for the people of Ukraine. While in Prague, the Deputy Secretary will also speak at the Aspen Ministers Forum and celebrate the legacy of former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright with young Czech leaders.


Romania’s National Day
12/01/2022


Romania’s National Day
12/01/2022 12:01 AM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Romania as you celebrate Great Union Day and remember the unification of your country more than 100 years ago.

This is a special year, as we recognize the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the United States and Romania. Our relationship is strong because it is built on shared values and a mutual commitment to peace and prosperity for our citizens and for people around the world. My visit to Bucharest earlier this week illustrates the strength of our close and continuing cooperation on many issues, including security, as we stand united with our Allies and partners in response to Russia’s brutal and unprovoked war against Ukraine.

I wish the people of Romania a very happy national day and look forward to growing our partnership even stronger in the year ahead.




Third U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council Ministerial Meeting
12/01/2022


Third U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council Ministerial Meeting
12/01/2022 09:13 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

On Monday, December 5, the United States will host the European Union for the third Trade and Technology Council (TTC) Ministerial Meeting at the University of Maryland, College Park.

The U.S. delegation will be led by United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. The EU delegation will be led by European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis and European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager.

During the meeting, the co-chairs will emphasize the importance of the transatlantic relationship and the need to reach economically meaningful outcomes for citizens and economies on both sides of the Atlantic.

Open press events and credential registration information are below. All events will be held at the E.A. Fernandez IDEA Factory at the University of Maryland, College Park (4462 Stadium Drive, College Park, MD 20740).

TTC Ministerial Events

The following events will feature the five TTC co-chairs at the IDEA Factory. Please register here and indicate which events you would like to attend. Event location and logistical details will be provided at a later date to registered media.10:00 a.m. ET: U.S.-EU Strategic DiscussionPress: Camera spray at the top of the event; open to registered media.
12:45 p.m. ET: TTC Stakeholder DialoguePress: Due to space limitations in the room, a press pool will be formed after RSVPs are collected. Those in the pool will be contacted in advance of the event.
This event will be live-streamed on the State Department homepage and Youtube channel.​
2:20 p.m. ET: Press GagglePress: Open to registered media.
This event will be live-streamed on the State Department homepage and Youtube channel.​

Please submit any media inquiries via the web form located on the Departments Information for Journalists page.




Special Envoy for Global Food Security Fowler’s Travel to Oslo, Norway
12/01/2022


Special Envoy for Global Food Security Fowler’s Travel to Oslo, Norway
12/01/2022 09:52 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

Special Envoy for Global Food Security Cary Fowler will travel to Oslo, Norway December 1-6. While in Norway, Special Envoy Fowler will deliver keynote remarks at a food security event at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. His remarks will highlight the global food security challenges we face with a focus on the importance of crop resilience and climate adaptation in the face of the climate crisis. The Special Envoy will also discuss the role universities can play in addressing these challenges. Special Envoy Fowler will also meet with Norwegian Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim and Minister of Climate & Environment Espen Barth Eide to discuss food security cooperation, agricultural climate resilience, and the impact of conflict on food security.


The U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE): Advancing Security, Prosperity, and Human Rights
12/01/2022


The U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE): Advancing Security, Prosperity, and Human Rights
12/01/2022 11:37 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is the world’s largest regional security organization with 57 participating States from Europe and Eurasia as well as Canada and the United States.  Through political dialogue about shared values and practical work on the ground that aims to make a lasting difference, the OSCE promotes peace, prosperity, and democracy for more than a billion people.  Built on the foundation of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, the OSCE takes a comprehensive approach to security, encompassing political-military issues, economic and environmental concerns, and human rights and democratic development.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24 and the Kremlin’s blatant disregard for its OSCE commitments have shattered the region’s collective security and violated every single one of the Helsinki Final Act’s guiding principles.  Despite offering Russia an opportunity to hold an enhanced European security dialogue, Russia has turned its back on the organization.  The United States, in close coordination with other participating States, has focused its efforts since February 24 on holding Russia to account. On November 1, the OSCE also launched a new Support Programme for Ukraine with $2 million in initial U.S. funding, to address some of the immediate challenges to civilians posed by Russia’s war and to support the long-term democratic and social resilience of Ukrainian institutions and civil society organizations.

Political-Military DimensionAlthough Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has put a tremendous strain on international arms control regimes, the United States continues to work with like-minded participating States to maintain the existing arms control arrangements and works to promote regional confidence building measures in areas like cyber, countering terrorism, and countering violent extremism.
The OSCE’s work to combat other transnational security threats continues to be critical in the context of Russia’s war.  The OSCE presence in the Western Balkans, Moldova, and Central Asia — including field missions, the Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe, the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, and various extra-budgetary projects — strengthens countries’ internal capacities while also providing a platform for cooperation.

Economic and Environmental DimensionThe OSCE’s Second Dimension encompasses economic and environmental issues as an integral element of comprehensive security.  The United States supports the OSCE’s work to combat corruption and promote good governance, energy security, and environmental protection, expand consideration of climate-related security risks, and promote women’s economic empowerment.
The United States supports projects under the Office of the Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) to build the capacity of participating States to identify climate-security hotspots, combat corruption, and protect energy networks from natural and man-made disasters.  In many cases, environmental and economic projects incorporate support for reconciliation and cross-border cooperation.

Human DimensionSince its inception, the OSCE has played a pivotal role in holding states accountable for their human rights commitments and pledges to uphold democratic norms.  Most recently, we have used various OSCE tools to hold Russia to account for war crimes and other abuses of human rights. The United States joined 44 other countries in invoking the “Moscow Mechanism” to document Russia’s war crimes, possible crimes against humanity, and egregious abuses of human rights and to contribute to accountability efforts.  The Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has also been monitoring and documenting abuses committed by Russia in Ukraine, including as part of its so-called “filtration” operations.
Despite Russia’s obstructionism, the United States supported the Polish Chair’s decision to hold a Warsaw Human Dimension Conference in September 2022.  The conference was attended by over 1100 participants, and provided an opportunity for government officials, international experts, civil society representatives and human rights activists to take stock of how states are implementing their OSCE commitments in the human dimension.  The OSCE is also deeply engaged in regional projects to combat trafficking in persons, particularly among Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced persons, and to support marginalized populations.  The Chair-in-Office’s, three personal representatives on Tolerance and Non- Discrimination, Rabbi Andrew Baker, Dr. Regina Polak, and Ambassador Dr. Ismail Hakki Musa, also help promote tolerance and respect for diversity.

The Parliamentary Assembly, Independent Institutions, and Field MissionsThe work of the OSCE is complimented by the work of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA).  Comprised of 323 members from across the region, the OSCE PA seeks to advance the region’s comprehensive security including through parliamentary diplomacy, drafting thematic reports, issuing joint declarations, the work of Special Representatives, and observing elections.
The United States strongly supports the work of the three independent OSCE institutions – the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), and the High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM). We also support the work of the OSCE Special Representatives who work on fighting corruption, combating trafficking in persons, fostering gender equality, and promoting respect for the human rights of Roma and Sinti.

Finally, the OSCE’s 13 field missions help host countries put their OSCE commitments into practice and foster local capacities.  These include initiatives to support law enforcement, minority rights, legislative reform, the rule of law and media freedom, promotion of tolerance and non-discrimination, and combat corruption and trafficking-in-persons.




Secretary Antony J. Blinken At State Luncheon in Honor of French President Emmanuel Macron
12/01/2022



Secretary Antony J. Blinken At State Luncheon in Honor of French President Emmanuel Macron
12/01/2022 05:33 PM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. Thank you. Well, good evening, everyone. (Laughter.) Thank you for your patience. President Macron, Mrs. Macron, it is an honor to welcome you to the State Department.

(Via interpreter) Professionally, but also on a personal level, this is an honor for us to have you here.

It’s also an honor to be joined by my co-host for this lunch, the Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris. (Applause.) And also – and also the Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. (Applause.)

It is only fitting that for the first state visit of the Biden-Harris administration, the United States is welcoming our oldest ally. This very week, in 1776, a bedraggled, exhausted, and very sea-sick American landed in France after a grueling month at sea. The Continental Congress had dispatched Benjamin Franklin – who looks out over us, our very first diplomat – to find support for the American Revolution. Over the next year, Franklin and his counterpart forged America’s very first alliance, and that of course proved vital to winning our nation’s independence.

Now, France, Mr. President, made quite an impression on Ben Franklin. Before he went to France, he would extoll the virtues of going to bed early. (Laughter.) Then he went to Paris and, as he said, “Wine is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” (Laughter.)

I think it’s fair to say that Franklin also left his mark on France, where he became something of a celebrity. His trademark fur cap even inspired a new wig style among French women: the “coiffure a la Franklin.”

Now, it’s also fair to say that no American diplomat since – and Henry Kissinger is here today and I think he can attest to that – none of us have lived up to Franklin’s legacy as a style icon. (Laughter.)

But for more than two centuries, the United States and France have built upon the foundation of those early ties – and today, we are unwavering security allies, close economic partners, and most of all, cherished friends.

I am one of the countless beneficiaries of those bonds. Living abroad in France taught me to see the world through another’s eyes – something that I carry with me to this day. France welcomed me, educated me, inspired me – I doubt that I would be here if I had not gone there.

It quickly taught me something that everyone in France knows but, as of yesterday, is now officially recognized by UNESCO: The French baguette is a global cultural treasure. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT MACRON: Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Now, as my mother who’s here today can attest, I would probably add the pain au chocolat to that, so maybe we can work on that. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT MACRON: (Inaudible.)

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. Those years also gifted me with a lifelong love of soccer – or football, to use the correct word – and also the Paris Saint-Germain team. So while I couldn’t be prouder to cheer on Team USA at the World Cup, I’m also thrilled to see Kylian Mbappé working his magic for Les Bleus. And Mr. President, thank you for keeping him in Paris. (Laughter.)

Today, as both presidents said when they were together at the White House, we find ourselves in a consequential moment – for both of our countries but also for the world. The post-Cold War era is over, and we face a global competition to define what comes next.

This is a challenge that we can best meet as friends, and, for the United States, alongside our very first friend.

Together, the United States and France are defending the international rules-based order that we helped to build after the Second World War. We’re also working together to reform that order so that it better reflects the realities of today.

We’re supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend their nation and resist President Putin’s attempt to redraw the borders of a sovereign, independent nation by force. (Applause.)

We’re working together to strengthen European security and advance a free and open Indo-Pacific.

We’re taking urgent steps to save our planet for future generations, which continues to be driven in large part by the agreement that was reached in Paris.

We’re also making investments in global health to stamp out diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS, to build greater capacity to prevent and respond to future health emergencies.

Mr. President, you’ve led on the world stage on all of these issues and so many more. But even as we think about the individual issues, it’s also the vision that you bring to global leadership that is so exceptional. Your commitment to a stronger, better future for all has been a galvanizing force for all of us, for all of our partners. We could not do without it; we’re grateful for it. Thank you. (Applause.)

And Mrs. Macron, I want to salute you as well. You’ve been a beacon for so many families this year, particularly through your work on behalf of Ukrainian children when they so desperately need it. Thank you.

(Applause.)

The bottom line is this: It’s hard to find a challenge that we can’t solve if the United States and France work together.

For, in all that we do, our people and our nations are bound together by our core values – of liberty and democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, the belief that all people should have a chance to reach their full potential.

And that’s exactly what Franklin saw when he went to France. He observed that the French saw – and I quote – “our cause the cause of all , and that we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own.”

Those are values that continue to unite us today. That’s the reason that your causes are ours – and ours are yours.

So I’d like to all – ask all of you to join me in a toast to our common history, but also – if we have glasses (laughter) – they’re coming (laughter) – great, thank you – but also, also to our shared future. May the values that have brought us here continue to guide us for generations to come.

Vive les États-Unis. Vive la France.

And now it is my particular pleasure and honor to introduce the Vice President of the United States. Madam Vice President.

(Applause.)

(Vice President Harris makes remarks.)

(Applause.)

PRESIDENT MACRON: Thank you, thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much.

PARTICIPANT: Sir, your microphone.

PRESIDENT MACRON: (In French.) Thank you for hosting us, (inaudible), Ms. Ryan. First, I do want to apologize because we had a very long meeting with President Biden. (Laughter.) We almost fixed everything. (Laughter.) So you will see a lot of big changes in your life in the coming hours and days. (Laughter.) So this is at least the argument I have to survive vis-à-vis you for the coming minutes and hours. (Laughter.)

No, thank you very much for your patience and sorry to make you wait. Let me first thank you, Tony, for welcoming us here and organizing such a wonderful lunch, and thank you once again, Vice President Kamala, for your friendship, and thanks to both of you for your words.

I have to say: both of you mentioned Lafayette, Benjamin Franklin. I could add to this list Jefferson and so many others who built these incredible links between our two countries. A lot of people ask President Biden: why did you choose President Macron to come for the first state visit? (Laughter.) Obviously, I’m not the one to answer this question – (laughter) – but I can tell you why the U.S. and France, definitely. I think because a lot of people in this world do believe sometimes we are too proud, too self-confident and so on, but it’s because both of us do believe that we can – and we are in a certain way, in charge of universal values.

And you just quoted these words from Lafayette. He had this in-depth feeling that he will fight for his own country and for liberty together. And when your soldiers came during the First and the Second World War in our country, they had exactly the same feeling. And we will never forget that a lot of your families lost children on soils they never knew before just because they were fighting for liberty and for universal values. And I think this link in the current environment, in our world, is unique, and this is why I think we are here today and I am so proud to be here indeed with you.

(Inaudible) we have a wonderful delegation. We have our ministers and a lot of civil servants working hard on a daily basis for the bilateral relation. We have business leaders, and we were very proud two days ago to have the first Franco-American business council, and I want to thank all of those who contributed to this event. We have a lot of members of our parliament on both side, and we had a wonderful discussion yesterday with the caucus – and, I will admit, representatives and senators right after this luncheon. I want to thank our delegation as well for that. You have a lot of tech players, a lot of investors, a lot of people involved in culture, sports, because we are so much linked by all these sectors, so much linked by the strength of creativity on both sides and our common ability to convey our faith in science and knowledge and our appetite for talent and creativity.

And indeed, we have a lot of common work and common challenge together. We are very much engaged together to help the Ukrainians in this war and to resist to the Russian aggression. And I want to thank your country for the unique commitment and investment alongside the Ukrainian people and in great solidarity with the Europeans.

And we are as well very much engaged for climate change. More solidarity in this world, we will work hard for this new partnership between north and south in the coming months. We are committed for climate and biodiversity, and yesterday we had a wonderful discussion for some initiatives regarding better conservation and protect our rainforests and our oceans. And what we have in common is precisely to work very hard for these values and to make them concrete for our people.

We have huge challenges in our democracies. Because our middle classes do suffer, and the recent years and decade was so, so tough. And we see in our countries almost everywhere a sort of resurgence of hatred speech, racism, divisions.

One way is to accompany this move and to be a demagogue. You decided not to do so, and I want to thank you for that. And we try to resist on our side as well, to precisely deliver more and be efficient and provide concrete solutions to our fellow citizens when we speak about health, when we speak about climate, when we speak about (inaudible) our country, when we speak about defense and security. And this is how our partnership has to work and deliver. And this is why this morning we had a very useful and fruitful discussion to work on this issue.

I was very happy as well to have very concrete discussion yesterday with you on space, and we are so proud of our astronauts and our common journey (inaudible) in the future. We had very good discussion on nuclear energy, on science and research, on quantic, and so many different fields. And tomorrow I will go to New Orleans with a wonderful delegation to speak about green energy, climate change, culture, and Francophonie, as I can demonstrate it right now. (Laughter.) But I want to give you some time more, so I want to avoid translation. But we will clearly as well launch a new program for French language, and you’re a perfect example – both of you – of this attachment for the French language.

But I come from a country where everybody knows that gastronomy and a good lunch is part of diplomacy. (Laughter.) And a lot of people pretended that Talleyrand was so successful because he was already with his cooker, and some people claim that in fact Talleyrand’s cooker is the actual diplomat. (Laughter.) So I don’t want to be longer. I want you to enjoy this lunch, because I think it’s part of diplomacy – (laughter) – and I think it’s the best way to share a very good moment.

But let me tell that in these challenging times, this history and the friendship between the United States of America and France on both sides is part of our soul, our roots, but as well part of our future. And I will be committed to deliver concrete results for our fellow citizens on both sides of the ocean in this context, thanks to this common history, and committed to this common destiny.

Thank you. (Applause.)




International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV) Sydney Plenary
12/02/2022

International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV) Sydney Plenary
12/02/2022 09:30 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

The International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV) will hold its end of year plenary meeting on December 5–9 in Sydney, Australia. Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Ambassador Bonnie D. Jenkins will join counterparts from Partner states to discuss the continuing work of the Partnership’s Phase III. The meeting will feature participants from more than 25 countries and the European Union, including those both with and without nuclear weapons, working together to address the complex challenges associated with nuclear disarmament verification.

During the Sydney plenary meeting, Task Groups will review work done to date in Phase III and set out a work plan for 2023. The Partnership expects to publish a series of papers that summarize their work thus far.

The United States will host the first meeting of the IPNDV in April 2023, which will continue the Partnership’s focus on practical activities such as exercises and technical demonstrations.

For further information, please visit the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance’s (AVC) website https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-arms-control-and-international-security-affairs/bureau-of-arms-control-verification-and-compliance/. Join the conversation on Twitter at #IPNDV and visit https://www.ipndv.org/ for more information on the Partnership.




Joint Statement on Protecting Human Rights Defenders Online
12/02/2022

Joint Statement on Protecting Human Rights Defenders Online
12/02/2022 11:26 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

The text of the following statement is released by the Governments of the United States of America and the European Union in advance of the third U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council Ministerial in Washington, D.C. on December 5, 2022.

Begin Text:

The U.S.-EU partnership is a cornerstone of our shared strength, prosperity, and commitment to advancing freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights around the world. In the framework of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council, we address the misuse of technology threatening security and human rights and have committed to strengthen our cooperation on protecting human rights defenders online; promoting the open, free, global, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet as stated in the Declaration for the Future of the Internet; combatting online harassment and abuse; eliminating arbitrary and unlawful surveillance; combatting government-imposed Internet shutdowns; and countering disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference.

Digital technologies are a vital resource for human rights defenders and civic actors around the world, including in the context of documenting human rights violations and abuses, and international humanitarian law violations. However, these technologies can also be misused to target human rights defenders and undermine civic space. The United States and the European Union (EU) are deeply concerned by the rapid growth of online threats against human rights defenders and the ongoing contraction of civic space around the world. Human rights defenders continue to face threats and attacks, including arbitrary or unlawful online surveillance, censorship, harassment, smear campaigns, disinformation to include gendered disinformation, targeted Internet shutdowns, and doxing. Online attacks often pave the way for physical human rights violations and abuses, including beatings, killings, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detention.

Women human rights defenders are disproportionately impacted by threats and attacks, which are more often gendered and sexualized than threats against their male counterparts and increasingly take place online. Many women human rights defenders face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and sexual and gender-based violence, including on the basis of other characteristics, including race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or gender identity. Acts of gender-based online harassment and abuse have a chilling effect, leading to self-censorship and disengagement of women from public life and discouraging the political and civic ambitions of adolescent girls.

Given these trends, and in line with our respective policies, the EU Action Plan for Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 and the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders and the Guidelines for U.S. Diplomatic Mission Support to Civil Society and Human Rights Defenders, we reaffirm our joint commitment to protecting human rights defenders from threats and attacks and promoting freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, both online and offline.

The United States and EU firmly condemn the misuse of technology by both state and non-state actors to target human rights defenders. We reaffirm that all human rights and fundamental freedoms apply both online and offline. We recall, that according to the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by consensus by UN member States, States “shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”. States should work to prevent attacks against human rights defenders and bring perpetrators of attacks to justice.

We also emphasize the responsibility of the private sector, in particular technology companies and digital platforms across the digital ecosystem, to respect human rights in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We urge companies to prevent the misuse of their products and platforms, conduct due diligence, take effective action to address all forms of online violence and unlawful or arbitrary surveillance against human rights defenders, support victims and survivors in their search for remedy and accountability for violations and abuses, and provide a safe space for human rights defenders to carry out their work. We encourage companies to establish a grievance mechanism for internal and external reporting of misuse. We also support stronger accountability for technology platforms and recognize the role of government to enhance online safety, security and privacy.

We will continue leveraging our joint expertise to identify and mitigate threats faced by human rights defenders online. The United States and EU will work to develop effective policies to mitigate threats to democracy and human rights online, and to promote appropriate oversight and safeguards for the use of surveillance technologies. We will take a multistakeholder approach, including through working with partner governments, private sector, academia, civil society including human rights NGOs and human rights defenders, survivors of online harassment and abuse, multi-stakeholder organisations, and international organisations. We commit to counter the proliferation of foreign commercial spyware and hacking tools by actors that misuse them to target human rights defenders and others, and to promote accountability for companies that are complicit in enabling human rights abuses.

We will continue to give human rights defenders a platform to highlight the online threats they face, including through public events, as we did in the framework of the 49th Session of the Human Rights Council. We recognise the important role that the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and UN Special Procedures have in identifying innovative solutions for the online protection of human rights defenders. We are committed to working closely to elevate these issues within the UN system, including with the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders and the UN Tech Envoy. We call on likeminded countries to join in the effort and to publicly amplify their support for human rights defenders. The EU and the United States are committed to ensure access and meaningful participation of civil society in conversations around human rights in the multilateral fora.

The United States and EU will continue to support mechanisms, including the Digital Defenders Partnership, the Lifeline Embattled CSO Assistance Fund, and ProtectDefenders.EU that provide resources for at-risk HRDs and civil society organizations, including for preventing digital attacks and for supporting digital security needs. In the framework of the Trade and Technology Council, we commit to expanding cooperation and mutual learning between U.S.- and EU-funded emergency mechanisms and the broader community of practice, with the goal of expanding the beneficial impact of these resources for human rights defenders worldwide.

The United States and EU are also committed to fostering cooperation through our missions around the globe. U.S. Embassies and EU Delegations play an instrumental role in monitoring developments and conducting joint outreach on issues surrounding human rights defenders’ protection. The United States and the EU stand ready to engage with government partners to strengthen and support their national efforts, including capacities and institutions, to prevent and address threats against human rights defenders.

End text.




Secretary Antony J. Blinken with Thomas Sotto of France 2
12/02/2022


Secretary Antony J. Blinken with Thomas Sotto of France 2
12/02/2022 12:28 PM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, DC

U.S. Department of State

Via Translation

QUESTION: Good afternoon, Antony Blinken.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good afternoon.

QUESTION: Thank you for giving a little bit of your time, which I know is very precious, for Télématin and for the viewers of France 2. Thank you also for doing this interview in French, which is a language you master perfectly. You lived in Paris for many years.

Emmanuel Macron is on a state visit here in the United States, a warm state visit. Yet, if you look in the rearview mirror over the last 20 years, the relationship between our two countries has not always been simple. There have been disagreements on Iraq, there have been disagreements on Syria, on the climate crisis during Donald Trump’s time, on the Australian submarine contracts that you have somewhat stolen, it must be said. How would you characterize the relationship between our two countries today?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Quite frankly, excellent. And that’s mostly because we don’t look in the rearview mirror. We’re looking straight ahead, and we both see that we have a deep interest in doing what we’ve been doing for years, which is working together on issues that impact the lives of our citizens.

Neither France nor the United States has the capacity, alone, to act effectively on these issues, whether it be climate, whether it be global health, whether it be all the new technologies, the necessary investments in infrastructure – on all these levels, we both need to work together.

QUESTION: There is a topic that is kind of upsetting people about the economy, at the moment. It is said that you are very protectionist, and Emmanuel Macron said: it is a choice that risks fragmenting the West. Is there a way to negotiate on this or not? On the Act on inflation…

SECRETARY BLINKEN: There was a very good conversation between the presidents today on this issue. We have the same goals. We both have to face the climate challenge. To do that, one of the things we need to do is invest in new technologies and energy that is conducive to dealing with this challenge. We want to do it in a way that creates jobs, but not only jobs –

QUESTION: You want to create jobs and attract everyone in the United States?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Exactly, we agree that we need to do it in a way that creates jobs here, yes, but jobs in Europe; jobs here, but not at the expense of what’s happening in Europe. And the two presidents have agreed to work with the European Union to synchronize our approaches.

QUESTION: Our two countries, France and the United States, are very involved in the war in Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. Just this week, you announced $400 million in American aid to the Ukrainians. It’s been more than nine months now since this war started. Do you see a way out of it, Antony Blinken?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: I would like to, but it depends entirely on decisions made by Moscow, by President Putin. This war could end tomorrow if Putin stops. In a sense, it’s very simple: he must stop what he started. But, apart from that, what is needed – both presidents are in full agreement, is to continue our support for Ukraine, for the Ukrainian people, both in terms of economic and humanitarian security.

But of course, what is Putin doing right now? Even though he sometimes says he’s ready for diplomacy, he’s attacking the civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

QUESTION: He’s playing the cold card.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: He’s playing the cold card. He’s weaponizing winter.

QUESTION: So, Antony Blinken, do you think it’s time for Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky to talk? Has this time come? Has the time for dialogue and direct conversation come?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: If we saw Putin was serious about diplomacy and dialogue, yes. The problem is, he’s doing just the opposite. He’s inciting now to escalate things.

QUESTION: So, dialogue is impossible today?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: If there is a seriousness on the Russian side, dialogue is always possible. We’re always open to that. Zelensky, the president, has made it clear that at the end of the game, there’s going to have to be negotiation, diplomacy. We think exactly the same thing. Moreover, President Zelensky has put forward a plan to bring about an end to the war. For the moment, Putin is not on board. It depends on him.

QUESTION: Do you still have contacts? Do you have contacts with Russia and with the Russians, which are not necessarily official?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Yes, we have contacts. We have contacts, especially if there are important moments when we have to talk. For example, there was contact with Russia because there was a fear that they might use a nuclear weapon, which would be catastrophic for…

QUESTION: Is that a fear for you?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: It’s a fear. I wouldn’t say we haven’t seen a specific movement on that, but it’s still a fear in an emergency for them, exactly.

QUESTION: You don’t rule it out, do you?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: We’re not ruling it out, but more importantly, it’s not just us. You even have Xi Jinping in China who has made statements on this. Other leaders who have made, who have said very clearly to Putin, don’t go there.

QUESTION: Are you concerned that this could lead to a third world conflict, or are we playing scare tactics?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: No, for President Biden, it’s critical that we avoid expanding the conflict. On the contrary, we want to bring it to an end, but above all, we don’t want to expand it. We don’t want a war with Russia. We do not want a third world war. That’s not what we want at all. On the other hand, what we need for peace: it must not be only on paper, the peace, but it must be fair, so with the principles of the UN charter. And it must be sustainable, because, in a sense, there is no point in making a false peace that will be rejected very quickly and Russia goes to war again. What we have to avoid, for example, is the idea that we freeze things in place. Russia in this context will never negotiate the territories that were taken by force.

QUESTION: What is the scope? We have to go back to the pre-February 24 borders or even Crimea?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: That’s Ukraine’s decision.

QUESTION: Okay.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: We don’t make decisions for Ukraine. We’re going to support Ukraine’s decisions.

QUESTION: Let’s imagine, Antony Blinken, that this war finally ends tomorrow. Would Vladimir Putin automatically become an interlocutor for the United States again?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Uh, really, I can’t speculate. What he’s done is very difficult for everyone to digest. The most important thing now is to end this war, but in a fair and lasting way. After that, we’ll see.

QUESTION: Do you fear that the post-Putin era will be even worse than Putin? I am thinking in particular of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the formidable founder of the Wagner militia. Does that worry you?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: You know that for us… What’s important is not the personalities, it’s the policy that Russia will follow. So, having, you know — and President Biden said it earlier, President Putin has miscalculated very badly on Ukraine. Everything he tried to avoid, he precipitated. In the West, we are not divided. On the contrary, we are united and unified. Ukraine is more united than ever. What we see in Russia is catastrophic for Russia. More than a million Russians have left. It may be good for Putin because it’s the very people who might be opposed to him, but it’s catastrophic for Russia and for its future.

QUESTION: There are also demonstrations in China in reaction to Xi Jiping’s authoritarian policies under the guise of fighting Covid. Does that make you happy in the name of democratic values or does it worry you?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: You know, the fact that people are demonstrating, that they’re trying to express their frustrations, obviously we support that, whether it’s in China, whether it’s in Iran, whether it’s wherever you want.

QUESTION: You support the protesters.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: We support their freedom to express themselves and to show their frustrations. At the same time, if there is a crisis, if there is a problem with Covid in China, we are not happy at all. On the contrary, for us, it would be a very good thing if China could find a way to deal with this problem, both for the Chinese people, but also for everyone.

QUESTION: But do you think that this unrest, these demonstrations that we’re not used to, can rock the regime?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: I can’t make a prediction. Is it — for us, what we want to see is: what are the desires of the Chinese people, and do they have the capacity to express their desires? Does the political system have the capacity to respond to the wishes of the Chinese people?

QUESTION: You could support the wishes of the Chinese people?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Of course. But what we must look at is what is the path that China will take in the face of Covid, and we want China to be successful because it’s bad not only for the Chinese people, it’s bad for everybody – the global economy. There are consequences for the global economy when China shuts down.

QUESTION: You have a trip planned there in January, in a month. Is that trip still on?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Yes, we’re going to China early next year. Whether it’s January or February, we’re not sure yet, but it’s based on a conversation that President Biden had with President Xi Jinping at the G20 a few weeks ago.

QUESTION: And then there’s Iran, which has also been in a state of rebellion for the past few weeks, since the death in September of Mahsa Amini, the young woman who was arrested by the morality police and eventually killed. Men are now starting to join protest movements there. And then, there was that image you must have seen, of the Iranian soccer team refusing to sing the Iranian anthem in the first games in support of the protesters. What does that image mean to you, Antony Blinken?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: I’m inspired mainly by the fact that, since the death of Mahsa Amini, we have seen this extraordinary demonstration of the will of the Iranian people to express themselves, led by women, led by young people. This too is something we support.

But we must be very clear on this. The subject is not us, the United States. It’s not the West. France is not the subject. It’s the Iranian people and it’s their desire to be able to express themselves freely, and that’s what we support. Moreover, we are trying to –

QUESTION: Would you say that Iran, the Iranian regime, is a threat to the world or to the equilibrium of the world today?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: What we’re seeing, both in the region itself and then even beyond that, because we’re seeing for example of armaments to Russia for aggression in Ukraine –

QUESTION: Iran is supporting Russia.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Iran is not only supporting, but supporting with drones that are killing Ukrainian civilians, as we speak – and trying to destroy their infrastructure. So, it’s a threat in that sense. It is a threat in the region, supporting terrorist groups, supporting groups that destabilize countries. So, I think that here too, France and the United States are in complete agreement on the need to face this challenge, but obviously –

QUESTION: Could there be a joint response one day?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: There are already joint responses. We have worked together. We still do on the nuclear issue.

QUESTION: Yes.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: We are in full agreement.

QUESTION: A military response?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: And we’re also working on how to deal with the security challenge posed by Iran.

QUESTION: All these people, these populations, the Iranians, the Chinese, we could add those who fight for the defense of human rights in Qatar, they need social networks to express themselves. Is Elon Musk’s Twitter working for you?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: We will have to see what the facts are. Again, it’s not about a person, it’s about –

QUESTION: We’re starting to see, though –

SECRETARY BLINKEN: We’ll see in the weeks and months to come. This is obviously a very important platform worldwide. We hope that this platform is a space where people can express themselves but not with false information, disinformation.

QUESTION: He will have to apply the European rules on content moderation, otherwise Twitter could even be banned in Europe. That’s what the European Commission said today. Are you on the same page?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: For us, it’s important to do everything possible to maintain the free exchange of expression and information. It’s the first amendment. We take that very seriously, but we have to deal with this problem that we both face: how to deal with spaces where misinformation wins the game.

QUESTION: You have two Twitter accounts, one is your Secretary of State account and the other one, personal.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Yes.

QUESTION: Did you pay, will you pay the eight euros for the subscription fee or not?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: (Laughs) I’m going to ask my staff if they paid for — uh — with the State Department. We’ll see how.

QUESTION: We’re going to stay in the United States. How is your President Joe Biden really doing? Because there’s some concern that he’s tired, a little bit absent, a little bit disconnected. Is there a little bit of concern there, or not?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: (Laughs) I have a hard time keeping up with him because he’s always ten steps ahead of me, both physically, but also in terms of ideas. He has not only – how could I say it – an enormous amount of physical energy, but also an enormous amount of intellectual energy.

QUESTION: So, you’re not worried.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Not at all, on the contrary. My only concern is being able to keep up with him, myself.

QUESTION: All right, then. Let’s talk about you. You’re 60 years old. You’re young.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Yes.

QUESTION: You’ve been in all the most strategic positions in the United States for over 20 years. When you shave in the morning, do you ever think about the presidency of the United States?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: (Laughs) Oh, not at all!

QUESTION: Never?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: No. You know, I’m incredibly lucky to be able to do this job.

QUESTION: Yes.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: I have spent almost 30 years in foreign policy. So, to be able to have the opportunity for a few years to do this job, and especially here at the State Department where I started, almost 30 years ago, for me, it’s really all I could have wanted.

QUESTION: We’re coming to the end of this interview, Antony Blinken. Seen from Europe, we sometimes have the impression that we are at the end of a world, with the wars we have talked about; the environmental alert that seems more and more irreversible; with the set back of fundamental rights that also concerns you; with the set back of the right to an abortion. How do you manage to remain optimistic? How do you manage to keep the faith?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: It’s true that this is a period, an inflection point, where the world we knew, the post-Cold War world, is over. And there is a competition to define who will follow and what will follow.

QUESTION: Are you worried about your children?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: What gives me hope, I’ll tell you, is precisely what happened today with France, with our allies, because the challenge for President Biden was to renew our alliances, to energize our partnerships, precisely because we’re convinced that, on all these issues, we need to work together. We need to find cooperation, and we need to demonstrate that democracies can deliver. This is precisely what we are doing with France.

QUESTION: For my very last question, let’s go back to soccer, the World Cup.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: (Laughs)

QUESTION: You have a double culture, American and also French. Really, who do you support? The United States or les Bleus?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: I support the U.S. team, but –

QUESTION: Ah!

SECRETARY BLINKEN: If the U.S. team doesn’t make it, and if France is still in the game, Allez les Bleus!

QUESTION: Ah, very good! Thank you very much, Antony Blinken, for giving us a little bit of your time. Thank you very much.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you.




Religious Freedom Designations
12/02/2022
Religious Freedom Designations
12/02/2022 12:48 PM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Around the world, governments and non-state actors harass, threaten, jail, and even kill individuals on account of their beliefs. In some instances, they stifle individuals’ freedom of religion or belief to exploit opportunities for political gain. These actions sow division, undermine economic security, and threaten political stability and peace. The United States will not stand by in the face of these abuses.

Today, I am announcing designations against Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom. I am also placing Algeria, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam on the Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom. Finally, I am designating al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS-Greater Sahara, ISIS-West Africa, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, the Taliban, and the Wagner Group based on its actions in the Central African Republic as Entities of Particular Concern.

Our announcement of these designations is in keeping with our values and interests to protect national security and to advance human rights around the globe. Countries that effectively safeguard this and other human rights are more peaceful, stable, prosperous and more reliable partners of the United States than those that do not.

We will continue to carefully monitor the status of freedom of religion or belief in every country around the world and advocate for those facing religious persecution or discrimination. We will also regularly engage countries about our concerns regarding limitations on freedom of religion or belief, regardless of whether those countries have been designated. We welcome the opportunity to meet with all governments to address laws and practices that do not meet international standards and commitments, and to outline concrete steps in a pathway to removal from these lists.




EU-U.S.: Joint Press Release Consultations between the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and European External Action Service Secretary General Stefano Sannino
12/02/2022

EU-U.S.: Joint Press Release Consultations between the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and European External Action Service Secretary General Stefano Sannino
12/02/2022 01:29 PM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

Begin text:

On December 1 and 2, 2022, United States Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and European External Action Service Secretary General Stefano Sannino met in Washington, D.C. to further reinforce the EU-U.S. strategic partnership including through the fourth high-level meeting of the U.S.-EU Dialogue on China and the third meeting of the U.S.-EU High-Level Consultations on the Indo-Pacific. They affirmed that the United States and European Union have never been more aligned on our strategic outlooks. They also underlined the strong joint transatlantic resolve in defending freedom, democracy, and human rights worldwide. They stressed their ongoing commitment to take further coordinated action to address the current global challenges.

***

On December 1, United States Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman and European External Action Service Secretary General Stefano Sannino met in Washington to hold the fourth high-level meeting of the U.S.-EU Dialogue on China.

They discussed their respective bilateral relations with China and their likely future trajectory in light of the changing strategic environment. They reiterated that the United States’ and EU’s respective relations with China are multifaceted and underscored the importance of the United States and the EU maintaining continuous and close contact on their approaches. Both the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary reiterated that they remain open to substantive engagements with China on areas of shared interest, from the environment and climate to health and food security.

They also emphasized the importance of economic diversification and resilient supply chains. They reaffirmed particular concern about and opposition to China’s recent and ongoing economic coercion of international economies and committed to deepen efforts to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.

The Deputy Secretary and Secretary General discussed respective exchanges with China on Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine, including Russia’s blatant disregard of nuclear safety and security.

The Secretary General and Deputy Secretary discussed shared efforts to press China to urge Russia to end its war of choice in Ukraine. They reiterated their call not to circumvent or undermine sanctions against Russia, and not to provide any form of support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. They reaffirmed that such support would have consequences for our respective relationships with China. They also expressed concern about China’s repeated and ongoing information manipulation, including amplification of pro-Kremlin disinformation on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as China’s efforts to control narratives and suppress the flow of independent information on other key topics worldwide.

They discussed China’s activities and initiatives in multilateral fora, noting that U.S. and EU objectives will continue to focus on protecting the centrality of the UN Charter. They decided to continue deepening partnerships on multilateral issues affecting all countries, and promoting respect for international law and principles, and respect for human rights, including the right to peaceful protest. They also called on China to treat foreign diplomats in accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. They further called upon all lenders, including China, to pursue sustainable and transparent lending practices and work cooperatively to address debt vulnerabilities in low income and developing countries.

On Taiwan, they underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait where the United States and EU have clear interests, including in the maintenance of stability, and where regional and global security and prosperity are at stake. They expressed concern about China’s provocations that increase the risk of crisis in the Strait, which would not only undermine peace and stability across the Strait, but also have serious impacts on the broader region and jeopardize global prosperity. They reiterated their commitment to maintaining the status quo and opposition to any unilateral actions which undermine it. They called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues and reaffirmed that there is no change in their long-standing basic positions on Taiwan, including their respective one China policies.

They also shared their assessments of China’s unilateral actions in the East and South China Seas. With respect to the South China Sea, they reiterated their shared concerns regarding China’s expansive maritime claims, which are not consistent with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They emphasized the universal and unified character of the UNCLOS, which sets out the legal framework that governs all activities in the ocean and the seas.

Deputy Secretary Sherman and Secretary General Sannino reiterated their serious concerns about the human rights situation in China, including in Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, and Hong Kong, which requires urgent attention by the international community at large. They affirmed everyone around the world has the right to peacefully protest, mindful of the ongoing protests in China. They emphasized that the assessment published by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) confirmed the grave human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang, the network of “political re-education” camps, widespread surveillance, systemic restrictions on freedom of religion or belief against Uyghurs and other persons belonging to minority groups, and the use of forced labor. They also shared concerns about transnational repression tactics and measures, which impact peaceful activists and members of minority groups and their families.

***

On December 2, 2022, Deputy Secretary Sherman and Secretary General Sannino held the third high-level Consultations on the Indo-Pacific, confirming a shared U.S.-EU commitment to upholding the rules-based international order in the region. They reviewed their work together and with partners in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific, based on the rule of law and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. They expressed their support for strengthening cooperation with partners in the region based on these values and multilateral rules-based frameworks.

They affirmed their intent to improve regional connectivity, including through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and Global Gateway, and coordination between the U.S. Development Finance Corporation and the European Investment Bank regarding their respective activities in the Indo-Pacific region. They noted the growing challenges facing the Indo-Pacific countries in terms of foreign information manipulation and interference and committed to supporting free and resilient media environments in the region.

Both sides reaffirmed their intention to work together with countries in the region and their support for the unity and centrality of ASEAN, as well as for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. They emphasized the urgency of addressing the worsening political, economic, and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar/Burma, and recommitted to working together to press the military regime in Myanmar/Burma to cease its violence, release those unjustly detained, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and restore the country on a path to inclusive and genuine democracy.

They affirmed their intention to deepen their exchanges on their respective engagement with the Pacific Island countries (PICs), stressing their shared commitment to directing support towards priorities owned and driven by their PICs partners. The Secretary General and Deputy Secretary noted India’s important regional and global role and looked forward to partnering with India to address pressing international challenges as it assumes the G20 Presidency for 2023.

They committed to further pursue their coordination and complementary work for regional maritime security, including planning a joint U.S.-EU naval exercise in the first half of 2023 and pursuing joint capacity-building efforts in the maritime domain to support freedom of navigation and other internationally lawful uses of the sea in the Indo-Pacific.

***

Separate from the Dialogue on China and Consultations on the Indo-Pacific, Secretary General Sannino and Deputy Secretary Sherman met bilaterally to discuss a range of global security issues and shared priorities.

They commended the continued exceptional transatlantic unity and EU-U.S. close coordination and cooperation in response to Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine. They reaffirmed the EU and United States’ unwavering commitment to continue providing the financial, humanitarian, defense, political, technical, and legal support Ukraine needs to alleviate the suffering of its people and to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. They reiterated the call on Russia to immediately stop its war of aggression against Ukraine and withdraw all its forces and military equipment from Ukraine’s territory. They condemned Russia’s recent escalation, including its widespread attacks against cities and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine using missiles and Iranian drones and trainers.

They reaffirmed the joint commitment to help mitigate the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression on global economic stability and international food, nutrition, and energy security by both addressing acute needs and making medium to long term investments in resilient systems.

Recognizing the necessary revitalization of international and multilateral organizations, and quality, transparent and inclusive sustainable cooperation as a key prerequisite for the preservation of the rules-based international order, they emphasized the need to deepen engagement with partners throughout the world to address shared challenges.

Deputy Secretary Sherman and Secretary General Sannino committed to continuing their close consultations and decided to hold the next high-level meetings under the U.S.-EU China Dialogue and Consultations on the Indo-Pacific in Brussels in the first half of 2023. They welcomed the second meeting of the EU-U.S. Security and Defense Dialogue taking place in Washington, D.C. on December 14, 2022.

End Text.




Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with Spanish State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs Ángeles Moreno Bau
12/02/2022


Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with Spanish State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs Ángeles Moreno Bau
12/02/2022 05:39 PM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Deputy Secretary Sherman met with Spanish State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs Ángeles Moreno Bau on Wednesday in Washington, DC. The Deputy Secretary commended Spain’s humanitarian and defense support for Ukraine. They discussed deepening cooperation, especially with Latin America, in advance of Spain’s Council of the EU presidency starting in July 2023. They reaffirmed our commitments to upholding human rights and the rules-based international order in light of challenges posed by Russia and the People’s Republic of China.