U.S. Department of State Weekly Digest Bulletin

Turkish National Day
10/29/2023

Turkish National Day
10/29/2023 12:01 AM EDT



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

I offer my sincere congratulations on behalf of the American people to the people of Türkiye as you mark the centenary of the founding of the Turkish Republic.

Over these 100 years, we have seen Türkiye play an ever more important global role and the friendship between the people of our nations grow deeper and stronger. Our NATO Alliance is the foundation for regional peace and security, and we stand together in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and democracy. Flourishing trade and investment ties are providing jobs and economic opportunities in both our countries. The numbers of students, professional, cultural, and academic exchange participants, and tourist visitors traveling in both directions continue to grow, bringing our people even closer together. Cooperation in clean energy solutions to address the climate crisis and in science, space, and technology are producing promising new avenues for progress.

On this historic occasion, we celebrate the founding of the Republic of Türkiye with you and look forward to another century of friendship and alliance that benefits our people, the region, and the world.




Secretary Blinken’s Call with United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Cleverly
10/29/2023


Secretary Blinken’s Call with United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Cleverly
10/29/2023 11:09 AM EDT



Office of the Spokesperson

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke yesterday with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Secretary Cleverly affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense, discussed their engagement with regional partners to prevent the spread of the conflict and secure the release of hostages. They reiterated the need to ensure sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.




Secretary Blinken’s Call with Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan
10/29/2023


Secretary Blinken’s Call with Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan
10/29/2023 03:57 PM EDT



Office of the Spokesperson

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke via phone with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The Secretary again condemned Hamas’s barbaric terrorist attack against Israel. The two discussed the need for engagement with regional leaders to prevent the spread of the Israel-Hamas conflict, secure the release of hostages, and mobilize humanitarian aid. The Secretary shared President Biden’s announcement that the United States will provide $100 million in humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. The two also discussed progress on Sweden’s accession to NATO.




Joint Statement from the United States and Norway on the High-Level Energy and Climate Forum
10/31/2023

Joint Statement from the United States and Norway on the High-Level Energy and Climate Forum
10/31/2023 10:02 AM EDT



Office of the Spokesperson

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and Norway.

Begin text:

The United States and Norway met on October 30, 2023, for the high-level U.S.-Norway Energy and Climate Forum to advance key bilateral priorities and joint interests including energy assistance to Ukraine, European energy security, the clean energy transition, and commercial collaboration, including critical minerals and diversifying supply chains.

The United States was represented by high-level officials including head of delegation Department of State Bureau of Energy Resources Assistant Secretary Geoffrey R. Pyatt, Department of Energy U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs Andrew Light, Department of Energy U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Bradford Crabtree, as well as representatives from the Department of the Interior, Department of Commerce, the office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Department of Defense, and the National Security Council. Norway was represented by head of delegation Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and from the Norwegian Embassy in Washington.

The U.S.-Norway Energy and Climate Forum presented an opportunity to exchange views and deepen cooperation on energy policy priorities, including securing reliable oil and gas supplies in a manner consistent with our Paris Agreement commitments, addressing the impact of Russia’s war on energy supplies, promoting renewable energy and decarbonization technology development including carbon management, advancing diversification of supply chains for the green transition, such as for critical minerals, and bolstering support for Ukraine.

Norway is the leading supplier of natural gas to the rest of Europe, having surpassed Russia in 2022. Its exports were increased by eight percent to 122 billion cubic meters from 2021 to 2022. Norway is also an important supplier of oil to Europe. The United States demonstrates a similar commitment to European energy security; last year nearly 70 percent of U.S. LNG exports reached European markets, totaling approximately 72.1 billion cubic meters. These supplies from Norway and the United States were crucial to avoid blackouts and even higher energy prices in Europe in 2022.

The Forum also recognized the central role the business community plays in existing energy production and in accelerating the green transition and thereby reaching our two countries’ emissions reduction targets and climate change goals. Many U.S. and Norwegian companies are already engaged in collaborations to develop and commercialize critical technology, infrastructure, and solutions to advance the green transition.

The United States and Norway are leading donors to Ukraine in the energy sector and have collectively contributed significantly since Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion. Norway has so far provided approximately $350 million in financing through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for infrastructure repairs and natural gas purchases and is supplying Ukraine with electricity equipment and generators. Norway has also provided approximately $300 million in infrastructure support through the World Bank, much of which is benefitting the energy sector, and approximately $28 million for nuclear safety.

Norway and the United States are committed to further investment in renewable energy sources and to strengthening cooperation to meet our respective green transition targets.

With the recent passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the United States is joining Norway as a world leader in developing and deploying new clean technology. Norway has established the largest floating offshore wind farm in the world and is a leader in developing and establishing carbon capture and storage technologies as a commercial service to both reduce and remove CO2-emissions. Norway, with its rich hydropower resources, already has an electricity system based on renewables. Norway is also forward leaning on adopting electric vehicles (EVs), boasting the largest number of EVs per capita in the world. It plays a leading role along with the United States in decarbonizing the shipping industry and joining the United States to co-lead the Green Shipping Challenge launched at COP27.

The United States and Norway produce and process critical minerals and are members of the U.S.-launched Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), which catalyzes public and private investment in responsible critical minerals supply chains globally. Norway has an ambition to be world leader in profitable, prudent, and sustainable utilization of its seabed mineral resources. Norway is the number one exporter of cobalt to the United States and is an integral part of the European supply chain. The United States and Norway aim to diversify and collaborate on building secure and robust supply chains for the green energy transition.

The United States and Norway continue to strengthen their strong bilateral energy relationship by enhancing information sharing and accelerating shared goals.

End text.




Secretary Blinken’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba
10/31/2023

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba
10/31/2023 06:47 PM EDT


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Secretary Blinken’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba


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October 31, 2023



The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:


Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba today via phone from Washington, DC. They discussed the latest battlefield developments and the third meeting of nations in Valletta, Malta, to build global consensus on a principled and durable peace in Ukraine. The Secretary reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to continuing to provide Ukraine the support it needs to defend its independence and protect its people.



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Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Office of the Spokesperson The Secretary of State Ukraine


Governments Advance Restitution of Assets Seized During the Holocaust
11/01/2023

Governments Advance Restitution of Assets Seized During the Holocaust
11/01/2023 04:19 PM EDT



Office of the Spokesperson

The U.S Department of State and the World Jewish Restitution Organization (WJRO) hosted a meeting today of Holocaust issues envoys and their representatives to advance restitution and compensation for property looted during the Holocaust. Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues Ellen Germain and Special Advisor to the Secretary of State on Holocaust Issues Stuart Eizenstat represented the United States at the meeting. As this year is the 25th anniversary of the Washington Conference Principles on Nazi-Confiscated Art, governments and experts discussed means of reinforcing the principles and underscoring the urgency of resolving remaining property claims, whether held in public or private collections.

Participants heard from Luxembourg about implementation of its historic 2021 agreement on outstanding Holocaust-era property restitution issues. Luxembourg’s agreement can serve as a model for other governments.

Envoys will continue to meet regularly to help resolve remaining restitution issues.

For more information on remaining restitution issues, see https://www.state.gov/reports/just-act-report-to-congress/.


Taking Additional Sweeping Measures Against Russia
11/02/2023


Taking Additional Sweeping Measures Against Russia
11/01/2023 08:42 PM EDT



Office of the Spokesperson

Today, in coordination with the Department of the Treasury, the Department of State is imposing sanctions to further target individuals and entities associated with Russia’s war effort and other malign activities. All targets are being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, which authorizes sanctions with respect to specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation.

CONSTRAINING RUSSIA’S FUTURE ENERGY PRODUCTION AND EXPORT CAPACITY

The Department of State is designating a major entity involved in the development, operation, and ownership of Russia’s key Arctic LNG 2 liquified natural gas (LNG) project.

The Department is designating the following entity pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ARCTIC LNG 2 (LLC ARCTIC LNG 2) is the operator of the Arctic LNG 2 Project, a flagship LNG project of the major Russian natural gas company Novatek, located in Russia’s Arctic region. On September 12, 2014, Novatek was added to OFAC’s Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List pursuant to Directive 2 of E.O. 13662.

TARGETING RUSSIA’S METALS AND MINING SECTOR

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy:JOINT STOCK COMPANY RUSSIAN TITANIUM RESOURCES (RUSTITAN) is a Russia-based metals and mining company implementing a project to develop the largest titanium ore deposit in the world located in Russia.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following individuals are being designated for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy:ANATOLIY NIKOLAEVICH TKACHUK (TKACHUK) is the President of RUSTITAN.
ALEXEY ALEXEYEVICH NOVIKOV (NOVIKOV) is the Director General of RUSTITAN.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entity is being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, NOVIKOV and TKACHUK, persons whose property and interests in property is blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:RUSSIAN TITANIUM RESOURCES LIMITED is a Cyprus-based company controlled by TKACHUK and NOVIKOV.

DEGRADING THE ZALA AERO PROCUREMENT NETWORK

The Department is taking action to further target companies that are complicit in supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine, including a network procuring items in support of the production of the KUB-BLA and Lancet suicide drones being used by the Russian military in Ukraine.

The Department is designating the following entities pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ZALA AERO (ZALA) is a Russia-based manufacturer that designs, manufacturers, and sells loitering munition and suicide drones to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
A LEVEL AEROSYSTEMS CST (CST) is a Russia-based entity manufacturing and selling drones under the brand of ZALA.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following individual is being designated for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy and pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(C) for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of ZALA, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:ALEKSANDR VYACHESLAVOVICH ZAKHAROV (ZAKHAROV) is the owner of ZALA and CST and is the creator and designer of the KUB-BLA and Lancet suicide drones that are used by the Russian military in Ukraine.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(v), the following individual is being designated for being a spouse or adult child of ZAKHAROV:SVETLANA NIKOLAEVNA ZAKHAROVA (SVETLANA ZAKHAROVA) is ZAKHAROV’s wife.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entity is being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, SVETLANA ZAKHAROVA, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INVEST GROUP is a Russia-based investment company owned by ZAKHAROV’S wife, SVETLANA ZAKHAROVA.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(v), the following individual is being designated for being a spouse or adult child of ZAKHAROV:MARIA ALEKSANDROVNA OSETROVA (OSETROVA) is the daughter of ZAKHAROV.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entities are being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, OSETROVA, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL CENTER ORION is an electronics company owned by OSETROVA that procures components for ZALA.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DORIS is a Russia-based technology company owned by OSETROVA.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(v), the following individuals are being designated for being spouses or adult children of ZAKHAROV:LAVRENTII ALEKSANDROVICH ZAKHAROV is ZAKHAROV’s son.
NIKITA ALEKSANDROVICH ZAKHAROV (NIKITA ZAKHAROV) is ZAKHAROV’s oldest son.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entities are being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, NIKITA ZAKHAROV, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AEROSCAN (AEROSCAN) is a Russia-based drone company that procures drones and drone components for ZALA. NIKITA ZAKHAROV is the founder and 100 percent shareholder of AEROSCAN.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY EMERGENCY DIGITAL SOLUTIONS is a Russia-based IT company in which NIKITA ZAKHAROV owns 100 percent of the shares.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY RTK (RTK) is a Russia-based drone company of which NIKITA ZAKHAROV is the general director and 100 percent shareholder.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OMP (OMP) is a Russia-based tech company purportedly acting as a front for a Russia-based polymer firm procuring components for ZALA.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(C), the following individual is being designated for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of OMP:MAKSIM ALEKSEYEVICH KOTELNIKOV is the general director of OMP.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in electronics sector of the Russian Federation economy:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY HARTIS DV (HARTIS DV) has been present in Russia’s radio-electronic components market since 2015 and procures electronic components for ZALA.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(C), the following individual is being designated for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of HARTIS DV:DMITRIY ALEKSEYEVICH DMITRIEV is the CEO of HARTIS DV.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ID SOLUTION (ID SOLUTION) is a Russia-registered company involved in computer software development. ID SOLUTION sells components sourced from intermediaries in third countries to direct suppliers of CST. ID SOLUTION advertises that its clients include Russian government agencies and research institutes.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(C), the following individual is being designated for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of ID SOLUTION:

IGOR NIKOLAEVICH IEVLEV is the Director of ID SOLUTION and owns 95 percent of the shares in ID SOLUTION.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vi)(B), the following entity is being designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of ID SOLUTION:OOO MVIZION has sent multiple shipments of electronic components and computer software to ID SOLUTION, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in electronics sector of the Russian Federation economy:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SPUTNIK ELECTRONICS is a Russia-registered company involved in the wholesale of computers, computer peripheral equipment and software that procures electronic components for ZALA.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY TECHNICAL CENTER WINDEQ is a Russia-based electronics company procuring electronic components for ZALA.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ALFAKOMPONENT is a Russia-based electronics company procuring electronic components for ZALA.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY FOTOPARK is a Russia-based tech company selling optics and lenses to ZALA.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY BIK INFORM is a Russia-based tech company procuring components for ZALA.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY NANOCHIP is a Russia-based electronics company procuring electronic components for ZALA.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY N CHIP MSK is a Russia-based electronics company procuring electronic components for ZALA.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SPUTNIK SPETSPOSTAVKA is a Russia-based electronics company procuring electronic components for ZALA.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ENTEP is a Russian electronics company procuring electronic components for ZALA.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SPETSTECHNOTRADE is a Russia-based company involved in the procurement of metallic components used to create ZALA drone fuselages.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ORELMETALLPOLYMER is a Russia-based metal coating company procuring aluminum for ZALA.
BESTOP GLOBLE MFG LIMITED is a Hong Kong-based company importing aluminum components for the ZALA procurement network.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in transportation sector of the Russian Federation economy:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LEGION KOMPLEKT (LEGION KOMPLEKT) is a Russia-based wholesale company procuring motors and components for ZALA.

TARGETING THE BALTELEKTRON PROCUREMENT NETWORK

The Department is also taking action against a network of companies supplying dual-use microelectronics and other technology for Russia’s defense industry. This follows an action by the Department of Justice on September 18, 2023, to charge Maxim Marchenko, a Russian Federation citizen who is alleged to have participated in this illicit procurement network.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:BALTELEKTRON LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (BALTELEKTRON) is a Russia-based reseller of microelectronics/tech components.
MAKRO TIM LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (MAKRO TIM) is a Russia-based company involved in the distribution of electronic elements.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the electronics sector of the Russian Federation economy:DAFENG ASIA CO LLC (DAFENG) is a Mongolia-based reseller of electronic goods and has supplied at least ten shipments of electronic goods to BALTELEKTRON.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the electronics sector of the Russian Federation economy:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ADVANTA ELECTRO is a Russia-registered company involved in the maintenance and repair of motor vehicles, the wholesale of household electrical goods, and wholesale of machine tools.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY COMFORT MAX (COMFORT MAX) is a Russia-registered company involved the wholesale of household electric appliances.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vi)(B), the following entity is being designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of COMFORT MAX:NEWAY TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED is a Hong Kong-based entity that has processed at least 258 shipments to COMFORT MAX and is its primary supplier.

TARGETING ENTITIES SUPPORTING RUSSIA’S DEFENSE INDUSTRY

The Department is designating several entities responsible for developing and supplying defense-related technology and military hardware in support of Russia’s war.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the electronics sector of the Russian Federation economy:LLC LASER COMPONENTS (LASER COMPONENTS) is a Russia-based distributor of electronic components that have dual-use capabilities for military application. LASER COMPONENTS has supplied components to the FEDERAL RESEARCH CENTER INSTITUTE OF APPLIED PHYSICS OF THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES and JOINT STOCK COMPANY RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION CORPORATION PRECISION SYSTEMS AND INSTRUMENTS, persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION COMPANY ELECTRONIC, OPTICAL, AND MECHANICAL SYSTEMS (NPC EOMS) is a Russia-based distributor of electronic components that have potential dual-use capabilities for military application.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY STILSOFT is a Russia-based surveillance technology and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) producer.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the electronics sector of the Russian Federation economy:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY NEW TECHNOLOGIES is a Russia-based producer of UAV and electronic warfare technologies.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy:JOINT STOCK COMPANY NPC SPETSNEFTPRODUKT is a Russia-based lubricant producer for helicopters, missiles, and other defense industry products.
MOSCOW STATE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY NAMED AFTER N. E. BAUMAN is a Russian state university that has joint ventures with U.S.-designated Russian military conglomerate ROSTEC, as well as military departments with technical courses in artillery, missile technology, and ammunition.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the manufacturing sector of the Russian Federation economy:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MACHINE BUILDING ASSOCIATION PRESSMASH is a Russia-based heavy hydraulic press and metal working equipment manufacturer.

CONSTRAINING SANCTIONS EVASION AND DEFENSE PROCUREMENT

The Department is designating multiple defense-related entities and procurement companies in the UAE and Russia working to acquire various components in support of Russia’s war effort. These designations underscore our commitment to combatting sanctions evasion and key procurement networks that Russia is developing in order to maintain its defense programs and support the illegal war against Ukraine.

The Department is designating the following entities pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the electronics sector of the Russian Federation economy:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LANMAX (LANMAX) is a receiver of electronic components supplied by UAE-based company DREAM LITE TRADING LLC. Multiple shipments from DREAM LITE TRADING LLC to LANMAX include high-priority electronic components identified by the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
DREAM LITE TRADING LLC (DREAM LITE) is a UAE-based company that supplied at least two Russia-based companies with multiple shipments of BIS-identified high priority electronic components, including Russia-based company LANMAX, and U.S.-designated, Russia-based company AO TASKOM.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY MDIKAM EK is a Russia-based receiver of multiple shipments of Tier 1 BIS-identified high priority electronic components. According to the BIS Common High Priority Items List, Tier 1 includes “Items of the highest concern due to their critical role in the production of advanced Russian precision-guided weapons systems, Russia’s lack of domestic production, and limited global manufacturers.”
BLIKSEM COMPUTERS & REQUISITES TRADING COMPANY LLC is a UAE-based company that has made multiple shipments of BIS-identified high priority electronic components to companies based in Russia.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy:JOINT STOCK COMPANY PLASTMASS PLANT is a Russia-based company that produces explosives.

TARGETING THE TROTSENKO FAMILY’S PERSONAL WEALTH

Additionally, the Department is designating a network of personal assets and investment vehicles used by the Trotsenko family, a wealthy Russian family believed to be close to President of Russia VLADIMIR VLADIMIROVICH PUTIN, to hold their wealth.

The Department is designating the following individual pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:GLEB ROMANOVICH TROTSENKO (GLEB TROTSENKO) is part of a wealthy Russian family believed to be close to U.S.-designated President of Russia VLADIMIR VLADIMIROVICH PUTIN.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entities are being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, GLEB TROTSENKO, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LEX PRIME is a holding company of which GLEB TROTSENKO is a 50 percent shareholder.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY START AERO is a management consulting company of which GLEB TROTSENKO is an 80 percent shareholder.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY GLENIKS TEKNOLODZHIS is a Russia-based technology company of which GLEB TROTSENKO is the General Director and 100 percent shareholder.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the management consulting sector of the Russian Federation economy:LLC A INVEST is a Russia-based management consulting company.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INFRASTRUCTURE CORPORATION AEON (AEON CORPORATION) is the Trotsenko family’s flagship private investment vehicle.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entities are being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, AEON CORPORATION, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024. They are both subsidiaries of AEON CORPORATION:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY TSRTI
LLC BP INZHINIRING

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the management consulting sector of the Russian Federation economy:LLC AEON HOLDING DEVELOPMENT (AEON HOLDING DEVELOPMENT) is a Russia-based management consulting company.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entities are being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, AEON HOLDING DEVELOPMENT, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024. They are subsidiaries of AEON HOLDING DEVELOPMENT:LLC AEON DEVELOPMENT (AEON DEVELOPMENT) is a subsidiary of AEON HOLDING DEVELOPMENT.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entity is being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, LLC AEON DEVELOPMENT, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY RI2 (RI2) is a subsidiary of AEON DEVELOPMENT.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entity is being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, RI2, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY YACHT CLUB RIVER PARK NAGATINO is a subsidiary of RI2.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY RECHNIKOV INVEST (RECHNIKOV INVEST) is a subsidiary of AEON DEVELOPMENT.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entity is being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, RECHNIKOV INVEST, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY RIVER PARK is a subsidiary of RECHNIKOV INVEST.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY YUP 2 (YUP 2) is an indirect subsidiary of AEON HOLDING DEVELOPMENT.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entity is being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, YUP 2, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY KSK LTD (KSK LTD) is a subsidiary of YUP 2.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entity is being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, KSK LTD, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY TORGRECHTRANS is a subsidiary of KSK LTD.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AHD SOUTH PORT (AHD SOUTH PORT) is a subsidiary of AEON HOLDING DEVELOPMENT.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entity is being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, AHD SOUTH PORT, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY RASSVET is a subsidiary of AHD SOUTH PORT.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY FLEMSTED (FLEMSTED) is a subsidiary of AEON HOLDING DEVELOPMENT.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entity is being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, FLEMSTED, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:LLC TSENTRTEKHKHIMMASH is a subsidiary of FLEMSTED.
QUALIFIED DEVELOPER KUTUZOVSKIY 16 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY is a subsidiary of AEON HOLDING DEVELOPMENT.
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AHD KUTUZOVSKIY TOWERS is an indirect subsidiary of AEON HOLDING DEVELOPMENT.

PROMOTING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MALIGN ACTORS

The Department is also taking further action to target those involved in supporting the Russian government’s war effort and other malign activities.

The Department is designating the following individual pursuant to section 1(a)(v) for being a spouse or adult child of Russia’s Minister of Emergency Situations, ALEKSANDR VYACHESLAVOVICH KURENKOV, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to section 1(a)(iii) of E.O. 14024:ELENA IGOREVNA MILSKAIA (MILSKAIA) is KURENKOV’s spouse.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the transportation sector of the Russian Federation economy:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY KALININGRAD BALTTRANS is a Russia-based transportation company formerly owned by MILSKAIA.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entity is being designated for operating or having operated in the construction sector of the Russian Federation economy:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY POZITIVINFO (POZITIVINFO) is a Russia-based construction company formerly owned by MILSKAIA.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entity is being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, POZITIVINFO, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY PROSPEKT (PROSPEKT) is a Russia-based subsidiary of POZITIVINFO.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(ii)(F), the following entity is being designated for being responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in, activities that undermine the peace, security, political stability, or territorial integrity of the United States, its allies, or its partners, for or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, directly or indirectly, the Government of the Russian Federation:INTERREGIONAL PUBLIC ORGANIZATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF DOMESTIC TRADITIONS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE VECHE is a Russian nationalist organization procuring supplies for Russia’s troops through cryptocurrency transactions.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(A), the following individual is being designated for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the Government of the Russian Federation:SALMAN SOIPOVICH ZAKRIEV (SALMAN) is the First Deputy Chairperson of the Parliament of the Chechen Republic and a brother-in-law of the head of the Russian Federation’s Chechen Republic RAMZAN KADYROV, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024, E.O. 13818, and the Russia Magnitsky Act.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(v), the following individual is being designated for being a spouse or adult child of SALMAN:YAKUB SALMANOVICH ZAKRIEV is an adult son of SALMAN, a nephew of RAMZAN KADYROV, and was appointed the head of a European company’s Russian subsidiary after the Russian Federation seized the Russia-based assets.

TARGETING CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES OPERATING IN RUSSIA-OCCUPIED PARTS OF UKRAINE

Pursuant to section 1(a)(iv), the following entity is being designated for being a political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the Government of the Russian Federation:PUBLIC LEGAL COMPANY MILITARY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY is a Russian Ministry of Defense construction company involved in reconstruction work in Russia-occupied Mariupol.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(i), the following entities are being designated for operating or having operated in the construction sector of the Russian Federation economy:LLC ABZ BELYI RAST is a Russia-based construction company working on trench networks/defense infrastructure in Russia-controlled territory in Ukraine.
FEDERAL AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION ROSKAPSTROY (ROSKAPSTROY) is a Russia-based construction company supplying building materials for the reconstruction of Ukraine’s Mariupol Seaport, which is occupied by Russia.

Pursuant to section 1(a)(vii), the following entities are being designated for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, ROSKAPSTROY, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024. They are all subsidiaries of ROSKAPSTROY:LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ROSKAPSTROY INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ROSKAPSTROY CLEAN WATER
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ROSKAPSTROY NOVOROSSIYA

FURTHER DESIGNATIONS OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION OFFICIALS

Pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(A), the following individuals are being designated for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the Government of the Russian Federation:ALEKSEY SERGEEVICH BESPROZVANNYKH is a Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
ANASTASIYA BORISOVNA BONDARENKO is a Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation.
VIKTOR LEONIDOVICH EVTUKHOV is a Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
OLEG YUREVICH KACHANOV is a Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation.
DMITRIY ALEKSANDROVICH OGURYAEV is a Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation.
LEV VALENTINOVICH GERSHANOK is the Director of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
ALEKSEY MIKHAYLOVICH SERKO is a Deputy Minister for Civil Defense, Emergencies, and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters of the Russian Federation.

Sanctions Implications

As a result of today’s action, and in accordance with E.O. 14024, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Additionally, all individuals or entities that have ownership, either directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

For more information on E.O. 14024, see the full text.




Taking Additional Sweeping Measures Against Russia
11/02/2023

Taking Additional Sweeping Measures Against Russia
11/02/2023 11:35 AM EDT



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State


Today, the United States is imposing further sanctions on over 200 individuals and entities in connection with Russia’s war against Ukraine.


The Department of State is imposing sanctions on over 90 entities and individuals engaged in sanctions evasion and those complicit in furthering Russia’s ability to wage its war against Ukraine. Our actions today also target Russia’s future energy capabilities, which will limit Moscow’s ability to funnel future revenues toward its destructive aims.


Concurrently, the Department of the Treasury is imposing further sanctions on multiple networks used by Russia to circumvent our existing sanctions. The Treasury Department is also designating key manufacturing and other firms supporting Russia’s industrial base, as well as additional Russian financial institutions. The Department of Commerce is also adding thirteen names to the Entity List.


The United States and its allies and partners are united in our continued support of Ukraine. We will continue to use the tools at our disposal to raise the cost for Russia of waging this war and promote accountability for its atrocities and abuses in Ukraine.


For more information on today’s action, please see the Department of State’s fact sheet, the Department of the Treasury’s press release, and the Department of Commerce’s press release.



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Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Division for Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions Office of the Spokesperson Russia Sanctions The Secretary of State


Russia’s Planned Withdrawal of Its CTBT Ratification
11/02/2023


Russia’s Planned Withdrawal of Its CTBT Ratification
11/02/2023 01:30 PM EDT



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State


We are deeply concerned by Russia’s planned action to withdraw its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Unfortunately, it represents a significant step in the wrong direction, taking us further from, not closer to, entry into force. Russia’s action will only serve to set back confidence in the international arms control regime. We appreciate the similar statements of concern expressed by many other States in recent weeks about this action.


We will continue to emphasize the irresponsibility of Russia’s recent rhetoric regarding nuclear weapon explosive testing and the CTBT. This continues Moscow’s disturbing and misguided effort to heighten nuclear risks and raise tensions as it pursues its illegal war against Ukraine.


Russian officials say Russia’s planned move to withdraw its ratification does not mean that it will resume testing, and we urge Moscow to hold to those statements. The United States remains committed to achieving the entry into force of the CTBT, and we reiterate our commitment to our zero-yield nuclear explosive testing moratorium, which has been in place for 30 years. It is essential that we preserve the global norm against nuclear explosive testing.



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Arms Control Arms Control and Nonproliferation Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Disarmament Office of the Spokesperson Russia The Secretary of State Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security


U.S.-Norway Energy and Climate Forum
11/02/2023


U.S.-Norway Energy and Climate Forum
11/02/2023 01:28 PM EDT


HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases…U.S.-Norway Energy and Climate Forum
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U.S.-Norway Energy and Climate Forum


Media Note





November 2, 2023



Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey R. Pyatt led the American delegation at the U.S.-Norway Energy and Climate Forum alongside representatives from the Departments of State, Energy, Interior, Commerce, Defense, and the National Security Council (NSC) on October 30. The two countries covered a range of topics including European energy security, support to Ukraine, renewable energy development, and carbon management. Norway, which was represented by Petroleum and Energy Minister Terje Aasland and his delegation, is a global leader in the energy transition and has been a valuable partner in the United States’ efforts to secure global energy markets amid Russia’s brutal and illegal war against Ukraine. The outcomes from the Forum, captured in a Joint Statement, will help inform both countries’ priorities for COP28 and future cooperation.


For further media information, please contact ENR-PD-Clearances@state.gov



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Secretary Blinken’s Call with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell
11/02/2023

Secretary Blinken’s Call with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell
11/02/2023 07:29 PM EDT



Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell. Secretary Blinken and High Representative Borrell discussed the situation in Gaza amid Israeli military operations following Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack. The Secretary reiterated the importance of protecting civilian lives and providing sustained humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people. The Secretary affirmed our priority to ensure the safe departure of foreign citizens from Gaza and the release of all hostages.




Designation of Kosovan Public Official Nexhat Krasniqi for Significant Corruption
11/03/2023


Designation of Kosovan Public Official Nexhat Krasniqi for Significant Corruption
11/03/2023 09:44 AM EDT



Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

The United States is designating Nexhat Krasniqi, the former Director of the Department of Procurement at the Kosovo Ministry of Trade and Industry, as generally ineligible for entry into the United States, due to his involvement in significant corruption. As a public official responsible for oversight of procurement contracts, Krasniqi abused his public position by accepting bribes in exchange for awarding a contract permitting the construction of an industrial park in the Drenas municipality by the operating company Eltoni.

Today’s action demonstrates the United States stands with those in Kosovo who seek accountability of corrupt public officials. This designation reaffirms the U.S. commitment to counter corruption, which harms the public interest, hampers countries’ economic prosperity, and curtails the ability of governments to respond effectively to the needs of their people.

These public designations are made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2023, as carried forward by the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 (Div. A, P.L. 118-15). The Department is also designating Krasniqi’s children, Aulona Krasniqi and Olti Krasniqi, as generally ineligible for entry into the United States.




Designating Russian Virtual Currency Money Launderer
11/03/2023


Designating Russian Virtual Currency Money Launderer
11/03/2023 11:13 AM EDT



Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

The United States is sanctioning Ekaterina Zhdanova, a Russian national, for her role in laundering hundreds of millions of dollars using virtual currency on behalf of sanctioned Russian elites. Zhdanova has also provided a range of virtual, cash-based, tax residency and other services to Russian clients seeking to launder funds or obscure the sources of their wealth. Among others, she has provided such services to individuals connected with a ransomware group that U.S. law enforcement identified as a cybercrime threat to healthcare providers in the United States.

Our action today highlights the consequences of supporting corrupt Kremlin proxies, underscores the United States’s efforts to address the abuse of virtual currency to launder illicit funds, and exposes an illicit actor’s money laundering activities. This action is also consistent with the G7’s commitment to cracking down on sanctions evasion and closing loopholes that allow the Russian Federation, its elites, proxies, and oligarchs to leverage virtual currency to offset the impact of international sanctions.

The United States is committed to safeguarding the integrity of our financial system, including the virtual assets ecosystem. We will continue to use all available tools to target Russia-based cybercrime and counter the threat posed by ransomware in coordination with national and international partners.

The Department of the Treasury is designating Zhdanova pursuant to Executive Order 14024 for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy. For more information on this designation, see Treasury’s press release .




Additional U.S. Military Assistance for Ukraine
11/03/2023



Additional U.S. Military Assistance for Ukraine
11/03/2023 12:12 PM EDT



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Today, the United States is announcing a new package of weapons and equipment to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their country and their freedom against Russia’s aggression.

This package provides up to $125 million of arms and equipment authorized under previously directed drawdowns for Ukraine, and is accompanied by an announcement from the Department of Defense’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative on strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses.

Until Russia ends this war by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks, the United States and the coalition we have built of more than 50 countries will continue to stand with Ukraine. We will continue to work with Congress to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future – a future in which its people rebuild and live safely in a resilient and thriving democracy.




Meeting with Ukraine on Chemical and Biological Safety and Security
11/03/2023

Meeting with Ukraine on Chemical and Biological Safety and Security
11/03/2023 04:31 PM EDT


HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases…Meeting with Ukraine on Chemical and Biological Safety and Security
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Meeting with Ukraine on Chemical and Biological Safety and Security


Media Note





November 3, 2023



The United States joined representatives from the Government of Ukraine in Krakow, Poland, to discuss further strengthening chemical and biological safety and security in Ukraine as it defends itself from continued Russian aggression. The meeting was led by Mr. Oleksii Soloviov, Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and Ms. Kathryn Insley, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation Programs at the U.S. Department of State.


The day-long meeting advanced the U.S. government’s commitment to partnering with the Government of Ukraine, as both parties agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in strengthening Ukraine’s ability to deter, detect and respond to chemical and biological threats. Considering the persistent threat to Ukraine’s national security, strengthening the country’s capabilities and furthering cooperation remains an essential cornerstone of the United States’ enduring support to Ukraine. Representatives agreed to reconvene respective experts in the coming weeks to further chart the path for future strategic engagements and activities.



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Secretary Blinken’s Travel to Tel Aviv, Amman, Ankara, Tokyo, Seoul, and New Delhi
11/04/2023


Secretary Blinken’s Travel to Tel Aviv, Amman, Ankara, Tokyo, Seoul, and New Delhi
11/04/2023 08:47 AM EDT



Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Tel Aviv, Israel; Amman, Jordan; Ankara, Türkiye; Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, the Republic of Korea (ROK); and New Delhi, India November 2-10, 2023.

In Israel, Secretary Blinken will reiterate U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism consistent with international humanitarian law and discuss efforts to safeguard U.S. citizens in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, work to secure the immediate release of hostages, increase the pace and volume of humanitarian assistance entering Gaza for distribution to Palestinian civilians, and prevent the conflict from spreading.

In Jordan and Türkiye, the Secretary will underscore the importance of protecting civilian lives in Israel and the Gaza Strip and our shared commitment to facilitating the increased, sustained delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, the resumption of essential services, and ensuring that Palestinians are not forcibly displaced outside of Gaza. He will also discuss urgent mechanisms to stem violence, calm rhetoric, reduce regional tensions, and reaffirm the U.S. commitment to working with partners to set the conditions necessary for a durable and sustainable peace in the Middle East, to include the establishment of a Palestinian state.

In Türkiye, the Secretary will also discuss Euro-Atlantic security, ongoing support for Ukraine, and the need to maintain NATO Alliance unity, including ratifying Sweden’s NATO accession.

Secretary Blinken will then lead U.S. delegations to Tokyo, Seoul, and New Delhi to advance collaborative efforts to support a free and open Indo-Pacific region that is prosperous, secure, connected, and resilient.

In Tokyo, the Secretary will participate in the second G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of 2023, where G7 foreign ministers will build on the commitments made by leaders at the G7 Hiroshima Summit. Secretary Blinken will also thank Japan for its successful G7 presidency. The Secretary will also have bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko to discuss bilateral priorities, including supporting Ukraine’s economic recovery and energy needs and strengthening our cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

The Secretary will then travel to Seoul to meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol, Foreign Minister Park Jin, and National Security Advisor Cho Tae-yong. The Secretary will discuss ways the United States and the ROK can respond to global challenges, including Russia’s war against Ukraine and Russia’s growing military cooperation with the DPRK, as well as instability in the Middle East. They will also discuss mutual efforts to support bilateral investment and economic security.

In Tokyo and in Seoul, the Secretary will underscore the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of Japan and ROK and reaffirm the importance of robust and sustained trilateral engagement following the historic Camp David Summit in August.

The Secretary will then travel to New Delhi to participate in the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, joined by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. The delegation will meet with Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, and other senior Indian officials to discuss both bilateral and global concerns and developments in the Indo-Pacific.




Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Sison’s Travel to France
11/05/2023

Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Sison’s Travel to France
11/05/2023 09:09 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Michele Sison will travel to Paris, France November 6-10, 2023, to lead the U.S. delegation attending the UNESCO General Conference. Assistant Secretary Sison will deliver remarks during the conference underscoring the strong U.S. commitment to supporting UNESCO’s core mandates of education, science, and protecting and preserving cultural heritage.

In addition to meeting French counterparts, Assistant Secretary Sison will meet with several UNESCO member states, bilaterally and in regional groups, to discuss areas of mutual interest within the multilateral body. Further, the Assistant Secretary will meet with UNESCO leadership on a variety of issues related to the United States’ return to active participation in the organization, including voicing support for the U.S. candidacy to the UNESCO Executive Board in the November 15 election.

As President Biden has frequently noted, the United States is stronger, safer, and more prosperous when we engage with the rest of the world and when we seek cooperation, collaboration, and partnership. Assistant Secretary Sison’s trip makes clear the U.S. commitment to multilateralism on critical issues, including expanding access to education, shaping best practices on new and emerging technologies, and protecting the world’s cultural heritage.

For updates, follow @State_IO and @USUNESCO on Twitter.




Secretary Antony J. Blinken’s Remarks to the Press
11/06/2023

Secretary Antony J. Blinken’s Remarks to the Press
11/06/2023 09:14 AM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Ankara, Türkiye


SECRETARY BLINKEN: Hello, everyone. We just had a very good, lengthy, productive conversation with Foreign Minister Fidan here in Türkiye, covered a lot of important issues that the United States and Türkiye are working on together, including the efforts to grow and expand NATO. We’re very pleased that the ratification protocols were signed by President Erdogan and are now before the Turkish parliament.


We talked about the important work that we’re doing in support of Ukraine. Türkiye has played a critical role over the last couple of years, particularly with Black Sea Grain Initiative and trying to get food out of Ukraine, as well as supporting its electricity grid. We discussed our work to strengthen our counterterrorism partnership, to work as well at growing our economic relationship through trade and investment.


And, of course, we discussed the crisis in Gaza, including the efforts to significantly expand humanitarian assistance to people in need, efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading through other parts of the region, and what we can do to set the conditions for a durable, sustainable, lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.


On the humanitarian piece, I think we’ve made some good progress in recent days in working to expand that. Ambassador Satterfield remains in the region working that every single day. We’ve also had very important conversations throughout this trip with countries in the region on the role that everyone can play in making sure that the conflict doesn’t expand, doesn’t spread to other countries. And of course, we remain very focused on the hostages held by Hamas, including Americans, in making sure we’re doing everything possible to bring them home.


One of the common denominators that I’ve heard throughout this trip is the imperative of American engagement, American leadership. Every country I talk to is looking for us to play a leading role with our diplomacy to try to make progress on all of these different aspects of the crisis.


From here, we’re heading to Japan for a meeting with the G7. I’ll have an opportunity to debrief my colleagues on what we’ve learned and what we’ve done during this trip, and to continue that work and carry it forward. And of course, I’ll be consulting and debriefing President Biden and discussing with him the way forward in the days ahead.


At the same time, we’ll be not only in Japan but also in Korea, and then on to India. I think that’s evidence of the fact that even as we are intensely focused on the crisis in Gaza, we’re also very much engaged and focused on the important work that we’re doing in the Indo-Pacific and in other parts of the world to advance American interests.


With that, happy to take a couple of questions.


MR MILLER: Jenny.


QUESTION: Hi, thank you, Mr. Secretary. You mentioned people are looking to the United States to make progress on all these points, but thus far we’ve seen very little concrete apparent progress on a lot of the issues that you raised here. Israel continues to reject the humanitarian pauses. We continue to see these images coming out of Gaza of the civilian toll here. So given all of this, do you feel that you accomplished the mission you set out on this trip?


SECRETARY BLINKEN: All of this is a work in progress. Look, we know the deep concern here for the terrible toll that Gaza is taking on Palestinians – on men, women, and children in Gaza, innocent civilians – a concern that we share and that we’re working on every single day. We’ve engaged the Israelis on steps that they can take to minimize civilian casualties. We’re working, as I said, very aggressively on getting more humanitarian assistance into Gaza. And we have very concrete ways of doing that, and I think you’ll see in the days ahead that that assistance can expand in significant ways so that more gets into people who need it and gets to the people who need it, as well as making sure that people can continue to come out of Gaza.


I think we’ve had important conversations – and more than conversations, we’re making sure that the different influence and relationships that countries in the region have, including the countries that I visited or spoke to, that they’re using that to make sure that this conflict and crisis doesn’t spread. And that’s critical, and I think countries are very much engaged in trying to make sure that that doesn’t happen. So that’s important. And sometimes the absence of something bad happening may not be the most obvious evidence of progress, but it is.


And also tremendously important are the conversations we’re having about how we can set the conditions, as I said, for a just and durable and sustainable peace. And I think we had very important engagements with many of the countries in the region on that so that we’re doing that work. Even as we’re focused on the day of and getting through this crisis, we’re also focused on the day after and making sure that there’s a better path forward coming out of it.


So I think in each of these areas, we’ve made progress, and I come back to the proposition that what I heard in every single place, in a variety of ways, on all these different issues, is the indispensability of American leadership, of American diplomacy, of America engagement. Countries are looking for us to do things, and we don’t, obviously, agree on everything. But there are common views on some of the imperatives of the moment that we’re working on together, and in other areas we’re making sure that we’re communicating clearly and understanding where each other’s coming from.


QUESTION: But if I could quickly follow up, Mr. Secretary, have you seen the Israelis actually take any of these steps that you discussed with them on Friday? And how long can this call for a pause versus a ceasefire be tenable given the opposition we are seeing in the region?


SECRETARY BLINKEN: As I said, we’re working on all of this almost every single minute. We’ve got Ambassador Satterfield, who remains parked in the region, working on the details every day, particularly with regard to humanitarian access and significantly increasing what’s getting in. As I’ve – as I discussed the other day, when it comes to humanitarian pauses, we’re engaged with the Israelis on the particular practicalities of that. One critical aspect, though, is seeing progress on hostages. That’s something we’re intensely focused on. But we also believe that a pause could help advance that proposition as well.


And we’re also very focused not only on Gaza, but what’s happening in the West Bank. We’ve made very clear our concerns about extremist violence in the West Bank. We’ve heard the Israeli Government make commitments on dealing more effectively with that, and we’re watching very closely to make sure that that happens.


MR MILLER: Vivian.


QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you. You just touched upon, actually, what I wanted to ask you about, which is regarding the hostages. You just came out of meetings with Türkiye. Do you believe that Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar – the countries you’re working on to release the hostages – still have enough leverage to be able to work with Hamas to get some of those hostages out? Or is that completely out of the question at this point unless Israel stops its bombing campaign? And if I may, just a really quick one, unrelated: With regard to Türkiye, have they given you any assurances that they are – that they are prepared to support Sweden’s accession into NATO? Thank you.


SECRETARY BLINKEN: So on the hostages, Vivian, you’ll understand I can’t get into the details of that. I can say that this is an intense focus for us, and we also believe and we’re seeing that other countries can play an important role in helping to get hostages back. I’m very much convinced that that remains the case and that not only is there still opportunity, there’s a necessity, to see that happen. And it’s important that other partners, to the extent they have relationships, use those relationships to help, and I still believe that’s possible.


With regard to Sweden, we were very encouraged by the fact that President Erdogan signed the ratification protocols, sent them to parliament. And I’m convinced that we’ll see forward movement on that. I think there’s a shared commitment to make sure that we complete the process, that Sweden joins the Alliance. That’s a commitment that Türkiye has, that we have, and I would expect that we’ll see that come to fruition.


MR MILLER: Thank you.


SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks. Thanks, everyone.


QUESTION: Thank you.



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Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Israel-Hamas Conflict North Atlantic Treaty Organization Office of the Spokesperson Secretary Trip The Secretary of State Turkey


Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan
11/06/2023

Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan
11/06/2023 09:28 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson


The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:


Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan today in Ankara. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Fidan discussed the Israel-Hamas conflict, including the need to prevent the spread of conflict throughout the region. Both agreed on the critical importance of protecting civilians and ensuring humanitarian assistance reaches civilians in Gaza. The Secretary and Foreign Minister Fidan emphasized the importance of the longstanding U.S.-Turkish cooperation as NATO Allies and Euro-Atlantic security priorities including Sweden’s NATO accession.



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Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Israel-Hamas Conflict Office of the Spokesperson Secretary Trip Turkey


Secretary Blinken’s Call with Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis
11/06/2023

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis
11/06/2023 03:25 PM EST



Office of the Spokesperson


The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:


Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The Secretary and the Prime Minister underscored their commitment to deepening the U.S.-Greece bilateral relationship, as well as U.S. support for Greece’s defense modernization efforts, in line with NATO interoperability requirements. The Secretary discussed the ongoing situation in the Middle East and affirmed the importance of addressing humanitarian suffering in Gaza. The Secretary reiterated Israel’s right to self-defense consistent with international law. The two spoke about their shared goals to advance stability and prosperity in the eastern Mediterranean and beyond. The Secretary thanked Prime Minister Mitsotakis for Greece’s continued assistance to Ukraine.



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Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Greece Israel-Hamas Conflict Office of the Spokesperson The Secretary of State


Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Rao Gupta Travels to Romania
11/06/2023

Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Rao Gupta Travels to Romania
11/06/2023 05:26 PM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta will travel to Bucharest, Romania from November 6-9 to represent the U.S. Government at the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network (WPS-FPN) Meeting, co-hosted by the United States and Romania. Ambassador Rao Gupta will be joined by U.S. Ambassador to Romania Kathleen Kavalec, and the U.S. WPS-FPN National Focal Point, Principal Deputy for the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues Kat Fotovat.

Launched in 2016, the WPS-FPN is a cross-regional forum coordinated by UN Women to share best practices and experiences related to advancing the global WPS agenda. The United States is honored to serve alongside Romania as the 2023 WPS-FPN co-chair, a testament to our commitment to driving forward the WPS agenda worldwide. Ambassador Rao Gupta’s participation in this closing event of the U.S.-Romania co-chairship year follows high-profile engagements including the 5th Capital-level Meeting held in Washington, D.C. in June and the UN General Assembly high-level week WPS-FPN ministerial held in New York in September, featuring remarks by Secretary Blinken.

In addition to addressing the WPS-FPN Meeting, the Ambassador will hold bilateral meetings with Romanian partners and experts, civil society organizations, and women leaders working on WPS in the region. These meetings will include engagements with women members of parliament. Ambassador Rao Gupta will also meet with Roma women and girls to discuss opportunities to address persistent social, economic, and political barriers to their wellbeing and full enjoyment of rights. The Ambassador’s engagements during this visit support U.S. efforts to enhance the protection of women and girls, in all their diversity, in areas of conflict and crises, and their meaningful participation at all levels in peace, political, and security processes, as essential to achieving sustainable global peace and security. For media inquiries, please contact stategwi@state.gov.




Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with French Foreign Minister Colonna
11/07/2023



Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with French Foreign Minister Colonna
11/07/2023 08:38 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna today in Tokyo to discuss the situation in Gaza amid Israeli military operations against Hamas. They reiterated U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself, in accordance with international humanitarian law, while emphasizing the need to protect civilian lives. The Secretary thanked France for its leadership in denouncing Hamas’ appalling attacks on Israel and for providing humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people.




Assistant Secretary Holmgren’s Travel to Estonia
11/07/2023
Assistant Secretary Holmgren’s Travel to Estonia
11/07/2023 09:29 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Research (INR) Brett M. Holmgren will travel to Tallinn, Estonia, from November 7-8, 2023, to meet with senior intelligence, security, and diplomatic counterparts. The visit underscores the importance of the bilateral relationship and aims to exchange views and deepen intelligence and security cooperation on topics of shared interest.

The Bureau of Intelligence and Research, an integral part of the U.S. Department of State, is one of 18 agencies in the U.S. intelligence community.


The Kremlin’s Efforts to Covertly Spread Disinformation in Latin America
11/07/2023

The Kremlin’s Efforts to Covertly Spread Disinformation in Latin America
11/07/2023 09:26 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

The Russian government is currently financing an on-going, well-funded disinformation campaign across Latin America. The Kremlin’s campaign plans to leverage developed media contacts in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay, among other countries in Latin America, in order to carry out an information manipulation campaign designed to surreptitiously exploit the openness of Latin America’s media and information environment. The Kremlin’s ultimate goal appears to be to launder its propaganda and disinformation through local media in a way that feels organic to Latin American audiences to undermine support for Ukraine and propagate anti-U.S. and anti-NATO sentiment.

What we know:

The Social Design Agency (SDA), the Institute for Internet Development, and Structura coordinated on the development of an information manipulation campaign targeting Latin America that aims to promote Russia’s strategic interests in the region at the expense of other countries by overtly and covertly coopting local media and influencers to spread disinformation and propaganda. These are “influence-for-hire” firms with deep technical capability, experience in exploiting open information environments, and a history of proliferating disinformation and propaganda to further Russia’s foreign influence objectives.

As this year’s Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community makes clear, Russia’s influence actors have adapted their efforts to increasingly hide their hand, laundering their preferred messaging through a vast ecosystem of Russian proxy websites, individuals, and organizations that appear to be independent news sources. Moscow seeds original stories or amplifies preexisting popular or divisive discourse using a network of state media, proxy, and social media influence actors and then intensifies that content to further penetrate the Western information environment. These activities can include disseminating false content and amplifying information perceived as beneficial to Russian influence efforts or conspiracy theories.

The actors involved:Ilya Gambashidze, director of the Russian public relations firm known as the Social Design Agency, leads a group of malign influence actors comprised of members from SDA and Structura to conduct an information manipulation campaign against Latin American countries.
In addition to Gambashidze, the individuals involved include but are not limited to SDA Project Director Andrey Perla, Structura CEO Nikolay Tupikin, and pro-Kremlin journalist Oleg Yasinskiy (alternate: Yasinsky).

The mechanics of the Campaign:A cultivated group of editorial staff would be organized in a Latin American country, most likely in Chile, with several local individuals and representatives – journalists and public opinion leaders – of various countries in the region.
A team in Russia would then create content and send the material to the editorial staff in Latin America for review, editing, and ultimately publication in local mass media. In effect, this information laundering process would see pro-Kremlin content created in Russia get “localized” by the curated Latin American staff and published in Latin American media to appear organic.
The Translator: The role of Moscow-based linguistics editors proficient in the Spanish language is integral to the campaign. The editors often use aliases to obfuscate their true identities to ensure the information is laundered in a way that feels organic to the target audience.
Yasinskiy maintains and leverages a vast network of Spanish and Portuguese-speaking journalists and media outlets to propagate pro-Russian messages without compromising his efforts to more naturally assimilate the content in Latin American media to the SDA and Structura’s benefit.
While the network’s operations are primarily done in concert with Spanish-language outlets Pressenza and El Ciudadano, a broader network of media resources is available to the group to further amplify information.

The Kremlin’s hidden hand:The themes and success metrics for the campaigns were developed in conjunction with and at the direction of the Russian government, with Gambashidze, Perla, and Tupikin taking a lead role in their development.
Controlling the pro-Kremlin narrative is an important aspect in building out the Latin American focused influence campaign. To do so, Structura CEO Tupikin ensures themes stay on topics of priority to the Kremlin.
The operations themes primarily focus on attempting to persuade Latin American audiences that Russia’s war against Ukraine is just and that they can unite with Russia to defeat neocolonialism.
These themes align with Russia’s broader false narrative that it is a champion against neocolonialization, when in reality it is engaged in neocolonialism and neo-imperialism in its war against Ukraine and its resource extraction in Africa.
There are coordinated efforts between Russian embassies in Latin America and state-funded media outlets to increase pro-Kremlin messaging, spread anti-U.S. narratives, and develop partnerships among Russian state media, local media outlets and radio stations, perceived pro-Moscow third-country embassies in the region, and local journalists.




United States Will Suspend the Operation of its Obligations Under The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
11/07/2023


United States Will Suspend the Operation of its Obligations Under The Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
11/07/2023 11:44 AM EST



Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

Earlier today, the North Atlantic Council issued a statement announcing the decision of NATO Allied States Parties to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) to suspend all of their obligations under the Treaty. The United States fully joins in and supports this decision. Our suspension of CFE obligations is consistent with our rights under international law, in response to a fundamental change of circumstances caused by the combination of Russia’s withdrawal from the CFE Treaty and its continuing full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, another CFE State Party, using the very forces the Treaty aims to constrain. The U.S. suspension will take effect on December 7. A number of our CFE partners that are not NATO Allies also support and intend to join us in suspending CFE Treaty obligations in response to Russia’s actions. Russia’s continued destabilizing behavior undermines the key arms control principles of reciprocity, transparency, compliance, and verification, which have for decades been the bedrock of the Euro-Atlantic security architecture.

Russia’s withdrawal is not expected to have any practical impact on its force posture, given Moscow’s failure to abide by its CFE Treaty obligations since 2007. However, its withdrawal signals a further effort by Moscow to undermine decades of progress made towards building transparency and cooperative approaches to security in Europe. Over the months since Russia announced its intent to withdraw from CFE, the United States and our NATO Allies have consulted closely to take into account the prevailing security environment and the security of all Allies. Russia made clear it had no intention of changing course. As such, we concluded that we should not continue to be bound by a treaty to which Russia is not bound. Suspension of CFE obligations will strengthen the Alliance’s deterrence and defense capacity by removing restrictions that impact planning, deployments, and exercises.

The United States and our NATO Allies remain committed to effective conventional arms control as a critical element of Euro-Atlantic security. We will continue to pursue measures with responsible partners that aim to bolster stability and security in Europe by reducing risk, preventing misperceptions, avoiding conflicts, and building trust.




United States Welcomes the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Artemis Accords
11/07/2023

United States Welcomes the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Artemis Accords
11/07/2023 07:34 PM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

On November 1, the Kingdom of the Netherlands became the 31st nation to sign the Artemis Accords. In a ceremony hosted by the Dutch Ambassador to the United States Birgitta Tazelaar, Netherlands Space Office (NSO) director Harm van de Wetering signed on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, Executive Secretary of the U.S. National Space Council Chirag Parikh attended the ceremony.

Jointly led by Department of State and NASA, the Artemis Accords were established in 2020 with eight nations participating. The Artemis Accords establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations. Signatories support the release of public scientific data and are discussing how best to mitigate or avoid harmful interference on the lunar surface.

For more information, please visit https://www.state.gov/artemis-accords/. For media inquiries, please contact OES-Press@state.gov.




G7 Japan 2023 Foreign Ministers’ Statement
11/08/2023
The text of the following statement was released by the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union.

Begin Text:

We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, are more united than ever in the pursuit of international peace, security, and prosperity. In this Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, we further enhance our cooperation to collectively respond to recent global and regional issues, building on our commitments by our leaders at the G7 Hiroshima Summit. We remain steadfast in upholding and strengthening the free and open international order based on the rule of law, respecting the United Nations (UN) Charter. We reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the peacefully established status of territories by force or coercion anywhere in the world. Such attempts undermine the rule of law, which protects all nations, especially the vulnerable, as well as global security and human dignity. We also commit to further building international solidarity beyond the G7 to advance global economic development and address broader global challenges, such as climate change, nuclear disarmament, economic resilience and economic security, and gender equality including the Women, Peace and Security agenda. We remain deeply concerned about foreign interference, information manipulation, and other hostile actions designed to undermine our democracies. We call on all countries to respect their obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We underscore the need to advance all of the Sustainable Development Goals to promote peace and prosperity for people and the planet, as reflected at the 2023 SDG Summit. We also take note of the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact. Our determination to meet our commitments on these issues is unwavering, and we will continue strengthening them towards the next year under the Italian Presidency.Situation in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank

We unequivocally condemn the terror attacks by Hamas and others across Israel that began on October 7, 2023, as well as ongoing missile attacks against Israel. We emphasize Israel’s right to defend itself and its people, in accordance with international law, as it seeks to prevent a recurrence. We call for the immediate release of all hostages without preconditions. We express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims of these attacks and their families, as well as all civilians, Palestinian, Israeli, and others, including our own citizens, who have died or been injured during this conflict. Israelis and Palestinians have an equal right to live in safety, dignity, and peace. We reject antisemitism and Islamophobia in any form in our own societies and anywhere in the world.

We stress the need for urgent action to address the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. All parties must allow unimpeded humanitarian support for civilians, including food, water, medical care, fuel, and shelter, and access for humanitarian workers. We support humanitarian pauses and corridors to facilitate urgently needed assistance, civilian movement, and the release of hostages. Foreign nationals must also be allowed to continue to depart. We underscore the importance of protecting civilians and compliance with international law, in particular international humanitarian law. Since October 7, the G7 members have pledged an additional $500 million for the Palestinian people, including through the UN agencies and other humanitarian actors. We urge countries around the world to join us in this effort. We welcome the November 9 international conference in Paris on humanitarian issues.

The rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians is unacceptable, undermines security in the West Bank, and threatens prospects for a lasting peace. The G7 members, along with partners in the region, are working intensively to prevent the conflict from escalating further and spreading more widely. We are also working together, including by imposing sanctions or other measures, to deny Hamas the ability to raise and use funds to carry out atrocities.

The G7 members are committed to working closely with partners to prepare sustainable long-term solutions for Gaza and a return to a broader peace process in line with the internationally agreed parameters. We underscore that a two-state solution, which envisions Israel and a viable Palestinian state living side by side in peace, security, and mutual recognition, remains the only path to a just, lasting, and secure peace.Russia’s War of Aggression against Ukraine

Our steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine’s fight for its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity will never waver. We continue to condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s ongoing aggression, and we commit to standing by Ukraine for as long as it takes, while increasing economic pressure and imposing robust sanctions and other restrictions against Russia. A just and lasting peace cannot be realized without the immediate, complete, and unconditional withdrawal of Russia’s troops and military equipment from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. We continue to support Ukraine in further developing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula. We are increasing our efforts to help Ukraine meet its winter preparedness needs, including by continuing to provide critical energy assistance.

Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and its announced deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus are unacceptable. Any use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons by Russia would be met with severe consequences. We deeply regret Russia’s decision to revoke its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. We strongly support the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) continued presence and unfettered access at all of Ukraine’s civil nuclear sites. We will reinforce our coordination on sanctions to restrict Russia’s access to critical goods and technology. We will take further action to prevent the evasion and circumvention of our measures against Russia. We reiterate our call for third parties to immediately cease providing material support to Russia’s aggression, or face severe costs. In order to reduce the revenues that Russian extracts from its exports, we will accelerate our consultation on energy, metals, and all non-industrial diamonds, including those mined, processed or produced in Russia.

Russia must cease its aggression and must bear the legal consequences of all its internationally wrongful acts, including compensation for the damage caused to Ukraine. We are united in our determination to ensure full accountability. In light of the urgency of disrupting Russia’s attempts to destroy the Ukrainian economy and Russia’s continued failure to abide by its international law obligations, we are exploring all possible avenues to aid Ukraine, consistent with our respective legal systems and international law. We reaffirm that, consistent with our respective legal systems, Russia’s sovereign assets in our jurisdictions will remain immobilized until Russia pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. We reiterate our commitment to holding those responsible to account consistent with international law, including by supporting the efforts of international mechanisms, such as the International Criminal Court.

We recommit to supporting Ukraine’s immediate, medium, and long-term recovery and reconstruction in the face of Russia’s efforts to inflict immense suffering on the people of Ukraine. We are also working to involve our private sectors in the sustainable economic recovery of Ukraine. We welcome and underscore the significance of Ukraine itself continuing to implement domestic reform efforts, especially in the fields of anti-corruption, justice system reform, decentralization, and promotion of the rule of law, in line with the European path that Ukraine has embraced together with other partners, including Moldova, Georgia, as well as countries in the Western Balkans. We will continue to support efforts of the Ukrainian government and people in these endeavors. We will each advance, in close coordination, our work with Ukraine on specific, bilateral, long-term security commitments and arrangements in line with the G7 Leaders’ Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, which now has 31 signatories.

We reaffirm our commitment to address the growing needs of vulnerable countries and populations impacted by Russia’s aggression. Russia’s weaponization of food has compounded economic vulnerabilities, exacerbated already dire humanitarian crises, and escalated global food insecurity and malnutrition worldwide. We deplore Russia’s systematic targeting of Ukrainian Black Sea Ports and civilian infrastructure and welcome steps by Ukraine to strengthen export routes free of Russian control. We continue to support fully the export of Ukrainian agriproducts, including through the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes, Danube ports, and its humanitarian maritime corridor. We reaffirm our aim to limit Russia’s energy revenues and future extractive capabilities, building on the measures we have taken so far. We continue to reduce our reliance on Russian energy, so that Russia is no longer able to weaponize its energy resources against us. We commit to working with nations around the world to enhance global food and energy security.Indo-Pacific and the Region

Together with regional partners, including ASEAN and its Member States, South Asian countries as well as the Pacific Island countries, we will continue our endeavors towards a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive, prosperous, secure, and based on the rule of law, and that protects shared principles. We reaffirm our unwavering support for ASEAN centrality and unity. We continue to promote cooperation in line with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and the Pacific Islands Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent respectively. We reiterate our commitment to support sustainable, inclusive, resilient and quality infrastructure in partner countries through the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.

We welcome Japan’s safe, transparent, and science-based process, including the continued monitoring of the situation, to responsibly manage the discharge of Advanced Liquid Processing System treated water in proactively coordinating with scientists and partners, particularly across the Indo-Pacific region, as well as with the IAEA. We acknowledge the reported monitoring results after each discharge to date, showing that the concentration of nuclides including tritium in sea water and marine products are far below internationally recognized standards.

We strongly condemn North Korea’s continuing build-up of its unlawful weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs. We reiterate our call for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and demand that North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and any other WMD and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner in accordance with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). We call on all UN Member States to fully and effectively implement all relevant UNSCRs and urge UNSC members to follow through on their commitments. In this context, we strongly condemn arms transfers from North Korea to Russia, which directly violate relevant UNSCRs. We urge Russia and North Korea to immediately cease all such activities. We deplore North Korea’s systematic human rights violations and its choice to prioritize its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs over the welfare of the people in North Korea. We also urge North Korea to resolve the abductions issue immediately.China

We stand prepared to build constructive and stable relations with China, recognizing the importance of engaging candidly and expressing our concerns directly to China. We act in our national interests. We acknowledge the need to work together with China on global challenges as well as areas of common interest, and call on China to engage with us on these issues. Our policy approaches are not designed to harm China nor do we seek to thwart China’s economic progress and development. We are not decoupling or turning inwards. At the same time, we recognize that economic resilience requires de-risking and diversifying. With a view to enabling sustainable economic relations with China, and strengthening the international trading system, we will continue to push for a level playing field for our workers and companies. We will seek to address the challenges posed by China’s non-market policies and practices, which distort the global economy. We will counter malign practices, such as illegitimate technology transfer or data disclosure. We will foster resilience to economic coercion. We also recognize the necessity of protecting certain advanced technologies that could be used to threaten our national security without unduly limiting trade and investment. We call on China to act as a responsible member of the international community. In this regard, we welcome China’s participation in the Ukraine-led peace process. We further call on China not to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine, to press Russia to stop its military aggression, and to support a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

We underscore that China has a responsibility to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in their entirety. We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas, strongly opposing any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. We reemphasize the universal and unified character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and reaffirm UNCLOS’s important role in setting out the legal framework that governs all activities in the oceans and the seas. We reiterate that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on July 12, 2016, is a significant milestone, which is legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings, and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties.

We reaffirm the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as indispensable to security and prosperity in the international community and call for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues. There is no change in the basic position of the G7 members on Taiwan, including stated one China policies. We reiterate our support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations, including in the World Health Assembly and WHO technical meetings. We also remain concerned about the human rights situation in China, including in Xinjiang and Tibet. We further call on China to uphold its commitments under the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, which enshrine rights and freedoms and a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong. We call on China to act in accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and not to conduct interference activities, aimed at undermining the security and safety of our communities, the integrity of our democratic institutions, and our economic prosperity.Central Asia and South Caucasus

We remain resolved to support the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Central Asian countries. We welcome the intensification of regional cooperation and people-to-people links, which can boost creation of more business opportunities and new innovations. We renew our determination to strengthen cooperation with Central Asian countries to address regional challenges, including the global consequences of Russia’s war of aggression, the destabilizing effect of the situation in Afghanistan, including the human rights violations by the Taliban, terrorism, water security, and climate change. Against the backdrop of growing geopolitical risk, the diversification and expansion of trade routes in Central Asian countries not only brings economic growth to the region, but also has potential to improve global supply chains, including energy security. In this regard, we recommit to fostering trade and energy links, sustainable connectivity and transportation, including the Middle Corridor, and associated projects to enhance regional resilience. We also recommit to supporting socio-economic and political reform efforts in Central Asian countries.

We are gravely concerned over the humanitarian consequences of the displacement of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh after the military operation conducted by Azerbaijan. We urge Azerbaijan to fully comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law and welcome international efforts to address urgent humanitarian needs for those who have been displaced. We underline our support for advancing a sustainable and lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on the principles of non-use of force, respect for sovereignty, the inviolability of borders, and territorial integrity.Iran

We call on Iran to refrain from providing support for Hamas and taking further actions that destabilize the Middle East, including support for Lebanese Hezbollah and other non-state actors, and to use its influence with those groups to de-escalate regional tensions.

We remain determined that Iran must never develop a nuclear weapon and reiterate that Iran must cease its unabated escalation of its nuclear program, which has no credible civilian justification and brings it dangerously close to actual weapon-related activities. We call on Iran to fulfill its legal obligations and political commitments regarding nuclear non-proliferation with prompt action, including the full and unconditional cooperation with the IAEA. We urge Iran to reverse the de-designations of the IAEA inspectors, which affects in a severe way the Agency’s ability to conduct effectively its inspections in Iran. A diplomatic solution remains the best way to resolve international concerns.

We express our grave concern regarding Iran’s other destabilizing activities, such as the development of ballistic missile programs, including under the guise of space launch vehicles, transfer of missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and related technologies to state and non-state actors, as well as training and funding of non-state actors. Iran must stop supporting Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of ensuring maritime security in the wider Gulf region’s waterways and call on Iran not to interfere with the lawful exercise of navigational rights and freedoms by all vessels.

We also express deep concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, including for women, girls, and minority groups, and condemn the targeting of individuals outside of Iran, including journalists and dissidents.Africa

We remain steadfast in our commitment to deepening partnerships with African countries and regional and continental organizations. We welcome the African Union (AU) as a permanent member of the G20 as reflected in the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration. We will continue to support stronger African representation in other international fora, including the UNSC. We welcome the role of the AU and Regional Economic Communities and Mechanisms in promoting Agenda 2063 and mediating disputes and conflict. We express our concern over the deteriorating political, security, and humanitarian situation in some parts of the continent. We reiterate our commitment to support the preservation of peace, stability, and good governance and to promote sustainable growth and development in the entirety of Africa. We will continue to support governments in the region to tackle the underlying conditions conducive to the spread of conflict, terrorism, violent extremism, instability, persecution, irregular migration, and human suffering. We call for parties to conflicts to respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law; for safe, unhindered access for humanitarian actors to reach those in need; and for those responsible for atrocities committed during armed conflict to be held to account.

We reiterate our support to the UN in their efforts to advance the Libyan political process in order to hold genuine, free, fair, and inclusive elections without further delays. We encourage Tunisia to implement reforms in order to enhance its economic and institutional stability.

End Text.




Under Secretary Zeya’s Travel to France, Egypt, and Spain
11/08/2023


Under Secretary Zeya’s Travel to France, Egypt, and Spain
11/08/2023 01:57 PM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya will travel to Paris, France; Cairo, Egypt; and Madrid, Spain from November 8-17, 2023. While in Paris on November 9, she will represent the United States at a French government-hosted international humanitarian conference to review the humanitarian response in Gaza and rally greater international support to meet urgent needs.

During her visit to Cairo, Under Secretary Zeya will be joined by Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues David Satterfield and Assistant to the Administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance Sarah Charles. While in Cairo, this delegation will underscore U.S. appreciation for Egypt’s leadership supporting the movement of lifesaving humanitarian aid through the Rafah crossing. Also, they will meet with Egyptian officials, United Nations agencies representatives, and other humanitarian actors to discuss ongoing partnership in facilitating rapid and sustained assistance flow into Gaza.

Lastly, Under Secretary Zeya will attend the Spanish government-hosted European Migration Network (EMN) National Conference in Madrid, where she will speak on a panel focused on complementary labor pathways for people in need of international protection. Additionally, she will meet with officials from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Agency for International Cooperation and Development.

For further updates, follow @UnderSecStateJ.




The United States Applauds Germany’s Ban on Hamas Activities
11/08/2023


The United States Applauds Germany’s Ban on Hamas Activities
11/08/2023 04:34 PM EST


HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases…The United States Applauds Germany’s Ban on Hamas Activities
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The United States Applauds Germany’s Ban on Hamas Activities


Press Statement





November 8, 2023



The United States welcomes Germany’s decision to ban activities supporting Hamas, which builds on the EU’s designation to fully restrict and criminalize support of the terrorist group.


As the world witnessed on October 7, Hamas is a dangerous terrorist organization, which engages in barbaric actions and has compounded and perpetuated the suffering of the Palestinian people at every step of this crisis. We urge other governments around the world to take action under their own authorities to hold Hamas accountable as it seeks to sustain its terrorist activities.


We will continue to work with allies and partners around the world to counter Hamas and other deadly terrorist organizations. Palestinians are not to blame and should not continue to suffer for Hamas’ horrific terrorist attacks. Hamas does not represent the aspirations of the Palestinian people, who deserve to live in safety, dignity, and peace.



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Bureau of Counterterrorism Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Countering Terrorism Germany Israel-Hamas Conflict Office of the Spokesperson


United States Ambassador-at-Large Cindy Dyer’s Travel to the United Kingdom
11/08/2023


United States Ambassador-at-Large Cindy Dyer’s Travel to the United Kingdom
11/08/2023 08:34 PM EST



Office of the Spokesperson


U.S. Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Ambassador Dyer will travel to London on November 8-9 to discuss the United Kingdom’s anti-trafficking efforts with a wide range of government and civil society stakeholders.


During her visit, she will address the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report, noting the UK’s positive anti-trafficking efforts and underscoring remaining gaps. She will meet with government officials, including those from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Modern Slavery Team; All-Party Parliamentary Group on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery; Members of Parliament; the Home Office; Crown Prosecution Service; National Crime Agency; the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner; and others. Ambassador Dyer will also meet with anti-trafficking civil society organizations, including first responder organizations and core service providers.


Learn more about the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons or follow the office on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Read Understanding Human Trafficking to learn more about trafficking in persons.


For additional information, contact the Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at TIPOutreach@state.gov.



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Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Human Trafficking Office of the Spokesperson Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Official International Travel United Kingdom


Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Park Jin At a Joint Press Availability
11/09/2023


Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Park Jin At a Joint Press Availability
11/09/2023 07:48 AM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Seoul, Republic of Korea

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We will now begin a joint press availability from Minister Park and Secretary Blinken. Opening statements will be made by the minister first, to be followed by the Secretary.

FOREIGN MINISTER PARK: (Via interpreter) Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Park Jin, foreign minister of the Republic of Korea. We have with us today a good old friend of Korea, Secretary Blinken. I especially welcome you to Korea once again.

Since the launch of the Yoon administration, this is the first visit made by the state secretary –Secretary of the U.S. Secretary Blinken’s visit to Korea has made our celebration of the 70th anniversary all the more meaningful.

The more insecure the global landscape, the more robust the ROK-U.S. alliance grows. On top of the war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas armed conflict is further aggravating the global polycrisis.

At today’s meeting, Secretary Blinken and I agreed that especially at times like these, the ROK-U.S. alliance as a global, comprehensive, strategic alliance must grow even stronger. That was our shared understanding, and we discussed concrete avenues for working together.

Firstly, upon this year’s 70th anniversary of the alliance, a future vision was formulated based on which we agreed to continue driving a solid advancement of our alliance. Freedom, rule of law, and human rights – guided by these core values, and with a view to safeguarding and promoting the rules-based international order, both our nations are determined to make continued, concerted endeavors. Our two leaders have built a trust and bond that will undergird vigorous exchanges that will continue next year.

Moreover, (inaudible) the State Department concurred that the field of information collection and analysis presented immense potential for collaboration and agreed to pursue a partnership on that front.

The ROK-U.S. alliance is an alliance toward the future, extending beyond military security to also address economic security, AI, quantum technology, space, and other frontier technologies, as well as culture and people-to-people exchange. We will strive to expand the breadth of our cooperation.

The ROK-U.S. alliance will bring future generations even greater prosperity and opportunities.

Secondly, the ROK and the United States, while maintaining their steadfast and combined defense posture, pledged to continuously ramp up their extended deterrence execution capabilities. The Washington Declaration that our two leaders agreed on is being faithfully implemented, to which we appreciated. Last July, the ROK-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group was launched, and in September the ROK-U.S. EDSCG vice minister-level meeting was held in Korea for the first time.

Moreover, in some 40 years, a U.S. SSBN made a port call in Korea, and a U.S. strategic bomber landed in Korea for the first time, among others, increasing regular visibility of U.S. strategic assets. This sends a strong message of the ROK-U.S. alliance that any threats posed by the DPRK will be countered resolutely.

To enhance extended deterrence execution capabilities going forward as well, our two nations will continue their close coordination. Furthermore, we strongly urge the DPRK to immediately halt all its provocations, including the scheduled launch of its so-called satellites. To deter the DPRK’s nuclear and missile development, the ROK and the U.S. remain committed to making relevant endeavors. The international community will never recognize North Korea as a nuclear (inaudible). In partnership with the community of nations, North Korea’s illegal revenue streams will be more proactively blocked.

Military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK is a flagrant violation of the UNSC resolutions, as well as a serious threat to the entire world. In recent weeks, the top diplomats of Korea, the U.S., and Japan condemned weapons dealings between Russia and North Korea by issuing a joint statement demonstrating their firm resolve to respond. At the same time nonetheless the door to dialogue remains open, North Korea is strongly urged to cease its nuclear threats and provocations and return to a path towards denuclearization.

The international community, including the ROK and the U.S., are deeply worried about the forced repatriation of North Korean refugees. To help improve human rights conditions in North Korea, we will further strengthen our international cooperation.

Thirdly, our two nations pledged to address global pending issues beyond the Korean Peninsula by working more closely together. Above all, with regard to the Middle East situation, we strongly condemn the indiscriminate attacks on Israel. The armed conflict between Israel and Hamas is causing a sharp rise in civilian casualties, about which we express our deep concern. And the parties concerned are called upon to comply with international humanitarian laws and take steps to protect civilians. In addition, we hope that all hostages – including American citizens – will soon be reunited with their families.

To stabilize the Middle East situation and – we reaffirmed that a humanitarian pause is necessary. To restabilize the Middle East situation and resolve the humanitarian crisis, Secretary Blinken has engaged in proactive diplomacy, which I hold in high regard.

But to ensure humanitarian assistance will reach Gaza Strip without difficulty, we will collaborate with the international community. To tackle the Israel-Palestinian problem at its roots, guided by a two-state solution, we’ll work closely with the international community.

Both sides reaffirmed that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine was a blatant violation of the UN Charter and international laws. Towards ending the war and restoring peace in Ukraine, Korea and the U.S. resolved to continue their closely coordinated endeavors. Through consistent communication with China, the U.S. has been working to responsibly manage its relations with the country, an endeavor I strongly support. For us, based on mutual respect, we will endeavor to develop healthy, mature Korea-China relations. This was explained to the U.S. side.

Next year, Korea will begin its non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council, where our two nations will be well poised to work in close partnership. I asked once again for the U.S. support for Busan’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo.

Fourth, the Republic of Korea and the U.S. are committed to pursuing economic security by further intensifying their collaboration. Both our nations are in economic security and (inaudible) technology, optimal partners for each other, and with this mutual understanding we agreed to scale up support for our respective businesses.

Recently released, a final report on implementation of the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act guardrails has resolved uncertainties raised by Korean companies to a substantial extent, which we noted with appreciation.

And so our two nations have jointly hosted the first bilateral space forum with success just two days ago. Our two nations’ space cooperation is set in full motion, to our great satisfaction. Going forward, collaboration in the space sector will be further extended through our joint efforts.

To formulate standards and norms on the use of AI in the military field, our two nations will continue closely working together. To this end, Korea decided to join the U.S. Government initiative of the Political Declaration on the Responsible Military Use of AI and Autonomy. Next year, Korea will host the Summit on the Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain, and to ensure its success, we will work as close partners.

Additionally, recognizing the immense potential for collaboration in the nuclear power sector, including SMRs and advanced reactor types, our two sides agreed to pursue joint endeavors in this sector.

Lastly but not least, building on the Camp David summit, we’re determined to continue reinforcing ROK-U.S.-Japan partnership. Camp David ushered in a new era for our trilateral cooperation. As countries of shared core values and interests, it is desirable for Korea, the U.S., and Japan to strive together towards peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond. By faithfully implementing the agreements reached among the three leaders, we will steadily accumulate tangible achievements that the citizens of the three countries can experience. At a mutually convenient time, the foreign ministers of the three countries plan to meet again to have in-depth discussions on trilateral cooperation between Korea, the U.S., and Japan.

During today’s meetings, Secretary Blinken and I were once again able to reaffirm that the Republic of Korea and the United States are stronger together. Just as it has over the past 70 years, our journey together will continue into the future. Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Foreign Minister Park, my friend Jin, thank you. Thank you for the very great meetings today. Thank you for the collaboration that we have almost every day on so many issues of mutual concern.

I’m very glad to be returning to the Republic of Korea at a time of such incredible dynamism and importance for the relationship between our two countries. Over the last 70 years, that relationship has grown from a key security alliance into a vital global partnership. On nearly eveyr issue of consequence to our people, the United States and Korea are working closely together.

And that’s not an accident. It’s a reflection of our commitment to this relationship and to this region. Even as we engage intensively on the crisis in the Middle East, the United States remains clear-eyed and focused on advancing our interests, our values, and our vision of a free and open, prosperous, secure, and resilient region in the Indo-Pacific.

The week before this trip, President Biden welcomed Australian Prime Minister Albanese to Washington for a state visit, and we hosted PRC Director Wang Yi for consultations over two days. Yesterday, I was in Japan, I’m here in Korea today, tomorrow I’ll be in India and I’ll have a chance to meet with our partners there as well. Next week, we will host the APEC Summit in San Francisco. And throughout the course of the day here in Seoul, we had very productive meetings with the National Security Advisor Cho, with my good friend Park Jin, and with President Yoon. And I’m really grateful to President Yoon for his very warm hospitality and the very interesting and important discussion we had today.

Minister Park and I spoke about our countries’ unified approach in the face of the DPRK’s provocative actions and missile launches. We discussed steps we can take to deliver on pledges made in the Washington Declaration, including through the U.S.-ROK Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultative Group, and our new Nuclear Consultative Group.

We also spoke about how, working with Japan, we can continue to operationalize the agreements that were reached at Camp David – agreements that strengthen our trilateral cooperation. Already, our three countries are taking steps to improve our joint response through real-time sharing of DPRK missile warning data, trilateral defense exercises, and efforts to counter the DPRK’s malicious cyber activities.

We share profound concerns about the DPRK’s growing and dangerous military cooperation with Russia. The United States appreciates the clear message that President Yoon delivered at the UN General Assembly about the risks of that collaboration.

Today, Minister Park and I spoke about further actions that our countries can take with partners to intensify pressure on Moscow not to transfer military technology to the DPRK, in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. The Security Council will be a critical forum for these efforts, and we support Korea’s clear vision for its upcoming term, including its focus on enforcing DPRK sanctions.

The United States deeply values our robust and growing economic partnership, which benefits people in the United States and Korea alike. Just over the last two-and-a-half years, Korean companies have announced more than $110 billion in new investments in the United States. These investments will create more than 70,000 new jobs in our countries and strengthen our supply chains in critical industries. At the same time, the United States is now the second largest investor in Korea.

We’re also working closely together to reduce economic dependencies, including through our Minerals Security Partnership, in concert with nearly a dozen other countries and the European Union.

This economic partnership is helping us drive a shared affirmative economic vision across the region. We’re doing that as members of the Indo-Pacific Framework for Economic Prosperity and APEC, as leaders on development initiatives from the Mekong subregion to the Pacific Islands, and as partners in efforts to reform multilateral development banks so that they better serve people in developing countries.

This is all a part of our effort to make a stronger, better offer to countries in the region and developing countries around the world. That means delivering on the issues that matter in their lives, from high-quality infrastructure, to inclusive economic growth, to climate resilience and adaptation solutions.

And next week, when President Biden convenes partners in San Francisco next week for APEC, we look forward to taking further steps together and with our partners to create a strong, resilient future for all.

Minister Park and I also spoke about our work to address challenges to peace and stability in the region as well as around the world. We discussed our mutual recent conversations with Director Wang Yi, and the strategic convergence that our countries have in our shared approach to China, including with regard to the South and East China Seas and the Taiwan Strait.

Korea continues to support Ukraine’s brave efforts to defend its people, to defend its land, to defend its democracy against Russian aggression. President Putin’s war against Ukraine has been a strategic failure by virtually every measure – including by bringing partners in this region closer together with partners around the world. Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand are now regular and active participants in NATO meetings. As President Yoon has said, European and Indo-Pacific security are now truly indivisible.

In the Middle East, the United States appreciates Korea’s leadership in condemning Hamas’s terrorist attacks and in swiftly sending humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians. Today, I had a chance to update Minister Park on my travels throughout the region, and we discussed how we can better address urgent needs on the ground and set the conditions for durable peace and security.

Our two countries share an extraordinarily ambitious vision for the next generation of our partnership. And we’ve done so much work over the past year to lay the foundation for that. We’ve made great strides, realizing a common vision that we have. Today has been an important opportunity to continue that work with my friend, Jin.

Thank you.

MODERATOR: (Via interpeter) Thank you very much. Next we will have a Q&A session. Due to time constraints, we will take questions from two journalists from each side. First, let me start with a Korean journalist. Anyone with a question? From Chosun Ilob, Eun Jung.

QUESTION: Hi, my name is Eun Jung Kim, from Chosun Daily. Welcome to Seoul. Secretary, I have two short questions for you. I know you started your career as a journalist and I always admired how you stressed about the freedom of press oftentimes, so I was wondering, can you elaborate on how two countries can cooperate together dealing with fake news and disinformation, which is a serious problem in both countries?

And my second question is I know that you are a famous guitarist. (Laughter.) Minister Park is also a very talented singer, so I was wondering: Will there be any alliance ceremonial collaborative performance happening in the near future? Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. Well, on the second question first, I care too much about the relationship between our countries and the citizens in each of our countries to inflict myself in any way on them through music. And I’ll let Jin decide for himself. But thank you. No, we actually have a – because of our mutual apprecation for music, a thread that I think runs through both our lives, it’s also a wonderful part of our own relationship, getting a chance to talk about that.

But on disinformation, look, this is a problem that we’ve been dealing with for some time in the United States. We have malign foreign actors who try to interfere in one way or another in our democracies by spreading misinformation. This is something that we discussed at Camp David, and the three presidents committed to working together to try to combat disinformation. We discussed that today, and we are looking at ways to share information about ways that we can effectively identify and deal with disinformation, foreign disinformation.

So this is a commitment that we’ve made on a trilateral basis. It’s also something we’re doing between us on a bilateral basis, and it’s something that the State Department will be following up on with the ministry in the weeks ahead. Thank you.

FOREIGN MINISTER PARK: (Via interpreter) Regarding fake news and disinformation, you posed a question. Foreign disinformation as a matter of fact can undermine trust in the government and the foundations of democracy, and as such, it is emerging as a new security threat. Various cutting-edge technologies are making headway and SNS is also moving forward, and as a result of that, this new transnational security threat is being posed. And to effectively counter them, the international community’s joint efforts is essential. Based on this understanding, our two countries will discuss the sharing of relevant information and various other avenues of full cooperation going forward. At the last August Camp David summit, when there was the summit of the two leaders regarding foreign disinformation, we decided to address how to work together to address the foreign disinformation matter together.

You talked about guitar playing last April, as a matter of fact, when President Yoon made a state visit to the U.S. At the White House dinner the president sang “American Pie,” which has created quite a sensation among the American public. Secretary Blinken, as a matter of fact, presented an LP version of “American Pie” to the president himself. I know that he’s a well-known guitarist; it is well known in Seoul as well. This is a good example of the public diplomacy through music. I love music myself; I play guitar myself, and in celebration of the Secretary of State’s visit to Korea, the 70th anniversary alliance logo was placed upon guitar straps that I prepared as a gift for him. And I bought the same thing for myself, and at some point in the future, maybe, with the Secretary, I would love to have an opportunity to play together for harmony of the alliance.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Maybe the two of us can be the opening act for President Yoon one day. (Laughter.)

MR MILLER: The first question on the U.S. side goes to Nike Ching with Voice of America.

QUESTION: Good afternoon. Good afternoon, Mr. Foreign Minister. Weapons from North Korea were allegedly used by Hamas in its attack on Israel on October 7th. Is there proof of direct cooperation between North Korea and Hamas? If so, should we expect South Korean Government to impose sanctions on North Korean entities and individuals that directly provide Hamas with weapons?

To Secretary Blinken, what does the U.S. believe North Korea is getting in return regarding alleged North Korea weapons shipments to Russia? And separately, if I may, what’s your position on threats from President Yoon’s administration to cancel the inter-Korea military agreement? Can a unilateral cancellation lead to misunderstandings and miscalculation?

And to both of you, if I may: Sanctions have not worked to deter North Korea from military provocation. What leverage do you have left? Thank you.

FOREIGN MINISTER PARK: (Via interpreter) Regarding the Israeli-Hamas armed conflict, you posed a question regarding potential North Korean involvement. As you must well understand, both our nations believe that the attacks against civilians and kidnapping them is an act of terrorism. And this is something that we strongly condemn. And at the moment, hostages that are being held should be released without any conditions. That is our shared position.

As this armed conflict becomes aggravated, more than 10,000 people have lost their lives, and we share deep concerns about this situation. Protection of civilians is also important and relevant to humanitarian; international laws should be observed, in our view.

Regarding the relations between North Korea and Hamas, this is something that we are closely watching ourselves. Heavy weapons that are being used by Hamas, or the doctrine that’s being adopted by Hamas, or the military tactics – all of these aspects are something that we are keeping a close eye on. And if any relationship between them is revealed, then North Korea should be condemned accordingly. This crisis that is unfolding in the Middle East is related potentially to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and that is a perspective that we’re having and are watching the Middle East situation.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Nike, with regard to DPRK-Russia cooperation, this is a matter of deep concern for both of us as well as for other countries around the world, and we’re seeing a two-way street. We’re seeing the DPRK provide military equipment to Russia for pursuing its aggression against Ukraine, but we’re also seeing Russia provide technology and support to the DPRK for its own military programs. And that’s a real concern for the security of the Korean Peninsula, it’s a real concern for global nonproliferation regimes, it’s a real concern for the Russian aggression in Ukraine, and a real concern for its violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.

So we will keep working with the Republic of Korea, with other interested countries, to identify, to expose, and to counter Russia’s attempts to acquire military equipment from the DPRK and any state that is prepared to support its war against Ukraine. And similarly, we’re looking very hard at the support that Russia is providing to the DPRK. Our own commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea is ironclad, and we’re only reinforced in that commitment when we see these kinds of dangerous actions taking place. So this is something we’re very focused on. And as mentioned, when Korea is on the Security Council next year along with the United States, along with Japan, that will be another opportunity to focus on these concerns.

With regard to the inter-Korean military agreement, this is obviously an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the DPRK, but it’s something that’s come up in discussions here today. We’re having consultations on it, and Secretary of Defense Austin will be in Korea this weekend, and I know that he’ll pursue those conversations.

MODERATOR: (Via interpreter) Again, our next question from a Korean journalist, Shin Su-ah from MBC.

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am Shin Su-ah from MBC. My question goes to both the Secretary and minister. If the U.S.-China summit meeting is convened the next week, then do you believe that China needs to play a certain role to address North Korean nuclear issues? And how do you plan to induce China’s role-playing? Secretary Blinken visited Korea in more than two years, and can you please explain in detail about your plan to induce China’s constructive role?

FOREIGN MINISTER PARK: (Via interpreter) As you must be well aware, the Korean Government has been pursuing close coordination with the U.S. regarding the North Korean nuclear issue. We have been urging China to play constructive roles. North Korea is developing nuclear weapons and missiles and engaging in provocations, and this is something that is not helpful to China. That’s the message that we have been sending to them. China is a permanent member of the UN Security Council at the moment; as such, they need to briefly implement sanctions against the DPRK and to help North Korea, to persuade North Korea, to cease provocations and return to a dialogue. We are urging them to play that role.

The U.S. side, as far as I understand, Secretary Blinken has met with Director Wang Yi, his counterpart from China, for – and they had a conversation. And on those occasions of high-level exchanges, given China’s special influence over the DPRK, I understand that they have been calling on China to play a constructive part. Both Korea and the U.S. will be serving on the UN Security Council together next year. As such, regarding the North Korean nuclear issues, China’s constructive role-playing should be induced by us working together next year.

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) Mr. Park, my question was related to China’s role regarding the growing closeness of – between the DPRK and Russia, as opposed to the relationship with China.




United States Launches Project Phoenix to Accelerate the Adoption of Advanced Clean Energy Technologies in Europe
11/09/2023

United States Launches Project Phoenix to Accelerate the Adoption of Advanced Clean Energy Technologies in Europe
11/09/2023 08:20 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

Today, the U.S. Department of State and the Slovak Ministry of Economy will co-host the inaugural Project Phoenix Workshop and Launch Event in Bratislava. The launch event includes participants from more than 15 countries in the Europe and Eurasia region and initiates cooperation among the United States and the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia on feasibility studies to explore conversion of coal plants to safe and secure new nuclear energy. Project Phoenix is a demonstration of the U.S. commitment to support partner countries in meeting their energy security and climate goals while maintaining the global nonproliferation regime.

U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry announced Project Phoenix at the UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt (COP27) and highlighted the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia as the first three competitively selected awardees at the Three Seas Initiative Summit in Bucharest. Project Phoenix’s feasibility studies and technical assistance seek to accelerate the global clean energy transition away from fossil fuels, promote partnerships for the deployment of advanced clean energy solutions, and implement the highest standards of safety and security, while also prioritizing retraining and retaining local jobs.

In many cases, small modular reactors are ideally suited for coal plant conversions as they provide 24/7 baseload energy, can be scaled as needed to meet energy needs, and require relatively little land area, which allows them to be built on existing sites. SMRs can be used for clean power generation, district heating, hydrogen production, industrial applications, and water desalination in water stressed regions. Project Phoenix is implemented under the U.S. Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology—FIRST—capacity building program that supports the establishment of advanced nuclear power programs under the highest standards of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation.




United States Welcomes the Republic of Bulgaria to the Artemis Accords
11/09/2023

United States Welcomes the Republic of Bulgaria to the Artemis Accords
11/09/2023 02:35 PM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

The Republic of Bulgaria became the 32nd nation to sign the Artemis Accords at a ceremony hosted by NASA on Thursday. Minister of Innovation and Growth Milena Stoycheva signed the Accords on behalf of the Republic of Bulgaria. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Sonata Coulter welcomed Bulgaria to the Accords. Bulgarian Ambassador to the United States Georgi Panayotov spoke about the partnership between the United States and Bulgaria.

Jointly led by Department of State and NASA, the Artemis Accords were established in 2020 with eight nations participating. The Artemis Accords set out a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations. Bulgaria joins Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States in affirming the principles of the Accords for peaceful and sustainable civil space activity.

This year, the United States and the Republic of Bulgaria celebrate 120 years of diplomatic relations. With this signing, the Republic of Bulgaria looks to the next 120 years and demonstrates its commitment, alongside the other Artemis Accords signatories, to safe and sustainable international cooperation in outer space.

For more information, please visit https://www.state.gov/artemis-accords/. For media inquiries, please contact OES-Press@state.gov.


Assistant Secretary of State Lee Satterfield Travels to France
11/09/2023


Assistant Secretary of State Lee Satterfield Travels to France
11/09/2023 05:32 PM EST


HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases…Assistant Secretary of State Lee Satterfield Travels to France
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Assistant Secretary of State Lee Satterfield Travels to France


Media Note





November 9, 2023



From November 13-17, 2023, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield will travel to Paris, France to join the United States’ delegation to the UNESCO General Conference. Assistant Secretary Satterfield’s participation in the UNESCO General Conference augments Assistant Secretary Michelle Sison’s travel as head of delegation, as the United States continues the process of rejoining UNESCO and underscores the United States’ commitment to protecting and preserving cultural heritage, promoting more equitable access to education, and supporting the sciences through robust international engagement. Click here to learn more.


In addition to the UNESCO General Conference, Assistant Secretary Satterfield will engage key stakeholders and partners in education, sports, and exchange alumni participants. While in Paris, Assistant Secretary Satterfield will deliver remarks to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Fulbright Program in France and will participate in meetings with the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee to highlight the United States’ elevated commitment to use sports as a diplomatic tool in the lead up to both the 2024 Summer Olympic Games and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games, which will be held in Los Angeles. The Assistant Secretary’s trip emphasizes the United States’ strategic engagement in people-to-people diplomacy, which goes beyond the confines of government to meet people where they are to promote peace and democracy, as well as support broader U.S. foreign policy goals to expand access to education, economic equity, and societal opportunity and inclusion.


For further information, contact ECA-Press@state.gov.



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Assistant Secretary O’Brien’s Travel to France and Belgium
11/09/2023


Assistant Secretary O’Brien’s Travel to France and Belgium
11/09/2023 05:37 PM EST


HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases…Assistant Secretary O’Brien’s Travel to France and Belgium
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Assistant Secretary O’Brien’s Travel to France and Belgium

Media Note

November 9, 2023
Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs James C. O’Brien will travel to Paris, France and Brussels, Belgium November 9-14, 2023.


While in Paris, he will attend the Paris Peace Forum and meet French Political Director Frederic Mondoloni and other French officials to discuss regional and global challenges. Assistant Secretary O’Brien will also meet European leaders, including Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan, Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Montenegrin President Milatovic, and North Macedonia Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski to discuss regional and bilateral issues.


In Brussels, Assistant Secretary O’Brien will meet Belgian Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister Peter Moors to discuss holding Russia to account for its unprovoked and brutal war against Ukraine. He will also meet EU and NATO officials.

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Joint Statement on the Fifth Annual India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue
11/10/2023


Joint Statement on the Fifth Annual India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue
11/10/2023 08:41 AM EST



Office of the Spokesperson

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and India on the occasion of the Fifth Annual U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in 2023.

Begin text:

Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar welcomed Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III for the fifth U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi.

The Ministers noted the substantial progress in transforming U.S.-India relations across domains, based on trust and mutual understanding. Building upon the June 2023 and September 2023 visits of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President Joseph Biden, the Ministers reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership in ensuring international peace and security. The Ministers also underlined their strong commitment to safeguarding a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific through mechanisms like the Quad.

As natural and trusted partners with a shared commitment to advance democracy, human rights, and pluralism, and growing convergence of strategic interests, the United States and India reaffirmed their resolve to promote a resilient, rules-based international order with respect for international law, including the UN Charter, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to ensure peace and prosperity for all.

The Ministers discussed developments in the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, Ukraine among other regions. The ministers expressed mutual deep concern over the war in Ukraine and its tragic humanitarian consequences. They again underscored the growing impacts of this war on the global economic system and food security, with consequences predominantly affecting the global South. Both countries further pledged to continue humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine and concurred on the need for post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine.

Noting horrific terrorist attacks against Israel, the Ministers reiterated that the United States and India stand with Israel against terrorism and called for adherence to international humanitarian law, including with regard to the protection of civilians. They called for the immediate release of all remaining hostages. The Ministers committed to continue coordinating with partners in the region on humanitarian assistance to meet the urgent needs of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. They expressed support for humanitarian pauses and committed to continue close diplomatic coordination, including with key partners in the region, to prevent the conflict from spreading, preserve stability in the Middle East, and work toward a political solution and durable peace.

Strengthening the Major Defense Partnership

The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen the multifaceted defense partnership through wide-ranging dialogues and military exercises of increasing complexity and sophistication, accelerated joint projects initiated under the June 2023 Roadmap for U.S.-India Defense Industrial Cooperation and expanded collaboration in emerging domains, such as space and artificial intelligence. They expressed satisfaction with the pace of cooperation in Maritime Domain Awareness and looked forward to identifying pathways to promote stronger service-to-service ties and share technologies to address an array of maritime challenges, including in the undersea domain.

The Ministers reaffirmed the Roadmap for Defense Industrial Cooperation as a catalyst for strengthening India’s capabilities, enhancing its indigenous defense production, facilitating technology-sharing, and promoting supply chain resilience.

The Ministers accordingly appreciated the commencement of negotiations for a commercial agreement between General Electric (GE) Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to manufacture GE F-414 jet engines in India. Such partnerships exemplify the type of defense industrial cooperation that the two countries look forward to pursuing as an enduring pillar of the defense partnership. Looking ahead, the Ministers welcomed the progress achieved towards co-production and co-development of defense systems, noting their mutual interest to co-develop and co-produce ground mobility systems as they bring the two countries’ respective defense sectors closer together while enhancing Indian capabilities. They look forward to additional proposals from Indian and U.S. companies to develop and produce systems in the priority areas established in the Roadmap.

Both sides recommitted to spurring investment in India’s growing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector, which encompasses aircraft maintenance and mid-voyage repair of U.S. naval vessels. They welcomed commitments from the U.S. industry to further increase India’s MRO capabilities, including for the repair of aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Ministers also pledged to implement commitments by President Biden and Prime Minister Modi to undertake regular efforts to address export control issues while expanding defense industrial cooperation and supporting India’s goals of emerging as a global defense hub. Both sides look forward to further discussions about export control and technology transfers in the Strategic Trade Dialogue and its affiliated working groups.

The Ministers looked forward to the finalization of a Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA), a key priority in the Roadmap, which will further integrate the defense industrial ecosystems of both countries while strengthening supply chain resilience.

The Ministers commended the breadth of partnerships under the U.S.-India Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) since the initiative was launched in June 2023. The Ministers specifically welcomed the Investors Strategy Session convened in New Delhi on November 8, 2023. The event provided an opportunity for private investors to mobilize capital for funding innovation in cutting-edge technology to address critical security needs. The Ministers further welcomed the launch of the INDUS-X Gurukul Education series to enable startups to leverage opportunities in the defense ecosystems of the United States and India. The Ministers also took note of the recent launch of the INDUS-X joint challenges initiative, which will unleash the talent and innovative drive of commercial sectors in both countries to strengthen the respective defense industry ecosystems.

The Ministers lauded continuing advances in interoperability, noting that the United States and India are setting up new liaison positions to facilitate seamless communication and cooperation between their armed forces. The Ministers welcomed India’s full membership of the multinational Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), headquartered in Bahrain.

The Ministers also welcomed further discussions to maximize the shared benefits of the Logistics and Exchange Memorandum Agreement (LEMOA), and identify reciprocal steps both countries can take to enhance the reach of their respective militaries.

Bolstering Counter-terrorism and Law Enforcement Cooperation

The Ministers unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism, and the use of terrorist proxies and logistical, financial or military support to terrorist organizations, which could be used to launch or plan terrorist attacks, including international attacks. The United States and India reiterated their condemnation of the 26/11 Mumbai attack and the Pathankot attack and called for bringing the perpetrators of these attacks to justice. The Ministers also called for concerted action against all terrorists, including through designations of individuals affiliated with groups that are listed by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee, such as Al-Qa’ida, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammed. The Ministers emphasized the importance of upholding international standards on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, consistent with Financial Action Task Force Recommendations. Both countries reiterated their commitment to work together in FATF and other multilateral platforms. They expressed determination to counter new and emerging forms of terrorism and violent extremism and the use of emerging and evolving technologies such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and the internet for terrorist purposes.

The Ministers decided to convene the 20th Meeting of the U.S.-India Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism and the 5th Designations Dialogue at a mutually convenient date early next year. Both sides are looking forward to the next edition of the Homeland Security Dialogue in 2024, where leaders will advance security cooperation, through capacity building and other activities.

The Ministers welcomed the upcoming meeting of the bilateral Cyber Dialogue, expressed their concern about ransomware and other cyber-related crimes, and recognized the need to bolster protection of critical networks and information infrastructure.

Building Science and Technology Partnerships

The Ministers welcomed the rapid progress made under the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) to build science and technology and critical technology value chain collaborations in both the commercial and defense sectors and look forward to the second iteration of iCET in New Delhi in early 2024. They applauded many breakthrough advances in the U.S.-India technology partnership, including major U.S. private sector investments in India’s semiconductor ecosystem since the launch of iCET this year. They called on the respective governments, academic, research, and corporate sectors to continue to proactively build these strategic partnerships in emerging technologies like quantum, telecom, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors to accelerate global innovation and benefit the economies of both countries. They welcomed the early meeting of the Strategic Trade Dialogue Monitoring Mechanism.

The Ministers applauded the recent developments in further strengthening space collaborations by establishing a fifth sub-working group, under the U.S.-India Civil Space Joint Working Group, to focus on ‘Space Commerce’ and hailed a partnership-building event early next year. They also welcomed adding ‘Planetary Defense’ as a topic under the U.S.-India Civil Space Joint Working Group led by NASA and ISRO, and India joining the multilateral Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG) and International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) by the end of the year.

The Ministers appreciated the recently held Mineral Security Partnership Principals’ Meeting in London which aimed to catalyze public and private sector investment to build diverse, secure and responsible global critical mineral supply chains. Reaffirming U.S. support for the mission of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Secretary Blinken pledged to continue working with the Government of India, IEA members, the IEA Secretariat, and other relevant stakeholders toward IEA membership for India in accordance with provisions of the Agreement on an International Energy Program.

The Ministers welcomed further strengthening of U.S.-India Science & Technology cooperation under the 2019 bilateral Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation and looked forward to a Joint Committee Meeting on Science and Technology in 2024.

The Ministers noted the growing partnerships amongst education and research institutions on both sides propelled by the Joint Task Force led by the Association of American Universities and the IIT Council of India to advance collaborations in the fields of sustainable energy and agriculture, health and pandemic preparedness, semiconductor technology and manufacturing, advanced materials, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, quantum science and critical and emerging technologies.

Expanding Health and Trade Dialogues

The Ministers praised the recent fifth U.S.-India Health Dialogue, which was held on October 11-13, 2023, in Washington, D.C. The two sides identified several areas for future cooperation, including multilateral cooperation, pandemic preparedness and response, health safety and security, universal health coverage, access, equity, and communicable and non-communicable diseases for future cooperation. The Ministers celebrated concrete steps taken to kickstart cooperation under the Cancer Moonshot program.

The Ministers applauded the growing trade and commercial partnership and noted that in 2023, bilateral trade has the potential to cross US$ 200 billion despite a challenging global trade environment. They appreciated the reinvigorated work of the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF) and the use of that mechanism to resolve long-standing trade concerns during 2023 and announcement of “Innovation Handshake” under the Commercial Dialogue to enhance their dynamic start-up ecosystems as well as promote innovation and post-pandemic economic recovery and job growth, particularly in critical and emerging technologies (CET). The Ministers looked forward to convening of next ministerial TPF and Commercial Dialogue meeting early next year. They also welcomed the steady progress of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), and looked forward to the upcoming IPEF Ministerial meeting in November 2023.

Strengthening People-to-People Ties

The Ministers appreciated the U.S. Department of State’s launch of a pilot program in 2023 to adjudicate domestic renewals of certain petition-based temporary work visas, including for Indian nationals.

The Ministers welcomed the opening of a new Indian Consulate in Seattle and appreciated that the United States has initiated discussions with the Government of India on opening new consulates in the cities of Bengaluru and Ahmedabad.

Afghanistan

The Ministers called on the Taliban to adhere to their commitment to prevent any group or individual from using the territory of Afghanistan to threaten the security of any country; and noted UNSC Resolution 2593 (2021), which demands that Afghan territory not be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter or train terrorists, or to plan or finance terrorist attacks. The Ministers urged the Taliban to respect the human rights of all Afghans, including women, children, and members of minority groups; and uphold freedom of travel. They also emphasized unhindered access to deliver humanitarian assistance and recommitted to having consultations on Afghanistan to help facilitate an inclusive and peaceful future for all Afghans.

Multilateral Diplomacy and Connectivity

The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of a free, open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific and renewed their shared desire to consolidate their dialogue and collaboration through the Quad. They emphasized the important role of the Quad as a force for global good for the peoples of the Indo-Pacific. The Ministers look forward to India hosting the next in-person Quad leaders’ Summit in 2024.

The Ministers affirmed the importance of exchanging perspectives on shared global challenges, such as cooperation in multilateral fora and promoting respect for human rights globally, and look forward to the Ministry of External Affairs and the U.S. Department of State holding the next U.S.-India Global Issues Forum in New Delhi in early 2024.

The Ministers appreciated the ongoing efforts of the I2U2 countries to enhance food and energy security and improve the movement of people and goods across hemispheres. The Ministers also noted that the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor will enhance connectivity between Asia and Europe and will unlock new potential for economic growth in the two continents. They welcomed the relaunch of consultations between the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the U.S. Department of State on Africa, aimed at exploring potential trilateral cooperation in Africa. They also looked forward to convening the next round of East Asia Consultations between the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the U.S. Department of State at an early date.

Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin lauded India’s G20 Presidency for addressing contemporary global economic issues, inclusion of the African Union as a member, and prioritizing development challenges. The Ministers welcomed India hosting a virtual G-20 Summit in November 2023 to follow up on G-20 Summit outcomes.

The United States reaffirmed its continued support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed UNSC and again extended welcome to India’s candidature for the UNSC non-permanent seat in 2028-29.

The United States looks forward to hosting the next 2+2 Ministerial.

End text.




Secretary Antony J. Blinken Remarks to the Press
11/10/2023


Secretary Antony J. Blinken Remarks to the Press
11/10/2023 09:39 AM EST



Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

New Delhi, India

Leela Palace

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good afternoon. So we just had a very productive 2+2 session with Secretary of Defense Austin and our Indian counterparts. This builds on the important visit that Prime Minister Modi made to the United States followed by President Biden’s visit here for the G20. And we continue – India and the United States – to deepen our partnership, to deepen our collaboration on everything from emerging technologies to defense to people-to-people ties, as well as our shared diplomacy to try to advance an Indo-Pacific region that’s free, that’s open, that’s prosperous, that’s resilient.

We also discussed the crisis in the Middle East, and we appreciate the fact that, from day one, India strongly condemned the attacks of October 7th. And as our joint statement makes clear, India and the United States stand with Israel against terrorism.

This marks the last day of what’s now been a nine-day trip of intensive diplomacy throughout the Middle East and now here in the Indo-Pacific. And along the way and at each stop, in different ways, we’ve sought to advance a number of critical objectives: minimizing harm to Palestinian civilians and maximizing the humanitarian assistance that reaches them; working to prevent the spread of the conflict; focusing on getting hostages home as well as getting American citizens and other foreign nationals out of Gaza; and working to set sustainable, durable conditions for genuinely lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

To that end, I’ve had conversations starting a week ago with the Israeli Government about steps that can be taken to advance each of these objectives. And among those steps that we talked about more than a week ago were humanitarian pauses. These can advance all of the objectives that I just mentioned. We appreciate the fact that, yesterday, Israel announced four-hour pauses with three-hour notice in specific areas, as well as two humanitarian corridors that will allow people to move more safely and freely to get out of harm’s way and also to access assistance. These steps will save lives and will enable more assistance to get to Palestinians in need.

At the same time, much more needs to be done to protect civilians and to make sure that humanitarian assistance reaches them. Far too many Palestinians have been killed; far too many have suffered these past weeks. And we want to do everything possible to prevent harm to them and to maximize the assistance that gets to them.

To that end, we’ll be continuing to discuss with Israel concrete steps that can be taken to advance these objectives. We’ll continue to focus relentlessly on getting our hostages home. We’ll continue to focus on expanding humanitarian assistance that gets into Gaza and reaches people in effective ways. And we’ll continue to focus on the steps that can be taken now to try to start to set the foundation for durable and lasting peace, which, as we’ve said repeatedly and believe, has to include two states for two peoples.

With that, happy to take some questions.

MR MILLER: Matt?

QUESTION: Thanks, Mr. Secretary.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Matt.

QUESTION: I think it was on Monday, but I’m not sure – (laughter) – when we – when you finished the Middle East part in Türkiye – and you described all of what you just went through as works in progress. Obviously, you’re – you see that some progress, some tangible, concrete progress, has been made in some of those with the – with the pauses. But are those enough?

And then secondly, what exactly is it that can be done now to set the stage for this durable, lasting peace, and in the more near term, the ideas that you put forward for the post-conflict structure of Gaza?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, Matt. Well, first, I think some progress has been made and I just – I just laid it out, but I was also very clear that much more needs to be done in terms of both protecting civilians and getting humanitarian assistance to them. And we have concrete plans, concrete things that we’re working on that would do just that. And as I’ve said from the start, this is a process, and it’s not always flipping a light switch, but we have seen progress. We just need to see more of it, and we need to maximize every effort to prevent Palestinian deaths and to advance the humanitarian assistance that’s getting to them.

In terms of the longer-term conditions that we need to see to try to get a real foundation for lasting peace and lasting security – because that’s the objective for Palestinians and Israelis alike – I think there are two. We made some progress first in trying to establish some basic principles that can guide us in that effort, including among them: no forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza; no use of Gaza as a platform for launching terrorism or other attacks against Israel; no diminution in the territory of Gaza; and a commitment to Palestinian-led governance for Gaza and for the West Bank, and in a unified way. These and some other ideas that we’ve put forward and that others share, I think, can start to be the basis for what we need to do.

But we’ve long been committed to two states. That was the announced policy of the administration when we came to office. When we came to office, the conditions certainly didn’t look like they were ripe to advance that in the moment. We first needed to try to make sure that there was as much calm as possible, and then to try to build from there. And that’s what we’ve been working on very resolutely for the last two and a half years, including pushing back on the expansion of settlements, on illegal outposts, on demolitions of homes, on evictions of Palestinians, on the status quo for the holy sites, on violence being perpetrated by extremists in the West Bank – by the way, something else that we’ve been very focused on – these past week – this past week or so.

And we were working very much on that. We had important meetings in Aqaba and Sharm el-Sheikh to advance that, even as we were also working on the normalization agenda with Israel and Saudi Arabia, not as a substitute for a Palestinian state but actually as a way to advance it. But now we’ve had the events of October 7th, the – almost beyond the human imagination – horror of October 7th. And I think that only reinforces us in our conviction and our commitment to durable and lasting peace, which again, we see through two states.

So we’ve worked to start to establish some basic understandings, basic principles. A lot of work needs to be done on fleshing all of that out, and then eventually a lot of work is going to need to be done on getting back to the concrete elements of building two states. But as I’ve said from the outset of this – this past nine days, we have to be focused on both at the same time, and we are.

MR MILLER: Abbie?

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary —

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Abbie.

QUESTION: — what was your message to Minister Jaishankar regarding the crisis in India-Canada relations? What progress did you make in convincing India to restore diplomatic immunity to Canadian diplomats? And if I may, going back to the Middle East, as Israel has moved into a new phase of war, have you seen them take the concrete steps you asked to reduce civilian casualties? What are those concrete steps, and what progress has been made towards increasing humanitarian assistance to the 400, 500 trucks a day that were coming into Gaza before the war began?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, Abbie. So on India and Canada, these are two of our closest friends and partners, and of course we want to see them resolving any differences or disputes that they have as a friend of both. We think it’s very important that India work with Canada on its investigation, and that they find a way to resolve this difference in a cooperative way. But that really does go with Canada moving its investigation forward and India working with Canada on it. And that’s something that I’ve discussed with our Indian counterparts, including today.

In terms of coming back to the – to Gaza, again, as I said, we have seen progress in addressing some of the very important concerns that we have and that so many share about protecting Palestinian civilians, about getting humanitarian assistance to them. I’ve already outlined them, but I also said that much more needs to be done.

So for the humanitarian assistance piece, we do have concrete – more than plans, we do have, I think, a concrete way forward that would allow more trucks to get in on a regular sustained basis, as well as to make sure that there’s an adequate supply of fuel so that, for example, the trucks themselves can be fueled up to distribute the assistance, hospitals have what they need, desalination plants have what they need.

It’s always a process, and moving from an understanding, moving from an agreement to implementation is what we’re working on right now. As you know, Ambassador David Satterfield has been parked in the region, shuttling back and forth between the various parties that are necessary to get this humanitarian assistance expanded in a significant way. That includes, of course, Egypt, as well as Israel, as well as the United Nations and some other countries that may have some ability to help. So we’re very actively pursuing that. And I believe that, as I said, we not only have some clear understandings about what needs to happen – we’re now in the process of implementing that. I think you’ll see that unfold.

And further with regard to harm to Palestinian civilians, look, I think first, what Israel announced yesterday will help. It will help in enabling people to get out of harm’s way; it will help in enabling people to get greater access to humanitarian assistance. There are other steps that we’ve discussed with Israel, that I discussed a week ago. I’m not going to detail them here. I can simply say that there is more that can and should be done to minimize harm to Palestinian civilians.

Thanks.

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