U.S. Department of State,update

Secretary Rubio’s Call with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov 03/15/2025 Secretary Rubio’s Call with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov 03/15/2025 08:45 PM EDT Office of the Spokesperson The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.  The Secretary informed Russia of U.S. military deterrence operations against the Iran-backed Houthis and emphasized that continued Houthi attacks on U.S. military and commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea will not be tolerated.  Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Lavrov also discussed next steps to follow up on recent meetings in Saudi Arabia and agreed to continue working towards restoring communication between the United States and Russia. On the Occasion of St. Patrick’s Day 03/17/2025 On the Occasion of St. Patrick’s Day 03/17/2025 12:01 AM EDT Marco Rubio, Secretary of State HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases…On the Occasion of St. Patrick’s Day hide On the Occasion of St. Patrick’s Day Press Statement March 17, 2025 On behalf of the United States of America, I extend my congratulations to the people of Ireland for a happy and memorable St. Patrick’s Day. Every year millions of Americans celebrate the rich heritage of the Irish people, inspired by their history of good humor, warmth, and legendary resolve. This is a history closely woven into our own. From the time of our Revolution to the present, Irish Americans have played a leading role in defending our rights and building our nation. Our people stand united in their shared commitment to freedom. Today is an opportunity to proudly reaffirm our enduring ties and friendship with the people of Ireland. As communities on both sides of the Atlantic celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, we look forward to finding even more opportunities to deepen our historic partnership. Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh. Tags Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Ireland Office of the Spokesperson The Secretary of State Statement from Secretary Rubio and NSA Waltz on Call with Zelenskyy 03/19/2025 Statement from Secretary Rubio and NSA Waltz on Call with Zelenskyy 03/19/2025 03:07 PM EDT Marco Rubio, Secretary of State NSA Waltz Today, President Donald J. Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a fantastic phone conversation. President Zelenskyy thanked President Trump for a productive start for the work of the Ukrainian and American teams in Jeddah on March 11th. The meeting of the senior officials from both nations significantly helped in moving toward ending the war. President Zelenskyy thanked President Trump for the support of the United States, especially the Javelin missiles that President Trump was first to provide, and his efforts towards peace. The leaders agreed Ukraine and America will continue working together to bring about a real end to the war, and that lasting peace under President Trump’s leadership can be achieved. President Trump fully briefed President Zelenskyy on his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the key issues discussed. They reviewed the situation in Kursk and agreed to share information closely between their defense staffs as the battlefield situation evolved. President Zelenskyy asked for additional air defense systems to protect his civilians, particularly Patriot missile systems, President Trump agreed to work with him to find what was available particularly in Europe. The two leaders also agreed on a partial ceasefire against energy. Technical teams will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to discuss broadening the ceasefire to the Black Sea on the way to a full ceasefire. They agreed this could be the first step toward the full end of the war and ensuring security. President Zelenskyy was grateful for the President’s leadership in this effort and reiterated his willingness to adopt a full ceasefire. President Trump also discussed Ukraine’s electrical supply and nuclear power plants. He said that the United States could be very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise. American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure. President Zelenskyy also thanked President Trump for continuing to push humanitarian concerns, including the exchange of POWs. He noted they had just had a successful exchange and thanked the President for his leadership. President Trump also asked President Zelenskyy about the children who had gone missing from Ukraine during the war, including the ones that had been abducted. President Trump promised to work closely with both parties to help make sure those children were returned home. They agreed all parties must continue the effort to make a ceasefire work. The Presidents noted the positive work of their advisors and representatives, especially Secretary Rubio, National Security Advisor Waltz, Special Envoy Kellogg, and others. The Presidents instructed their teams to move ahead with the technical issues related to implementing and broadening the partial ceasefire. The Presidents instructed their advisors and representatives to carry out this work as quickly as possible. The Presidents emphasized that in further meetings, the teams can agree on all necessary aspects of advancing toward lasting peace and security. Secretary Rubio’s Call with UK Foreign Secretary Lammy 03/19/2025 . Secretary Rubio’s Call with UK Foreign Secretary Lammy 03/19/2025 04:54 PM EDT Office of the Spokesperson HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases…Secretary Rubio’s Call with UK Foreign Secretary Lammy hide Secretary Rubio’s Call with UK Foreign Secretary Lammy Readout March 19, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy today. Secretary Rubio thanked Foreign Secretary Lammy for the UK’s efforts to assemble a coalition of countries to help advance peace in Ukraine. The Secretary and Foreign Secretary Lammy discussed next steps from the March 15 summit on Ukraine. They also discussed developments in the Middle East and the importance of restoring calm. Tags Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Office of the Spokesperson United Kingdom Acting Assistant Secretary Lochman’s Travel to Belgium and Croatia 03/21/2025 Acting Assistant Secretary Lochman’s Travel to Belgium and Croatia 03/21/2025 11:56 AM EDT Africa Regional Media Hub Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Laura Lochman will travel to Brussels, Belgium, and Zagreb, Croatia, March 24-27 to promote U.S. energy exports to Europe and deliver a keynote address at the “U.S. LNG Exports and Energy Security of Central and Eastern Europe” conference. Acting Assistant Secretary Lochman will foster linkages between officials from the European Union, Croatia, and U.S. and European energy companies.  During her remarks at the conference, she will discuss how the Trump Administration’s American energy dominance policies, including increasing LNG exports, can benefit both the United States and Europe.  She will also highlight the importance of cooperation on critical minerals supply chains. For further media information, please contact ENR-Press@state.gov. The Week at State: March 14 – March 20, 2025 03/21/2025 e March 14 – March 20 "Under Secretary Rubio, the State Department is focusing on what we have in common and what we can get done together." - Spokesperson Tammy Bruce Here's what happened at State this past week.  The Trump Administration removed hundreds of Tren de Aragua and 23 MS-13 members, transferring them to El Salvador to make America safer. Spokesperson Tammy Bruce took us behind-the-scenes at a State Department press briefing. Secretary Rubio wrapped up his travels to Canada with remarks to the press and a visit with embassy staff. Putting American Safety First "Hundreds of violent criminals were sent out of our country.… President Trump is following through on the promises he made to the American people." - Secretary Rubio On March 16, under the direction of President Trump, the administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act. Over 200 members of Tren de Aragua, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, were removed from the United States under this Act.  With the support of El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, U.S. officials transferred these dangerous individuals to the country's Terrorism Confinement Center. The U.S. also sent 23 members of the MS-13 gang, including two top leaders, to face justice for the crimes they committed in El Salvador. This historic measure will save taxpayer dollars and continue to make America safer, Secretary Rubio emphasized in a recent statement, thanks to President Bukele's collaboration. Secretary Rubio in the Press This week, Secretary Rubio met with Margaret Brennan of CBS's Face the Nation to discuss the U.S. campaign to secure Red Sea shipping lanes, vowing to end Houthi attacks — a threat to American prosperity. He also addressed concerns over visa revocations, explaining that anyone promoting terrorism or engaging in harmful activities while in the U.S. will be expelled. On Fox News Radio with Guy Benson, the Secretary detailed further that the Houthis have attacked U.S. vessels over 174 times in the past 18 months. He also highlighted Iran's role in arming and supporting the Houthis, calling for accountability from Tehran. In an interview with Hugh Hewitt, the U.S.-China relationship took center stage, with the Secretary noting that what happens between the two countries will write "the story of the 21st century." Behind the Scenes: A Look Into the Briefing Room Ever wonder what it's like to run a press briefing? Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce shared an exclusive look at how the day's biggest foreign policy stories make it to the podium. Watch the full video on YouTube, Instagram, or X. In this week's briefings, diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict remained a key focus, as did the administration's broader commitment to stopping conflicts worldwide, bringing leaders together, and advancing peace through dialogue.  Get the full picture — subscribe to our YouTube channel for all our press briefings. Appreciating Those Who Make Diplomacy Possible Secretary Rubio holds a meet and greet with employees and Locally Employed Staff of Mission Canada in Quebec March 14, 2025. (State Dept./Freddie Everett) On March 14, after discussing key issues including Ukraine's security and global trade with the G7 Foreign Ministers, Secretary Rubio made time for a meet and greet with embassy staff, the beating heart of the U.S. Mission in Canada.   Throughout his travels, the Secretary has also prioritized meeting with Marine Security Guards at posts. He thanked them for their role in protecting U.S. embassies and staff, enabling them to safely implement President Trump's America First foreign policy. Today's Travel Tips  A reminder from our Bureau of Consular Affairs: Check your passport's expiration date! Some countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months beyond the dates of your trip. Need to renew? Start the process online today. Applying for the first time? Consider attending an in-person Special Passport Acceptance Fair for a personalized experience.  News You May Have Missed We celebrated the release of George Glezmann after 2 ½ years of captivity in Afghanistan. The U.S. took action on Iran under President Trump's maximum pressure campaign, targeting the regime's funding of destabilizing activities worldwide. The G7 Foreign Ministers Declaration on Maritime Security and Prosperity committed contributions toward a free, open, and secure maritime domain.  We explored America and Japan's love of baseball, a shared passion stretching back 150 years, ahead of the 2025 Major League Baseball season kickoff in Tokyo. NASA astronauts splashed down safely off the coast of Florida. The State Department's diplomatic efforts advance space exploration, science and technology, and international collaboration for the benefit of all humanity. Second lady Usha Vance led the presidential delegation to the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin, Italy.  Secretary Rubio gave his first Spanish-language interview with American media, discussing the threat of cartels and updates from the U.S.-Mexico border with Fox Noticias. For more from the Department in Spanish, follow @USAenEspanol. Looking Ahead April 3-4: NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting April 13: World Expo 2025 begins in Osaka, Japan Note to Our Readers We welcome your feedback at EmailTeam@state.gov.  Was this forwarded to you? Subscribe to The Week at State for weekly updates on important work, activities, and news straight from the State Department. Useful links Travel advisories and updates for U.S. Citizens Did you know that you can invite a Department official to speak at your school, business, or organization? Learn about what we do through the firsthand experience of one of our representatives.  Read More at State.gov