U.S. State Department
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Recent News About U.S. State Department
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On May 13, 2024, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken issued a statement on behalf of the people and government of the United States of America to congratulate the Israeli people and their government as the State of Israel marked its 76th anniversary.
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Special Envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, embarked on a diplomatic mission from Washington on May 11, setting course for Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. The purpose of his journey is to engage with crucial regional partners in an effort to resolve the ongoing conflict in Sudan, prevent further mass atrocities, address the urgent humanitarian needs of the Sudanese people, and lay out a roadmap for transitioning to a civilian-led democratic government.
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Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Jose W. Fernandez, is in New York today to participate in the 30th Cobalt Congress. He will discuss the United States' foreign policy goal to expand and build secure, sustainable, and resilient critical minerals supply chains through the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) and associated initiatives such as the MSP Forum.
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The inaugural U.S.-Philippines Space Dialogue, a platform designed to strengthen cooperation and advance bilateral exchanges in civil space matters, was held on May 2, 2024. This initiative represents an expansion of U.S.-Philippines cooperation into outer space, including the use of space-based Earth observation satellite data for a wide variety of socio-economic applications.
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Jessica Stern, the Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons, is set to travel to The Hague, Netherlands, and Paris, France from May 13-19. On May 14, Stern will attend the 11th annual European IDAHOT+ Forum in The Hague. This forum is organized by the Council of Europe (COE) and brings together European policymakers, activists, and civil society organizations to evaluate collective progress, achievements, and challenges in protecting the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons in Europe and globally.
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Secretary Antony J. Blinken, in an interview with Margaret Brennan of CBS’s Face the Nation, discussed the complexities and challenges of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Brennan questioned Secretary Blinken on President Biden's past statements regarding Israel's military actions and the potential pause in delivery of 3,500 bombs to Israel.
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Spokesperson Matthew Miller reported that Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken had a conversation with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. During the call, Blinken reaffirmed the U.S.'s unwavering commitment to Israel's security and their mutual goal of defeating Hamas. The two officials discussed the current situation in Gaza and ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently participated in an interview with Kristen Welker on NBC's Meet the Press. During the discussion, Blinken addressed a recent State Department report on Israel's actions and compliance with international law. The report has been criticized by Amnesty International and Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen for its lack of definitive conclusions.
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Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability, Mallory Stewart, is set to travel to Garmisch, Germany, and Brussels, Belgium from May 13-18.
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Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, James C. O’Brien, is set to travel to Tbilisi, Georgia, and Podgorica and Kotor, Montenegro from May 14-17. During his visit to Georgia, he plans to meet with representatives from the government, civil society, and the private sector. The purpose of these meetings is to express the United States' enduring commitment to the Georgian people and support for Georgia's aspiration for a peaceful, prosperous, and secure Euro-Atlantic future.
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On May 10, 2024, Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares convened in Washington D.C. to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on foreign state information manipulation.
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On May 10, 2024, the Governments of the United States of America and Singapore released a joint statement regarding their recent meetings. These meetings were held to review the implementation of Chapter 18 (Environment) of the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and to complete the eighth Biennial Review under the Memorandum of Intent between the United States of America and the Republic of Singapore on Cooperation in Environmental Matters (MOI). The MOI was negotiated concurrently with the United States-Singapore FTA Environment Chapter.
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On May 8-9, the United States hosted a meeting of the U.S.-China Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s in Washington, D.C. The group is co-led by Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy John Podesta and PRC Special Envoy for Climate Change Liu Zhenmin, and includes relevant officials from both countries.
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In observance of Air Quality Awareness Week (May 6-10), the Office of Management Strategy & Solutions’ Greening Diplomacy Initiative (GDI) has unveiled a machine learning-powered particulate air pollution forecast, now accessible in the ZephAir web version for all cities that host a U.S. diplomatic mission worldwide. This innovative forecast was developed by NASA using machine learning, satellite data, and data from the Department’s air quality monitors at 75 embassies and consulates.
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On May 10, 2024, the United States announced a significant new package of military assistance for Ukraine. The $400 million package is aimed at supporting the Ukrainian people as they defend their country against Russia's aggression.
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Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a meeting with Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares on May 10, 2024. The discussion was centered around several key international issues, according to Spokesperson Matthew Miller.
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Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, is set to visit India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh from May 10 to 15. The purpose of his trip is to fortify bilateral cooperation with each nation and demonstrate the U.S.'s commitment to a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
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The U.S. Department of State has announced a series of International Visitor Leadership Programs designed to bolster the Biden-Harris Administration's ongoing efforts to combat the illicit synthetic drug trade. The programs aim to foster collaboration between international experts in government, healthcare, law enforcement, and judicial sectors and their American counterparts.
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The Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Peru released a joint statement on May 9, 2024, marking the occasion of their first High-Level Dialogue held in Washington, D.C. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Peruvian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Peter Camino led the inaugural dialogue, affirming a shared commitment to advance mutual interests and deepen the longstanding bilateral strategic partnership.
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Dr. Jung Pak, Senior Official for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), held a meeting with his counterparts from Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on May 9 in Tokyo. The meeting was attended by Namazu Hiroyuki, Director General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Lee Jun-il, Director General for North Korean Nuclear Affairs at the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs.