News and reports from the State Department.

On August 5, 2024, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation between the United States and Australia on countering foreign state information manipulation. The signing ceremony took place in Washington, D.C., on the sidelines of a bilateral meeting between Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Wong in advance of the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN).

Today marks sixteen years since Russia's invasion of the sovereign nation of Georgia. The event is remembered for the lives lost, injuries sustained, and the displacement caused by Russia’s military campaign and subsequent occupation. Currently, Russia occupies 20 percent of Georgia’s territory and continues to assert control over the region, including through the claimed transfer of strategically important lands in Abkhazia to Russia and efforts to establish a permanent naval base in Ochamchire.

The United States has expressed deep concern following a ruling by Thailand’s Constitutional Court that orders the dissolution of the Move Forward Party and bans 11 of its leaders from politics.

On the commemoration of the August 7, 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, we honor the memory of those who lost their lives on that tragic day. These horrific terrorist attacks killed 224 people, including 12 Americans serving our country overseas and 34 Kenyans and 10 Tanzanians who were part of our State Department family. More than 4,500 other individuals were injured that day.

Last week, the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) convened a meeting of senior officials in Washington, DC, as part of the U.S.-PRC Counternarcotics Working Group (CNWG). This group, launched in January 2024 following the decision by President Biden and President Xi to resume bilateral cooperation on counternarcotics, has coordinated bilateral efforts to combat the global manufacturing and trafficking of illicit synthetic drugs, including fentanyl.

The United States and Sweden have issued a joint statement emphasizing their commitment to advancing cooperation in advanced wireless technologies, particularly focusing on 6G telecommunications. The statement, released by the U.S. Department of State and the Kingdom of Sweden Ministry for Foreign Affairs, underscores the critical role of wireless communications in modern societies and highlights the need for continuous technological advancement.

Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III welcomed Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to the 34th Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) on August 6, 2024.

Secretary Blinken's Call with Jordanian Foreign Minister Safadi

The United States is imposing sanctions on Paraguayan tobacco company Tabacalera del Este S.A. (Tabesa) for providing financial support to Paraguay’s former president, Horacio Manuel Cartes Jara (Cartes), a U.S.-designated person.

On behalf of the United States, I send my best wishes to Jamaica as you celebrate your 62nd year of independence.

Over the last year, Special Representative Penny Pritzker has been a dedicated advocate for Ukraine’s economic recovery. She has traveled to Ukraine six times, leading multiple CEO delegations to Kyiv and making stops across Europe, all with the primary objective of helping the people of Ukraine lay the groundwork for full-scale economic recovery and EU accession.

The United States hosted Sweden for a dialogue on the Indo-Pacific on August 5 in Washington, D.C. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Jan Knutsson co-chaired the dialogue. The U.S. delegation included senior government officials from the Department of State, the National Security Council, and the Department of Defense.

Under Secretary Jenkins Travels to Omaha, Nebraska

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. The Secretary and the Prime Minister discussed efforts to calm tensions in the Middle East and prevent further escalation of the conflict. They also discussed ongoing work to reach a ceasefire to the conflict in Gaza that secures the release of hostages, allows for a surge of humanitarian assistance, alleviates the suffering of the Palestinian people, and unlocks the possibility of broader regional stability. The Secretary thanked the...

On August 5, 2024, the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand Science and Technology Agreement was extended for ten years. Since the Agreement was first signed in 2013, and extended in 2018, the strategic partnership between both nations has continued to grow into a robust and enduring relationship.