News and reports from the State Department.

Secretary Antony J. Blinken addressed the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Foreign Affairs Track Ministerial on July 17, 2024, in Washington, D.C. In his remarks, Blinken emphasized the historical and geographical ties binding countries from Canada to Chile and highlighted shared challenges such as climate change, irregular migration, and unequal opportunity.

The Department of State announced further actions today aimed at promoting accountability for gross violations of human rights and activities that undermine peace, security, or stability in the West Bank.

The following statement was released by the governments of the United States of America, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay on the occasion of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity July Ministerial.

Ten years ago today, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in territory controlled by Russian and Russia-led forces, taking the lives of 298 innocent people, including 80 children. A Joint Investigation Team in 2018 found that the aircraft was shot down by a Russian-made BUK surface-to-air missile fired from that territory, and that the missile launcher used to shoot down MH17 originated from the 53rd Anti-aircraft Brigade of the Russian Federation, stationed in Kursk, Russia. Our thoughts remain with those who perished, and we join with their...

Today, the Department of State published the 2024 Investment Climate Statements (ICS). These reports describe the investment climates of more than 160 countries and economies, helping U.S. companies make informed decisions about doing business overseas.

The United States announced today at the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity meeting of foreign ministers a commitment of up to $30 million toward a new initiative that will accelerate international development projects in countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean and sustain the positive effects they deliver. The new technical assistance facility is the result of innovative cooperation between DFC and IDB Invest and will be available to any project developed under the shared Americas Partnership Platform. It will expand the pipeline for new projects and...

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Mexican Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena met on July 17, 2024, at the Colin L. Powell Treaty Room in Washington, D.C., to discuss ongoing bilateral issues and future collaborations.

Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez met on July 17, 2024, to discuss the ongoing partnership between the United States and Panama. The meeting coincided with the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity.

On July 17, 2024, Secretary Blinken announced at the America's Partnership for Economic Prosperity Ministerial that the U.S. Department of State and Mexico’s Secretariat of Economy would host the Americas Partnership Semiconductor Symposium: Expanding the Supplier Ecosystem on September 5-6, 2024, in Mexico City. The Symposium will focus on expanding and diversifying the semiconductor assembly, testing, and packaging (ATP) ecosystem in Americas Partnership countries.

The United States has expressed approval for the 15-day extension of the humanitarian truce agreed upon by parties involved in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The U.S. has urged all regional actors to honor this truce. Efforts will continue in collaboration with the governments of DRC, Rwanda, and Angola to support regional diplomatic initiatives under the Luanda and Nairobi processes aimed at achieving a lasting cessation of hostilities.

The Department of State has sanctioned Mr. Shlomo Yehezkel Hai Sarid, pursuant to Executive Order 14115, for being a leader or official of Tzav 9, which was previously designated by the U.S. government for threatening the peace, security, or stability of the West Bank. The Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) list has been updated to include Mr. Shlomo Yehezkel Hai Sarid.

The United States and Guyana conducted a virtual Strategic Dialogue on July 16 to address mutual interests such as climate resilience, food security, and energy transition. The U.S. delegation was led by Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs Daniel P. Erikson, State Department Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols, and Special Advisor to the Vice President for the Western Hemisphere Scott Winton. This interagency team included representatives from the Department of State, USAID, the Department of...

Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell met today with Gabon’s Transition President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema. Deputy Secretary Campbell received an update on Gabon’s democratic transition and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to supporting Gabon’s efforts to implement an inclusive and transparent political process culminating in free and fair elections. The two officials agreed to take concrete steps to deepen and expand the bilateral relationship based on shared priorities, including economic and social development, maritime and border security, environmental conservation,...

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will deliver opening remarks at the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity ministerial plenary meeting on July 17, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. ET at the Department of State. The plenary meeting will include foreign ministers from the 12 Americas Partnership countries – the United States, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay.

On July 15, 2024, Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources Geoffrey R. Pyatt traveled to Brazil for discussions with public and private sector representatives on energy security, energy transition, and cooperation on critical minerals.