News and reports from the State Department.

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Angolan President Lourenço

Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability (ADS) Mallory Stewart will travel to California from July 17-18, 2024. During her visit, she will give remarks at the Public Policy and Nuclear Threats Bootcamp at the University of California’s Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. Additionally, she will visit two U.S. Space Force (USSF) bases to conduct meetings with USSF leadership and observe military space operations units.

On behalf of the United States of America, I extend my warmest wishes to the people of France as you celebrate Bastille Day.

Deputy Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell will travel to Ghana, Gabon, Senegal, and the United Kingdom from July 14 to July 19.

The President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States (PAC-ADE) will host its second meeting of the year from July 14-17, 2024, in Nigeria. This marks the first PAC-ADE trip to the African continent. Members of the Advisory Council will convene in Lagos and Abuja, where they will meet with government, civil society, and private-sector partners to discuss diaspora-led investments in education, entrepreneurship, health, technology, youth and women empowerment, and the creative industries.

During the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the United States collaborated with UN Member States to address pressing human rights concerns and uphold universal values and principles foundational to the UN system. The U.S. emphasized its commitment to promoting human rights universality by addressing discrimination, inequity, and inequality.

The U.S. Departments of State and Justice convened the third meeting of the Counterterrorism Law Enforcement Forum (CTLEF) in The Hague, the Netherlands on July 10-11. The CTLEF, which focuses on countering the global threat of racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism (REMVE), brought together law enforcement, prosecutors, other criminal justice practitioners, financial regulators, and policymakers from Europe, North and South America, and the Indo-Pacific; alongside specialists from Europol, INTERPOL, the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law,...

The United States continues to promote accountability in defense of human rights in China. Today, the State Department is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on People’s Republic of China (PRC) officials for their involvement in the repression of marginalized religious and ethnic communities.

U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, along with Deputy Special Envoy Aaron Keyak, will travel to Argentina and Brazil from July 15-23. In Argentina, Ambassador Lipstadt will participate in the Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA) forum and attend the 30th anniversary ceremony commemorating those killed in the 1994 bombing of the Jewish community center, Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA). In Buenos Aires, the Ambassador and her counterparts will launch Global Guidelines for Countering...

The Department of State has imposed sanctions on Hakiman Shargh Research Company for its involvement in Iran’s chemical weapons research and development. These sanctions are being enforced under Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their supporters.

Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell met with Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Jan Knutsson in Washington, D.C. on July 12, 2024. According to Spokesperson Matthew Miller, the meeting underscored Sweden’s recent entry into the NATO Alliance and highlighted the strength of the U.S.-Sweden bilateral relationship.

Acting Special Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Helaina Matza will travel to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan from July 14-19. The visit aims to advance ongoing U.S.-led efforts to facilitate strategic infrastructure investments in the Trans-Caspian Corridor.

On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Montenegro as you celebrate your Statehood Day.

The United States congratulates the Federated States of Micronesia for acceding to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). The instrument of accession was deposited with the United States on July 12, 2024. As one of the treaty’s depositary governments, the United States recognizes and welcomes Micronesia’s decision to join over 180 other BWC States Parties in advancing universalization.

Eight years ago, a unanimous Arbitral Tribunal constituted under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention determined that the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) expansive South China Sea maritime claims are inconsistent with international law. In its ruling, the Tribunal firmly rejected any PRC territorial or maritime claim to areas determined by the Tribunal to be part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. As provided under the Convention, the 2016 arbitral decision is final and legally binding on the PRC and the Philippines.