News and reports from the State Department.

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.

Deputy Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell met with President of Ho Chi Minh Academy Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang on Friday in Washington, D.C., following Secretary Blinken’s recent trip to Hanoi. Deputy Secretary Campbell reiterated U.S. condolences for the loss of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and stated the United States will continue to work closely with Vietnam’s leadership, including President To Lam as he carries out the duties of General Secretary. The Deputy Secretary underscored the United States’ support for a strong, independent, prosperous, and resilient Vietnam...

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken held a phone conversation with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Head of the Sovereign Council of Sudan, on August 5, 2024. The call was summarized by Spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Countering Foreign State Information Manipulation and a Joint Communiqué on the U.S.-Australia Landsat Next 2030 International Partnership Initiative in Washington, D.C., on August 5, 2024.

The following statement was released by the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, along with the High Representative of the European Union.

Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with the G7 Foreign Ministers to discuss the urgent need for de-escalation in the Middle East. The Secretary and Foreign Ministers discussed ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire that secures the release of hostages and allows a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

On behalf of the United States Department of State, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to the people of the Cook Islands on the occasion of your 59th anniversary of self-governance.

Today marks the 10th anniversary of ISIS's genocide, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing against Yezidis, Christians, and Shia Muslims. The day also commemorates the Sunni Muslims, Kurds, and other minorities who suffered under ISIS. Thousands of Yezidis were killed or enslaved by ISIS, with over 2,600 Yezidi women and girls still missing. The identification and exhumation of mass graves continue as survivors bear the scars of these events.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy today. Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that Secretary Blinken and Foreign Secretary Lammy reaffirmed the need to deescalate rising tensions in the Middle East and prevent the conflict from spreading. They stressed the importance of finalizing the ceasefire and hostage release deal under negotiation as soon as possible.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Stéphane Séjourné today. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire to secure the release of hostages and surge humanitarian aid to Gaza, as well as the importance of preventing further escalation of conflict in the Middle East and the challenges posed by threats from Iran.