News and reports from the State Department.

Last week, President Biden signed a Presidential Memorandum establishing the Economic Diplomacy Action Group (EDAG), a new whole-of-government initiative aimed at strengthening U.S. commercial diplomacy on the global stage and expanding economic prosperity domestically. This initiative is intended to support American workers and create jobs.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and YouTube’s Global Head of Music Lyor Cohen announced today a new Department of State-YouTube partnership in support of the Department’s Global Music Diplomacy Initiative. This initiative aims to elevate music as a diplomatic platform to promote peace and democracy, aligning with the United States’ broader foreign policy goals.

Today, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and YouTube Global Head of Music Lyor Cohen announced an inaugural roster of U.S. Global Music Ambassadors as part of a U.S. Department of State-YouTube Global Music Diplomacy Partnership. These ambassadors will use their music to bring people together and promote peace worldwide on behalf of the American people. Additional ambassadors will be announced in the coming months.

The United States has welcomed the acquittal of former Philippine Senator Leila de Lima on her final criminal charge. This decision comes after her release on bail in November 2023, following nearly seven years of detention and her acquittal on two separate politically motivated criminal charges.

Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Julieta Valls Noyes will travel to Indianapolis from June 25-26, 2024, as part of the Welcome Corps Roadshow. The initiative aims to highlight the impact of the private sponsorship program launched by the Department of State in January 2023.

Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez is set to deliver remarks at the inaugural 2024 U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) Economic Dialogue. He will be joined by Vietnam’s Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung on June 25, 2024, at 10 a.m. ET in Washington, D.C.

On June 25, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma will travel to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Boston, Massachusetts.

Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs John Bass will travel to Brussels, Belgium on June 24 for a series of meetings with EU, NATO, and Belgian counterparts. Under Secretary Bass will discuss continued support for Ukraine, leveraging Russian sovereign assets, the need for hostage release and a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, and priorities for the NATO Summit to be held July 9-11 in Washington, D.C.

On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Luxembourg on the anniversary of the Grand Duke’s official birthday.

On June 21, 2024, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) hosted consultations in Taipei with representatives from the U.S. Department of State and the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The discussions centered on expanding Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations system and other international fora.

Under Secretary John Bass visited Kyiv, Ukraine, where he met with senior Ukrainian government officials to emphasize the United States' ongoing support for Ukraine's democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity amidst aggression from Russia. During his time in Ukraine, Under Secretary Bass held discussions with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin, Members of Parliament, and representatives from civil society.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali al-Yahya on June 21, 2024. The discussion focused on efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of all hostages.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul. The Secretary condemned deepening military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia, including ongoing arms transfers that violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions, and reaffirmed the vital importance of the ironclad U.S.-ROK alliance in promoting peace, security, and prosperity around the world. Secretary Blinken thanked Foreign Minister Cho for the ROK’s continued support of Ukraine. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Cho also agreed to continue working together to...

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu today in Washington on the occasion of the U.S.-Romania Strategic Dialogue. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Odobescu reaffirmed the importance of supporting Ukraine against Russia’s aggression and committed to working together as NATO Allies to strengthen security and energy resilience across the Black Sea region. They also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate in combating foreign state information manipulation.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will release the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report) on Monday, June 24, at 11:00 a.m. ET at the U.S. Department of State. He will be joined by Cindy Dyer, Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.