The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman met today with French MFA Secretary General Francois Delattre, German MFA State Secretary Andreas Michaelis, Italian MFA Political Director Pasquale Ferrara, and UK Minister of State for Middle East, North Africa and North America James Cleverly, who represented their respective …

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today by phone with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.  Noting shared concerns regarding Russia’s ongoing and unprovoked military build-up in and around Ukraine, the Secretary and Foreign Minister discussed outcomes and next steps following the U.S.-Russia Strategic Stability Dialogue in …

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.  Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression.  He discussed potential U.S. and Allied responses to Russia’s military buildup …

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke today with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.  Deputy Secretary Sherman and Foreign Minister Dendias stressed the importance of promoting solidarity and stability in Europe, including support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.  The Deputy Secretary and Foreign Minister also underscored …

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke today with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias.  Deputy Secretary Sherman and Foreign Minister Dendias stressed the importance of promoting solidarity and stability in Europe, including support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.  The Deputy Secretary and Foreign Minister also underscored …

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with the Bucharest Nine (B9) group of eastern flank NATO Allies.  The Secretary and Foreign Ministers discussed Russia’s destabilizing military buildup along Ukraine’s border; the need for a united, ready, and resolute NATO stance for the collective defense of …

The People’s Republic of China, the French Republic, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America consider the avoidance of war between Nuclear-Weapon States and the reduction of strategic risks as our foremost responsibilities. We affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must …

Via Teleconference 12:41 P.M. EST MODERATOR:  Thank you.  And good afternoon, everyone.  Thank you for joining us today for the National Security Council background call previewing President Biden’s call with President Putin. As a reminder of the ground rules, this call will be on background, attributable to a “senior administration official,” with the contents of the …

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will hold a phone call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Thursday, December 30, 2021 to discuss a range of topics, including upcoming diplomatic engagements with Russia. The Biden Administration continues to engage in extensive diplomacy with our European Allies and partners, consulting and coordinating on a common approach …

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke by phone today with Russian Presidential Foreign Policy Advisor Yuriy Ushakov to follow up on the December 7 call between President Biden and President Putin.  Mr. Sullivan reiterated our strong concerns about the Russian military build-up on the border with Ukraine and emphasized that the United States will continue …

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke today with National Security Advisors, Foreign Ministers, and other officials from the Bucharest Nine (B9) group of our eastern flank NATO Allies.  Mr. Sullivan briefed on the latest U.S. engagements with Russian officials and consulted his counterparts on issues of importance to Transatlantic security.  Mr. Sullivan and his counterparts all …

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte.  Secretary Blinken and Prime Minister Simonyte reaffirmed the importance of our robust defense and economic relations for the security and prosperity of the Transatlantic region and the world.  The Secretary underscored ironclad U.S. …

December 9 marks the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime, offering a moment to reflect upon the great evil that exists in our world and to recommit ourselves to do everything in our power to stop it.  People of goodwill everywhere have a duty to remember, to grieve, to speak out, to reaffirm the dignity of victims of genocide and other atrocity crimes, and …

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine.  President Biden voiced the deep concerns of the United States and our European Allies about Russia’s aggressive actions towards Ukraine and made clear that the U.S. and our Allies would respond with strong economic and other measures in the event of a …

“Corruption threatens United States national security, economic equity, global anti-poverty and development efforts, and democracy itself.  But by effectively preventing and countering corruption and demonstrating the advantages of transparent and accountable governance, we can secure a critical advantage for the United States and other democracies.” President Joe Biden June 3, 2021 Corruption is a cancer …

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. held a secure video call today with President Vladimir Putin of Russia to discuss a range of issues on the U.S.-Russia agenda. President Biden voiced the deep concerns of the United States and our European Allies about Russia’s escalation of forces surrounding Ukraine and made clear that the U.S. and …

President Biden briefed leaders on his call with President Putin, in which he discussed the serious consequences of Russian military action in Ukraine and the need to de-escalate and return to diplomacy. The leaders underscored their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the need for Russia to reduce tensions and engage …

“We strongly support the OSCE Chair’s efforts to make progress on the region’s peace and security.  Sweden can count on the U.S. as a partner to advance OSCE principles.” -Secretary Blinken January 29, 2021 The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is the world’s largest and most comprehensive regional security organization with 57 …

President Biden pledged to host a Summit for Democracy to reinforce our commitment to placing democracy and human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy.  It reflects President Biden’s deeply held belief that to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges, democracies must come together, learn together, stand together, and act together.  The December 9-10 virtual Summit will bring together 110 …

In coordination with international allies and partners, today we are taking additional measures to raise the cost on Alyaksandr Lukashenka and his regime for their ongoing attacks on democracy, human rights, and international norms, and for their brutal repression of Belarusians both inside and outside the country. These steps represent our third coordinated action with …

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on the margins of the NATO Foreign Ministerial in Riga, Latvia. Secretary Blinken reiterated the United States’ solemn and steadfast commitment to NATO and to Article 5.  The Secretary and Secretary General also discussed the importance of continued consultation and Alliance unity on issues including support for Ukraine against Russian aggression, the drafting of NATO’s new Strategic Concept, and arms control …

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Riga and Stockholm from November 29 to December 2, 2021. Secretary Blinken will begin his trip in Riga, Latvia, where he will meet with President Egils Levits, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins, and Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics to affirm the strong partnership between Latvia and the United …

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the agenda for the November 30 – December 1 NATO Foreign Ministerial and the reports of unusual Russian military activity near Ukraine. Secretary Blinken noted that he looks forward to the …

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke by phone today with Poland’s National Security Bureau Chief Pawel Soloch. Mr Sullivan underscored our strong bilateral cooperation on defense issues and welcomed ongoing efforts to strengthen NATO’s deterrence posture. He conveyed strong support for Poland in the face of the Lukashenka regime’s actions that created a migration crisis …

Each November we solemnly honor and pay tribute to the millions of innocent Ukrainians who suffered and perished during the Holodomor – “death by hunger” – in 1932 and 1933.  The men, women, and children who lost their lives during this famine were victims of the brutal policies and deliberate acts of the regime of …

State-sponsored actors, including Iranian groups, have engaged in covert and deceptive activities to disseminate disinformation through websites and social media designed to undermine Americans’ faith in U.S. elections. Today, the United States is designating six Iranian individuals and one Iranian entity, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13848, for their roles in attempting to influence the …

The text of 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, and the High Representative of the European Union. Begin Text:  We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United …

Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya will travel to Belgium and Lithuania from November 17–20, 2021. In Belgium, Under Secretary Zeya will meet with senior European Union officials and civil society representatives to discuss the upcoming Summit for Democracy, which will bring together global stakeholders to set forth …

The United States is deeply concerned about reports of intensive fighting today between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We urge both sides to take immediate concrete steps to reduce tensions and avoid further escalation.  We also call on the sides to engage directly and constructively to resolve all outstanding issues, including border demarcation. As noted in the Minsk Group …

On November 15, 2021, the Russian Federation recklessly conducted a destructive test of a direct-ascent anti-satellite missile against one of its own satellites. This test has so far generated over fifteen hundred pieces of trackable orbital debris and will likely generate hundreds of thousands of pieces of smaller orbital debris.  The long-lived debris created by …

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke yesterday with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau.  Secretary Blinken reaffirmed U.S. support for Poland in the face of the Lukashenka regime’s cynical exploitation of vulnerable migrants.  The actions by the Lukashenka regime threaten security, sow division, and aim to distract from …

The following is the text of the U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership signed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Washington, D.C. on November 10, 2021. Begin Text: Preamble The United States and Ukraine: Reaffirm the importance of our relationship as friends and strategic partners, based both …

REMARKS ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM NOVEMBER 1, 2021  SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good afternoon.  It is a great pleasure to join all of you for what is the official launch of the U.S. Center here at COP26.  And I just want to thank everyone across the U.S. Government who made all of this happen. Over the next two …

NOVEMBER 02, 2021 • SPEECHES AND REMARKS Scottish Event Campus Glasgow, Scotland 10:00 A.M. GMT THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning, everyone.  It’s an honor to be with you.  My fellow leaders, I’m honored to represent the United States in this important discussion. Conserving our forests and other critical ecosystems is indispensable — an indispensable piece of keeping our climate …

NOVEMBER 02, 2021 • SPEECHES AND REMARKS Scottish Event Campus Glasgow, Scotland 3:07 P.M. GMT THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Ladies and gentlemen, our overriding purpose here in Glasgow is to raise the ambitions of our commitments to keep within reach our goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But setting ambitious targets is only half of …

Scottish Event Campus Glasgow, Scotland 2:55 P.M. GMT THE PRESIDENT:  Ladies and gentlemen, to state the obvious, we meet with the eyes of history upon us and the profound questions before us.  It’s simple: Will we act?  Will we do what is necessary?  Will we seize the enormous opportunity before us?  Or will we condemn …

PRESS STATEMENT NED PRICE, DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON NOVEMBER 4, 2021 The U.S. Department of State announces a reward offer of up to $10,000,000 for information leading to the identification or location of any individual(s) who hold(s) a key leadership position in the DarkSide ransomware variant transnational organized crime group. In addition, the Department is also offering a reward offer of …

PRESS STATEMENT ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE NOVEMBER 5, 2021 The world has endured the COVID-19 pandemic for nearly two years.  We have seen more than 5 million deaths worldwide, devastated economies, and destroyed livelihoods.  New variants continue to emerge, increasing the uncertainty about the end of the pandemic. Despite progress in worldwide vaccination, we are not where we need …

On the sixty-fifth anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian revolution, we remember the brave men and women who fought to defend their liberty on the streets of Budapest and around the nation.  Their passion for freedom was realized in 1989, when Hungary embraced democracy.  We mark this solemn anniversary together with our partner and NATO Ally. …

MEDIA NOTE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON OCTOBER 11, 2021 At the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) on September 17, 2021, President Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced  , with support from seven additional countries, the Global Methane Pledge—an initiative to be launched at the World Leaders Summit at the 26th UN Climate Change …

PRESS STATEMENT ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 11, 2021 On International Day of the Girl Child, the United States joins the global community in recognizing an inherent truth: all girls around the world deserve to live safe, healthy, and empowered lives.  Girls are critical participants in our local and global communities, poised to be at the forefront of the …

President Biden met virtually with G20 Leaders today to discuss Afghanistan. The G20 Leaders were joined by Leaders of G20 guest countries and international financial institutions. The Leaders discussed the critical need to maintain a laser-focus on our enduring counterterrorism efforts, including against threats from ISIS-K, and ensuring safe passage for those foreign nationals and …

MODERATOR:  Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen – those in the room, those watching online – to this final press conference for the OECD’s Ministerial Council Meeting.  We’ll have a – we’ll hear a few remarks from the Secretary-General, followed by remarks from the Secretary of State, who chaired the meeting.  And then we will take …

READOUT OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON OCTOBER 6, 2021 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Lavrov agreed on the importance of a prompt return to mutual compliance by Iran and the U.S. with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.  The two sides additionally …

FACT SHEET OCTOBER 5, 2021 The United States is releasing newly declassified information on the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile to update the information previously released in September 2017. Increasing the transparency of states’ nuclear stockpiles is important to nonproliferation and disarmament efforts, including commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and efforts to address all types …

MEDIA NOTE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON OCTOBER 5, 2021 Today in The Hague, the United States and 44 other countries submitted questions to the Russian Federation regarding the poisoning of Mr. Aleksey Navalny on Russian soil last year.  The presentation of these questions coincides with the Ninety-Eighth Session of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Executive Council, …

REMARKS ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE OECD PARIS, FRANCE OCTOBER 5, 2021 SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon, and thank you all so much. Mathias, I must start by saying that to be linked to George Marshall is humbling, reminds me a little bit about how Allen & Rossi must have felt. And for those of you who don’t remember Allen …

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met today in Tashkent with Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov and an interagency delegation that included National Security Advisor Viktor Makhmudov, Minister of Justice Ruslanbek Davlatov, and Special Representative of the President of Uzbekistan for Afghanistan Ismatullah Irgashev.  The Deputy Secretary …

MEDIA NOTE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan on the occasion of the C5+1 Ministerial on the margins of UNGA 76. Begin text:  The U.S. Secretary …

PRESS STATEMENT ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 Yesterday, the premier human rights conference of the Europe-Eurasia region should have opened in Warsaw, Poland.  Unfortunately, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) 2021 Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) did not convene due to a decision by the Russian government to block the meeting. We deeply regret …

Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry participated in the UN High-Level Dialogue on Energy and officially announced the release of the U.S. Energy Compact.  This compact highlights a number of voluntary commitments and actions by the U.S. government to advance progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal Seven on Affordable and Clean Energy, consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the ultimate achievement of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.  These commitments …

REMARKS ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE UN HEADQUARTERS NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK SEPTEMBER 23, 2021   SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thank you very much, Taoiseach.  Secretary-General Guterres, thank you for your presence, thank you for your leadership on climate.  And Taoiseach, thank you so much for convening today’s discussion, for putting the connection between climate and security on the Security Council’s agenda.  And …

ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE PALACE HOTEL NEW YORK, NY SEPTEMBER 22, 2021   SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, good afternoon, everyone. We meet at a challenging time.  Eighteen months since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, we are not where we need to be.  The virus continues to overpower and outmaneuver us.  In many places, it’s spreading at its …

United Nations Headquarters New York, New York 10:01 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, my fellow delegates, to all those who dedicate themselves to this noble mission of this institution: It’s my honor to speak to you for the first time as President of the United States. We meet this year in a …

The 1,000th Day of Incarceration for Paul Whelan September 23, 2021 Today is the 1,000th day that American citizen Paul Whelan has spent in prison. Paul was subjected to a secret trial and sentenced to 16 years in a Russian penal colony based on secret evidence. Paul, like everyone, has the right to a fair …

MEDIA NOTE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 The text of the following statement was issued by the Governments of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the United States of America, on the occasion of the C5+1 Climate Ministerial held virtually on September 16, 2021. Begin Text: Climate policy …

United Nations Headquarters New York, New York 10:01 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, my fellow delegates, to all those who dedicate themselves to this noble mission of this institution: It’s my honor to speak to you for the first time as President of the United States. We meet this year in a …

For millennia, Jewish communities have marked Yom Kippur as an occasion to reflect and pray; fast and seek forgiveness; account for past transgressions, and commit to future change. At its core, this sacred and solemn day reaffirms a universal principle at the essence of our humanity: that, through word and deed, we each have the …

REMARKS ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE RAMSTEIN AIR BASE GERMANY SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, greetings, everyone, and Heiko, thank you so much for co-hosting this ministerial today, and also I just want to say to all of our colleagues thank you so much for the remarkable contributions that Germany’s made to our shared mission in Afghanistan over the …

I congratulate the Government of Iraq on hosting a successful and ground-breaking regional summit today. This kind of diplomacy has never been more important as we seek to ease tensions among neighboring states and expand cooperation across the Middle East, and Iraq’s leadership on this is historic. I also thank President Macron for his engagement …

Building off of last week’s announcement of additional actions that we are taking to stop the spread of the Delta variant and get more people vaccinated in the United States, President Biden will give an update on another critical piece of his strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic: stopping the spread of the virus abroad.

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani today to reiterate the strong and enduring U.S. commitment to Afghanistan.