Foreign Affairs

Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on Day One of the Summit for Democracy

Via Teleconference (December 9, 2021) 5:04 P.M. EST MODERATOR: Hello, everyone. Welcome to our on-background conference call to discuss day one of the Summit for Democracy. For your reference today, our speakers will be [senior administration official], [senior administration official], and [senior administration official]. From this point on, all three should be referred to as...

Updated: Fri Dec 10 2021

Bill Signed: S. 610

On Friday, December 10, 2021, the President signed into law: S. 610, the "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act," which delays the Medicare sequester and make other changes to Medicare payments, and to modify procedures affecting federal budget scorekeeping and federal borrowing. Thank you to House Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, Majority...

Updated: Fri Dec 10 2021

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. to Award Medal of Honor

On December 16, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., will award the Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Alwyn C. Cashe, United States Army, Sergeant First Class Christopher A. Celiz, United States Army, and Master Sergeant Earl D. Plumlee, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry. Sergeant First Class Alwyn C. Cashe will receive...

Updated: Fri Dec 10 2021

Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with President Alejandro Giammattei of Guatemala

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with the President of Guatemala, Alejandro Giammattei, and his delegation on December 8 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce building before the culmination of his visit to Washington to review extensive bilateral cooperation on migration, counternarcotics, and promoting economic opportunity. Also in the meeting were National Security Advisor to the Vice President Nancy McEldowney,...

Updated: Fri Dec 10 2021

Readout of President Biden's Call with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany to congratulate him on his appointment and the formation of a ruling coalition. President Biden reaffirmed his support for robust U.S.-German relations and desire to further strengthen transatlantic cooperation in the coming years. The leaders discussed our work together on the full...

Updated: Fri Dec 10 2021

Remarks by President Biden at the Memorial Service of Senator Robert J. Dole

Washington National CathedralWashington, D.C. 11:29 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Reverend, clergy, distinguished guests: Among the many memories from 50 years of friendship, there is one that especially captures what Bob Dole was as a man and, in my view, as a patriot. We were on our way to the 50th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy,...

Updated: Fri Dec 10 2021

Remarks by President Biden at the Summit for Democracy Closing Session

South Court AuditoriumEisenhower Executive Office Building 1:57 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everyone for participating in the Summit for Democracy and for renewing our dedication to the shared values that are the root of our national and international strength. In the lead-up to this gathering, over the last two days, we've heard government leaders, as well...

Updated: Fri Dec 10 2021

Statement by President Joe Biden On Kellogg Collective Bargaining Negotiations

Collective bargaining is an essential tool to protect the rights of workers that should be free from threats and intimidation from employers. That's why I am deeply troubled by reports of Kellogg's plans to permanently replace striking workers from the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International during their ongoing collective bargaining negotiations. Permanently replacing striking...

Updated: Fri Dec 10 2021

Statement by President Joe Biden on Supreme Court Decision on Texas SB8

I am very concerned by the Supreme Court's decision to allow SB8 to remain in effect in light of the significant consequences that law has for women in Texas and around the country, and for the rule of law. As I have made clear from Day One, I am deeply committed to the constitutional right...

Updated: Fri Dec 10 2021

A Proclamation on Human Rights Day and Human Rights Week, 2021

In the wake of the devastation of the Second World War, leaders from around the world came together with a shared vision to promote a safer future for all nations by securing and advancing the human rights of everyone, everywhere. On December 10, 1948, thanks to the moral leadership and service of Eleanor Roosevelt as the first...

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Meeting of the bilateral working group on Franco-Armenian economic cooperation (9 December 2021)

M. Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister Delegate for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, attached to the Minister for the Economy, Finance and the Recovery, and Mr Ararat Mirzoyan, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, are co-chairing in Paris today, 9 December, the first session of the bilateral working group on Franco-Armenian economic cooperation. The working group - in which (...)

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

President Biden Announces Key Regional Appointments for USDA, HHS, EPA, and HUD

WASHINGTON - Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to serve in key regional roles at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Health and Human Services (HHS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Kyle Wilkens, USDA State Director, Rural Development, Missouri Rhiannon Hampson, USDA...

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Readout of President Biden's Call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine

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...

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Readout of President Biden's Call with the Leaders of The Bucharest Nine Eastern Flank NATO Allies

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with the Bucharest Nine (B9) group of our eastern flank NATO Allies to underscore the United States' commitment to Transatlantic security and our sacred commitment to NATO's Article 5. The leaders discussed Russia's destabilizing military buildup along Ukraine's border and the need for a united, ready, and resolute NATO...

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Readout of the December National Climate Task Force Meeting

Following COP26 and the President's signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the National Task Force launches new Federal Sustainability Plan to lead by example across procurement and operations Today, National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy convened the National Climate Task Force with Cabinet members and senior leadership from across the Biden-Harris Administration. This meeting followed on...

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Remarks by President Biden at a Congressional Tribute Ceremony for Senator Robert J. Dole

U.S. CapitolWashington, D.C. 10:28 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, members of Congress, distinguished guests, but most importantly, Elizabeth and Robin - I know this is not easy. Thank you for letting us do this. We meet here in the very heart of American democracy, the Capitol...

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Remarks By President Biden At The Summit For Democracy Opening Session

8:12 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Well, hello everyone, and welcome to the first Summit for Democracy. This gathering has been on my mind for a long time for a simple reason: In the face of sustained and alarming challenges to democracy, universal human rights, and - all around the world, democracy needs champions....

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Statement from President Joe Biden on Unemployment Insurance Claims

Our economic recovery has two key components: getting America back to work, and getting prices and supply chains back to normal. Simply put, it is about jobs and prices. Today, we received further evidence that our jobs recovery is one of the strongest ever. The number of Americans filing for unemployment last week was the...

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Statement to the press by Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, following his audience with Abdelmadji

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm glad to be back in Algeria. I had the pleasure and honour of speaking at length to President Tebboune and my counterpart, Minister Lamamra. I'd like to thank them for their warm welcome. It was important for me to travel to Algiers for a working visit and to assess the bilateral relationship. The aim of this visit is twofold: to rebuild a trustful relationship between our two countries, a relationship marked by respect for each side's sovereignty, but also to (...)

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Covid-19 - France delivers 10 million vaccine doses to the African Union (Dec. 8, 2021)

In line with the commitments it made in 2021, France has delivered 10 million doses of AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccine for Covid-19 to the countries of the African Union. These donations are especially critical as a new wave of the pandemic is feared on the continent. Since the beginning of the pandemic, France has promoted fair, universal access to vaccines, especially in Africa. It is strongly committed to accelerating vaccination worldwide, and by summer 2022 will have donated 120 (...)

Updated: Wed Dec 08 2021

Ramy Shaath's situation- Q&A - (7 December 2021)

Q: One year ago, during the Egyptian President's visit to Paris, the French President raised the issue of the imprisonment of human rights activist Ramy Shaath, who is married to a French researcher. Since then, other visits have taken place and contracts have been signed with Egypt; why has the situation not evolved? Has his case been raised again and what has been the Egyptian authorities' response? A: As part of the rigorous, substantive dialogue that France maintains with Egypt on human (...)

Updated: Wed Dec 08 2021