Foreign Affairs

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with Ukrainian Officials

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met today with Head of Presidential Administration Andriy Yermak and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba of Ukraine. They discussed the progress made on bilateral priorities identified by President Biden and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine in their September 1 joint statement. Both sides welcomed the November 10 re-launch of the bilateral...

Updated: Thu Nov 11 2021

Belarus - Q&A from the press briefing - (9 Nov. 21)

Q: What is France's reaction to the migrant crisis on the border between Poland and Belarus? The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, urged Member States on Monday to approve new sanctions against the Belarusian authorities. Will France support new sanctions? Q: Is France in favor of imposing penalties on European companies that transport passengers to Belarus, supposedly for "tourism" purposes, although that is unlikely? Should a fine be paid to Poland should the (...)

Updated: Wed Nov 10 2021

FACT SHEET: Vice President Harris Announces Initiatives on Space and Cybersecurity

Following her meeting with President Emmanuel Macron of France, Vice President Kamala Harris is announcing a number of collaborative initiatives that the United States will undertake alongside France and other countries to address global issues and emerging threats. She is announcing expanded cooperation on space and support for efforts to advance international cooperation in cybersecurity. ...

Updated: Wed Nov 10 2021

Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate on the Continuation of the National Eme

Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Madam President:) Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency...

Updated: Wed Nov 10 2021

President Biden to Sign Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Monday

On Monday, the President will host a bipartisan bill signing ceremony for his Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The President will be joined by Members of Congress who helped write this landmark economic growth bill and by a diverse group of leaders who fought for its passage across the country, ranging...

Updated: Wed Nov 10 2021

Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials

Via Teleconference 11:02 A.M. EST MR. ZIENTS: Good morning, and thanks for joining us. Today, I'll begin with a progress report. Then, I'll turn to the doctors. We're making important progress in our fight against the virus across three fronts: vaccinations, testing, and ensuring our response is equitable and reaches the hardest-hit communities and those...

Updated: Wed Nov 10 2021

Readout of President Biden's Meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. They welcomed the revitalization of U.S.-EU ties, which has led to the resolution of long-standing trade differences as well as cooperation on ending the COVID-19 pandemic, fighting climate change, and investing in the infrastructure needs of the 21st century. The...

Updated: Wed Nov 10 2021

Remarks by President Biden at the Memorial of Former Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner

Milford Church of the NazareneMilford, Delaware 1:45 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Well, Tommy, you left it to me. (Laughter.) We all brought our weapons. I brought my rosary. (Laughter.) I got a story about that with Ruth Ann. Folks, to our beloved Delaware, to our beloved nation, and to our beloved family: Here in Milford,...

Updated: Wed Nov 10 2021

Statement by Senior Advisor and Chief Spokesperson Symone Sanders on Vice President Kamala Harris's Meeting with President Em

Vice President Kamala Harris met with President Emmanuel Macron of France at the Élysée Palace in Paris today to express her appreciation for the close friendship and shared values between the United States and France. The Vice President reinforced the United States' commitment to continue deepening coordination and cooperation across a range of global challenges,...

Updated: Wed Nov 10 2021

Ukraine - Q&A from the press briefing (9 Nov. 21)

Q: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said it was impossible to hold a ministerial meeting in the Normandy Format on November 11 because there have been no responses to Russian proposals on the meeting's final document. Does France agree that it is necessary to prepare this event more meticulously? Do you have other proposals? Might the ministerial meeting in the Normandy Format take place before the end of November? A: That is incorrect. France and Germany responded to Russia's (...)

Updated: Wed Nov 10 2021

UN - Appointment of Colin Stewart as the Secretary-General's Special Representative and Head of the UN Peacekeeping Force in

France welcomes the appointment of Colin Stewart as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). It offers him its best wishes for success and assures him of its full support for his mission. France reaffirms its support for the UN Secretary-General's efforts to resolve the Cyprus question and encourages the stakeholders to resume negotiations under the auspices of the UN. In this regard, it also hopes that a new (...)

Updated: Wed Nov 10 2021

FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Action Plan for America's Ports and Waterways

While American ports are a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, outdated infrastructure and the COVID-19 pandemic have strained their capacity and jeopardized global supply chains. According to the 2021 Report Card for America's Infrastructure Report issued by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), in 2018, America's ports supported more than 30 million jobs and approximately...

Updated: Tue Nov 09 2021

India - Discussion between Jean-Yves Le Drian and Ajit Doval, the Indian Prime Minister's National Security Advisor (Nov. 5,

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian met today with Ajit Doval, the Indian Prime Minister's National Security Advisor, on the occasion of the 35th session of the India-France Strategic Dialogue, meeting in Paris. Following on from the conversation between President Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 in Rome, the Minister expressed our commitment to deepening the French-Indian strategic partnership and strengthening its various (...)

Updated: Tue Nov 09 2021

India - Q&A - (8 Nov 2021)

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about the India-France Strategic Dialogue that just took place? The weapons contracts that are continuing, and possible joint naval exercises? A: I refer you to the statement of November 5 about Jean-Yves Le Drian's conversation with Ajit Doval, the Indian Prime Minister's national security advisor, on the occasion of the 35th session of the India-France Strategic (...)

Updated: Tue Nov 09 2021

Iran - Conversation between M. Jean-Yves Le Drian and his Iranian counterpart (9 Nov 2021)

M. Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, spoke to his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, on the telephone today, Tuesday 9 November. In line with the 29 October communiqué by the heads of State and government of the E3 and the United States, he emphasized the importance and urgency of resuming the negotiations interrupted by Iran on 20 June 2021, on the basis negotiated until that date, with the aim of a swift return to the JCPOA. The Minister also (...)

Updated: Tue Nov 09 2021

Letter to the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect

Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Madam President:) Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency...

Updated: Tue Nov 09 2021

Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate on the Continuation of the National Eme

Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Madam President:) Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency...

Updated: Tue Nov 09 2021

Mali - Q&A - (8 Nov 2021)

Q: After ECOWAS, will France take individual sanctions against the members of the ruling junta in Mali for their failure to abide by the election timetable? A: Like all of its EU partners, France supports the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Mali. In line with the conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council on October 18, the EU is currently working on the possibility of adopting restrictive measures in support of ECOWAS efforts against those who are (...)

Updated: Tue Nov 09 2021

Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Iran

On November 14, 1979, by Executive Order 12170, the President declared a national emergency with respect to Iran pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), and took related steps to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted...

Updated: Tue Nov 09 2021

Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Threat from Securities Investments that Finance Cert

On November 12, 2020, by Executive Order 13959, the President declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the threat from securities investments that finance certain companies of...

Updated: Tue Nov 09 2021