Foreign Affairs

Russia - Q&A (23 Jun. 2022)

Q: Can you confirm that the Russian authorities told the cultural attaché at the French Embassy in Moscow to leave the country? A: The Russian authorities informed our ambassador to Moscow on Friday that an embassy employee was no longer welcome on their territory. No legitimate reason was provided. We deplore this unjustified decision. Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna instructed the relevant Ministry departments to swiftly present her with options to determine (...)

Updated: Thu Jun 23 2022

Rwanda - Conversation between Catherine Colonna and her counterpart (23 Jun. 2022)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna spoke today with Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Vincent Biruta. During this initial conversation, they discussed the biggest challenges facing the region, starting with the Great Lakes area. The minister expressed France's concern over rising tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. She reiterated France's support for the Nairobi Process under the auspices of the East African (...)

Updated: Thu Jun 23 2022

Statement by President Biden on Bipartisan Vote to Advance Gun Safety Legislation

When I made the heartbreaking visit to families in Newtown nearly ten years ago, I promised them then that we would take action to help keep our kids safe in the classroom. It's taken a decade, because for too long Congress has failed to make meaningful progress on gun safety reform. Our country has endured too...

Updated: Thu Jun 23 2022

Statement by President Joe Biden on Supreme Court Ruling on Guns

I am deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court's ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. Since 1911, the State of New York has required individuals who would like to carry a concealed weapon in public to show a need to do so for the purpose of self-defense and to acquire a license. More...

Updated: Thu Jun 23 2022

Togo - Gabon - Q&A (23 Jun. 2022)

Q: Togo and Gabon signaled their interest in joining the Commonwealth. Does that reflect a loss of French influence among its African allies? A: These are sovereign decisions of two nations, and as such, we do not comment on them.

Updated: Thu Jun 23 2022

Ukraine - France mobilised to support Ukraine through medical care for war wounded (22 Jun. 2022)

On Thursday 16 and Friday 17 June, as part of France's support for Ukraine, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Ministry for the Armed Forces, conducted two further operations to evacuate and provide medical care for six Ukrainian war wounded. On their arrival in France, the patients were transferred to civilian and military hospitals in Paris and the Paris region, with the support of the French Red Cross and the (...)

Updated: Thu Jun 23 2022

UNESCO - Conversation between Catherine Colonna and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay (23 (Jun. 2022)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna spoke with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay on June 23 at the Quai d'Orsay. They commended the excellent partnership between France and UNESCO. They discussed the consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine on UNESCO's efforts to protect heritage sites and ensure the safety of journalists. The minister also reaffirmed France's priority commitment to education, and especially girls' education, ahead of the Transforming (...)

Updated: Thu Jun 23 2022

Zoom and Roblox join the Christchurch Call (06.23.22)

Since its launch in 2019, the Christchurch Call has become the leading global multi-stakeholder initiative through which leaders collectively commit to addressing the problem of violent terrorist and extremist content online. Today, France and New Zealand are pleased to announce Zoom and Roblox as new supporters of the Christchurch Call. Since the Christchurch Call's inception in 2019, the number of supporters has grown each year. Over 55 governments, as well as the European Commission, (...)

Updated: Thu Jun 23 2022

Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Randy W. Berry, of Colorado, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Namibia. Anjali Chaturvedi, of Maryland, to be General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs, vice Richard...

Updated: Wed Jun 22 2022

President Biden Announces Key Nominees

WASHINGTON - Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate the following leaders to serve as key leaders in his administration: Anjali Chaturvedi, Nominee for General Counsel, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Patrice H. Kunesh, Nominee for Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Kristina A. Kvien,...

Updated: Wed Jun 22 2022

President Biden Announces Ninth Operation Fly Formula Mission

Today, President Biden is announcing that his Administration is sourcing flights, facilitated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), for Operation Fly Formula to transport Bubs Australia infant formula from Melbourne, Australia to Los Angeles, California on June 26 and to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 5. These two deliveries will include in total approximately...

Updated: Wed Jun 22 2022

President Biden Announces Tenth Operation Fly Formula Mission

Biden Administration will facilitate trucking shipment of approximately 16 million 8-ounce bottle equivalents of Gerber® Good Start® Gentle infant formula this weekend Today, President Biden is announcing that his Administration is sourcing trucking, facilitated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), for Operation Fly Formula to transport Gerber infant formula from Mexico...

Updated: Wed Jun 22 2022

Readout of the June National Climate Task Force Meeting

Task Force Discussed Tackling Extreme Heat, Bolstering Resilience, and Lowering Energy Costs Yesterday, National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy convened the 12th meeting of the National Climate Task Force to discuss President Biden's commitment to protecting the most vulnerable Americans from extreme heat, strengthening the nation's resilience to extreme weather events, and lowering energy costs for...

Updated: Wed Jun 22 2022

Readout of U.S.-EU Task Force on European Energy Security Meeting

The U.S.-EU Task Force on European Energy Security met virtually on June 22, 2022 convened by co-chairs Amos Hochstein, U.S. Senior Advisor for Energy Security, and Björn Seibert, Head of Cabinet of the European Commission President, and under the leadership of Ditte Juul Jørgensen, European Commission Director General for Energy, and Melanie Nakagawa, Special Assistant...

Updated: Wed Jun 22 2022

Remarks by President Biden on Gas Prices and Putin's Price Hike

South Court AuditoriumEisenhower Executive Office Building 2:03 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everyone. I'd like to talk to you about the actions I'm announcing to bring down gas prices. First, today I'm calling on Congress to suspend the federal gas tax for the next 90 days, through the busy summer season - busy travel...

Updated: Wed Jun 22 2022

South Korea - Meeting between Mme Catherine Colonna and Mr Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea (21 Jun. 22)

Mme Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, spoke today to Mr Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, to whom she handed a letter from the [French] Prime Minister. The [Korean] Prime Minister and the Minister highlighted the excellent bilateral relationship, based on common values and a shared commitment to multilateralism and respect for the law as the foundation of the international order. The Prime Minister and the Minister talked about priority (...)

Updated: Wed Jun 22 2022

Statement by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on the Earthquake in Afghanistan

The United States is deeply saddened to see the devastating earthquake that took the lives of at least 1,000 people in Afghanistan. President Biden is monitoring developments and has directed USAID and other federal government partners to assess U.S. response options to help those most affected. The United States is proud to be the single largest...

Updated: Wed Jun 22 2022

Ethiopia - Stepped-up violence in Oromia and Gambela regions (21 Jun. 2022)

France is concerned by the stepped-up violence in Ethiopia's Oromia and Gambela regions, which resulted in more than 200 civilian casualties on June 18, according to the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission. France strongly condemns attacks on civilians and calls on all the parties to renounce the use of violence. France also reiterates its support for the upcoming start of negotiations between the federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) to restore peace in the (...)

Updated: Tue Jun 21 2022

EU - Participation of Clément Beaune in the General Affairs Council (Luxembourg, 21 Jun. 2022)

Clément Beaune, Minister Delegate for European Affairs, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is chairing today's General Affairs Council in Luxembourg. He and his counterparts will engage in preparations for the European Council meeting of June 23-24. Ahead of that meeting, he will emphasize that France supports giving Ukraine and Moldova immediate candidate status combined with a roadmap, as President Macron stated in Kyiv last week. Mr. Beaune will reiterate our (...)

Updated: Tue Jun 21 2022

FACT SHEET: BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES NEW PAY RAISES & SUPPORTS FOR WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER WORKFORCE FROM BIPARTISA

Our nation's wildland firefighters safeguard vital benefits for communities across the nation: protecting our nation's critical infrastructure, defending lives and private property from the risk of catastrophic wildfire, preserving forests so they can help us combat climate change, and protecting landscapes that contain cultural and natural resources of significance and value to Tribes, provide habitat...

Updated: Tue Jun 21 2022

FACT SHEET: Changes to U.S. Anti-Personnel Landmine Policy

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing important policy changes to U.S. Anti-Personnel Landmine policy. After conducting a comprehensive policy review, the United States is joining the vast majority of countries around the world in committing to limit the use of anti-personnel landmines (APL).These changes reflect the President's belief that these weapons have disproportionate impact on...

Updated: Tue Jun 21 2022

Hong Kong - Q&A - (30 Dec. 2021)

Q: Following the arrest in Hong Kong of several Stand News journalists, the pop star Denise Ho and the lawyer and former Legislative Council member Margaret Ng, does France have any response ? A: France is concerned about these developments, which follow the disappearance of the Hong Kong daily Apple Daily this summer and the conviction of its founder, Jimmy Lai. France reaffirms its steadfast, resolute commitment to press freedom, freedom of expression and the protection of journalists (...)

Updated: Tue Jun 21 2022

Mali - France condemns massacres of civilians in the Bankass circle (21 Jun. 2022)

France condemns in the strongest possible terms the massacres of civilians in the Bankass circle during the night of June 18, which left more than a hundred civilians dead and many wounded. France offers its sincere condolences to the victims' families and the people of Mali. France is deeply concerned by the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Mali, reflected by intensified attacks on civilians in recent (...)

Updated: Tue Jun 21 2022

Memorandum on the Prescription of Method of Designating a Member of the Military Sentencing Parameters and Criteria Board

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SUBJECT: Prescription of Method of Designating a Member of the Military Sentencing Parameters and Criteria Board By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 539E(e)(4)(B) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, Public Law...

Updated: Tue Jun 21 2022