Foreign Affairs

Ukraine - Statement by Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs (3 Jun. 2022)

Statement by Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs It has been 100 days since Russia launched its aggression against Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. For 100 days, Russia has been continually and indiscriminately bombarding Ukrainian military forces and civilians. France stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in their suffering. It has done so not only since February 24, but since 2014, which saw the illegal annexation of Crimea and the eruption of the (...)

Updated: Fri Jun 03 2022

UN - France condemns the attack on MINUSMA (1 Jun. 2022)

France condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack on the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) near Kidal on June 1, which took the life of a Jordanian peacekeeper and wounded three others of the same nationality.

Updated: Fri Jun 03 2022

Yemen - France welcomes the two-month extension of the truce (2 Jun. 2022)

France welcomes UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg's announcement on June 2 of the two-month extension of the truce in that country. This extension was made possible by the constructive attitude shown by the parties to the conflict and by support for Mr. Grundberg's efforts from the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council and regional partners such as Jordan and Egypt.

Updated: Fri Jun 03 2022

Biden-Harris Administration Announces the First Session of the White House Internship Program, Administration Will Pay Intern

President Biden and Vice President Harris are announcing the launch of the White House Internship Program and that, for the first time in recent history, White House interns will be paid. The first session will commence in Fall 2022. Too often, unpaid federal internships have been a barrier to hardworking and talented students and professionals,...

Updated: Thu Jun 02 2022

FACT SHEET: United States Takes Further Actions to Counter Sanctions Evasion by Russia

The United States, alongside over 30 partners around the world, has imposed unprecedented sanctions and export controls to hold President Putin to account for his war against Ukraine, restrict Russia's access to critical technology it needs to fund its war machine, and turn Russia into a global financial pariah. The Russian economy is staggering under...

Updated: Thu Jun 02 2022

President Biden Statement on the UN-Mediated Truce Extension in Yemen

I welcome the announcement today of a continuation of the truce in the Yemen conflict. The last two months in Yemen, thanks to the truce brokered in April, have been among the most peaceful periods since this terrible war began seven years ago. Thousands of lives have been saved as fighting receded. For the first time...

Updated: Thu Jun 02 2022

Readout of Meeting with Religious Denominational Leaders on Reproductive Rights

Yesterday, White House Gender Policy Council Director Jennifer Klein and staff from the Office of the Vice President and the White House Office of Public Engagement convened a meeting with a diverse group of national religious denominational leaders on reproductive rights. Attendees discussed the importance of protecting access to health care, including reproductive health care, with...

Updated: Thu Jun 02 2022

Readout of President Biden and Vice President Harris's Meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Vice President Kamala Harris met today with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to prepare for the June 29-30 NATO Summit in Madrid. The leaders discussed the implications of Russia's war on Ukraine for Transatlantic security and the importance of strengthening NATO's deterrence and...

Updated: Thu Jun 02 2022

Readout of President Biden's call with President Alberto Fernandez of the Argentine Republic

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Alberto Fernandez of the Argentine Republic in advance of the Summit of the Americas. The President invited President Fernandez to visit Washington in July to build upon active U.S.-Argentina engagement on bilateral, regional, and global issues, specifically human rights, food insecurity, climate change and energy, technological...

Updated: Thu Jun 02 2022

Remarks by Vice President Harris on Corinthian Student Loan Forgiveness

Department of EducationWashington, D.C. 1:38 P.M. EDT THE VICE PRESIDENT: Hi, everyone. Thank you, thank you. Thank you. Sit, sit, sit. How about our great Secretary Cardona? (Applause.) We are quite glee-filled today, aren't we? We really are quite gleeful. (Applause.) I think we have good reason, all of us. Sit, sit, sit. Thank you. ...

Updated: Thu Jun 02 2022

Statement from the President on Unemployment Claims and Manufacturing Progress

Today we received more data that, despite the global challenges we face, America is on the move. Unemployment benefits have reached historic lows. Since I took office, the number of Americans relying on unemployment benefits is now down 95%, and our economy has added 8.3 million jobs And, as we make the transition from an historic jobs recovery to...

Updated: Thu Jun 02 2022

Australia - Conversation between Catherine Colonna and her counterpart (01 Jun. 2022)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna spoke by telephone yesterday with Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong. Following on from the conversation between President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on May 26, the two ministers expressed their wish to get to work immediately on rebuilding our bilateral relationship by moving forward on an ambitious roadmap based on trust between our two countries. The two ministers also emphasized France (...)

Updated: Wed Jun 01 2022

FACT SHEET: Delivering on Tulsa Commitments to Build Black Wealth

One year ago, commemorating the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre, President Biden announced two expanded efforts to help Black families and communities build wealth through homeownership and entrepreneurship. The President: Launched a first-of-its-kind interagency initiative to address inequity in home appraisals, charged with identifying and utilizing the levers at the federal government's disposal to...

Updated: Wed Jun 01 2022

Joint Statement on the Meeting of the U.S.-Israel Strategic Consultative Group

On May 31, 2022, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Israeli National Security Advisor Dr. Eyal Hulata convened a meeting at the White House of the U.S.-Israel Strategic Consultative Group (SCG). They were joined by senior representatives from their respective foreign policy, defense, and intelligence agencies. The officials committed to coordinate on efforts to...

Updated: Wed Jun 01 2022

Jordan - Conversation between Catherine Colonna and her counterpart (01 Jun. 2022)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna spoke by telephone yesterday with her Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi. The minister reaffirmed France's commitment to the strategic partnership between our countries. She reiterated our full support for Jordan as it tackles the security and economic challenges it is facing. She applauded tomorrow's meeting of the EU-Jordan Association Council, a milestone for the bilateral relationship between the EU and Jordan. The ministers (...)

Updated: Wed Jun 01 2022

President Biden Announces Fourth Operation Fly Formula Mission

Biden Administration will facilitate air shipment of approximately 4.6 million 8-ounce bottle equivalents of Bubs Australia infant formula. Additional deliveries will follow. Today, President Biden is announcing that his Administration is sourcing two flights, facilitated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), for Operation Fly Formula to transport Bubs Australia infant formulas...

Updated: Wed Jun 01 2022

President Biden Announces Third Operation Fly Formula Mission

United Airlines will air ship approximately 3.7 million 8-ounce bottle equivalents of Kendamil infant formula Today, President Biden is announcing that his Administration has arranged the third Operation Fly Formula flight for the first shipment of Kendamil infant formula entering the United States. United Airlines has agreed to transport Kendamil formula free of charge from...

Updated: Wed Jun 01 2022

Remarks by President Biden at U.S. Coast Guard Change of Command Ceremony

11:23 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for giving my speech. (Laughter.) And I'm going to sit down. (Laughter.) You probably wish I would; it's kind of getting a little warm in here. (Laughter.) Today we witness a tradition long-standing in the United States Coast Guard: the change of command as a new...

Updated: Wed Jun 01 2022

Remarks by President Biden During Virtual Meeting on Accelerating Infant Formula Production Through Operation Fly Formula

South Court AuditoriumEisenhower Executive Office Building 2:47 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you all for - for doing this today, including our Secretary, Xavier Becerra, who is here; the Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy; and our Deputy Director of Domestic Policy, Christen Young; the Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, Sameera, who...

Updated: Wed Jun 01 2022

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Call with Baltic Allies

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke by phone today with counterparts from our Baltic Allies to discuss European security in light of Russia's war in Ukraine. Mr. Sullivan underscored the ironclad U.S. commitment to NATO's Article 5. Participants discussed joint efforts to strengthen our collective defense and security, as well as preparations for the June...

Updated: Wed Jun 01 2022

Statement by President Joe Biden on Additional Security Assistance to Ukraine

The people of Ukraine continue to inspire the world with their courage and resolve as they fight bravely to defend their country and their democracy against Russian aggression. The United States will stand with our Ukrainian partners and continue to provide Ukraine with weapons and equipment to defend itself. Today, I am announcing a...

Updated: Wed Jun 01 2022

Ukraine - Q&A (01 Jun. 2022)

Q: President Zelensky of Ukraine wanted President Macron to visit Kyiv before the end of [France's] European presidency. Is that feasible, and was Ms. Colonna working on it during her trip to Kyiv? A: During her visit to Ukraine yesterday and the day before, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs expressed France's support for Ukraine and our solidarity with that country at this difficult time. She confirmed that our humanitarian, economic, financial, diplomatic and military aid to (...)

Updated: Wed Jun 01 2022