Foreign Affairs

Ukraine - Passing of the journalist Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff (30 May 2022)

The death of Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff, a BFM journalist killed today while covering a Ukrainian evacuation operation near Severodonetsk, is deeply shocking. I condemn it and extend our condolences to his family and colleagues. France demands that a transparent inquiry be launched as soon as possible to shed full light on the circumstances of this tragedy. France reaffirms its steadfast and resolute commitment, throughout the world, to press freedom and the protection of journalists and all (...)

Updated: Mon May 30 2022

Ukraine - Q&A (25 May 2022)

Q: Is France prepared to offer naval assistance in order to secure convoys transporting grain from Ukraine? A: By imposing a blockade on Ukrainian ports as part of its aggression against Ukraine and by destroying infrastructure, Russia has seriously disrupted global grain supplies. Russia bears full responsibility for this disruption. Ukraine's inability to export its grain is a direct consequence of Russian military operations in Ukraine and the Black Sea, and is completely unrelated to (...)

Updated: Mon May 30 2022

Ukraine - Visit of Catherine Colonna, Minister for Foreign Affairs - (30-31 May 2022)

Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is visiting Ukraine for the first time today and travelling to Kyiv. The Minister wishes to express France's solidarity with the Ukrainian people and its full determination to bolster its support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, both at humanitarian and financial levels and with regard to defence equipment supplies. On this occasion, the Minister will honour the war victims, by visiting the martyred city of Bucha, and (...)

Updated: Mon May 30 2022

Remarks By President Biden at the University of Delaware Commencement Ceremony

University of DelawareNewark, Delaware 10:24 A.M. EDT AUDIENCE: Joe! Joe! Joe! Joe! THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you all. Is this working? There you go. Before you all sit down completely, the reason why you're here is because of all of those people up in the stands. Stand up...

Updated: Sat May 28 2022

Remarks By Vice President Harris At The Memorial Service For Mrs. Ruth Whitfield

Mt. Olive Baptist ChurchBuffalo, New York THE VICE PRESIDENT: I'm not going to say anything about Reverend Sharpton right now. (Laughter.) Good afternoon, church. AUDIENCE: Good afternoon. THE VICE PRESIDENT: To the Whitfield family; the father of the Whitfield family, Mr. Whitfield. (Applause.) The pain that this family is feeling right now, and the nine other families here in...

Updated: Sat May 28 2022

Remarks by Vice President Harris Before Air Force Two Departure

Buffalo, New York Q Madam Vice President, what was your message to the families? THE VICE PRESIDENT: You know, I met with all the families. And first of all, to lose a loved one unexpectedly and because of such an extreme act of violence and hate, the tragedy of it is beyond description. And so, first, I expressed our condolences. ...

Updated: Sat May 28 2022

A Proclamation: Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States (Ukraine)

1. On January 11, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) transmitted to the President a report on the Secretary's investigation into the effect of imports of steel mill articles (steel articles) on the national security of the United States under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862). The...

Updated: Fri May 27 2022

A Proclamation: Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day 2022

On Memorial Day, we remember the patriots who gave their lives in the service of America, in the service of freedom, and in the service of justice. They made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our Constitution and our democracy. We are free because they were brave, and we live by the light of the flame...

Updated: Fri May 27 2022

Iraq - Conversation between Catherine Colonna and Iraqi Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar Ismail (27 May 22)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna hosted Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar Ismail, Iraq's Minister of Oil, in Paris today. The two ministers emphasized the interest of strengthening cooperation between France and Iraq in the area of energy, in view of the consequences of the Russian aggression in Ukraine for global energy markets and supplies in Europe. They expressed their wish to strengthen our bilateral relationship, in line with President Macron's visits to Iraq in August 2020 (...)

Updated: Fri May 27 2022

Legislative Elections - Opening of the Internet voting portal (27 May22)

French citizens living abroad have a variety of options for voting in this year's legislative elections: they can vote in person, by proxy, by mail or via the Internet. Internet voting was a priority reform supported by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to facilitate the participation of our 1.444 million citizens registered on consular voter lists. It will unfold as follows: First round: from Friday, May 27 at noon (Paris time) to Wednesday, June 1 at noon (Paris time) Second (...)

Updated: Fri May 27 2022

NATO - Q&A - (27 May 2022)

Q : NATO is currently carrying out a naval exercise, Neptune Shield, in the eastern Mediterranean. Is France observing these exercises, will it follow up with its own exercises, and more generally, what is the strategic interest of the eastern Mediterranean: surveillance of the Russian navy, support for the Greek navy, a tense coexistence with the Turkish navy? A : France is closely monitoring the situation in the eastern Mediterranean, particularly in light of the consequences of the (...)

Updated: Fri May 27 2022

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, May 26, 2022

4:10 P.M. EDT MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hey, good afternoon, everybody. Okay, I have a few toppers, so please bear with me. Over the past 15 months, we've made tremendous progress in our fight against COVID, with 220 million Americans fully vaccinated and over 100 million people boosted. We've also moved quickly to ensure Paxlovid, an oral...

Updated: Fri May 27 2022

Readout of Vice President Harris's Call with President Castro of Honduras

Vice President Kamala Harris today spoke with President Xiomara Castro of Honduras. President Castro updated the Vice President on actions she has taken to advance Honduras' democracy and economy since the Vice President attended her historic inauguration in January 2022. The Vice President and President Castro discussed deepening cooperation between the United States and Honduras...

Updated: Fri May 27 2022

Readout of White House Meeting to Commemorate National Foster Care Month

Yesterday, the White House commemorated National Foster Care Month with a roundtable highlighting seven young people with lived experience in the child welfare system. The meeting was convened by Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families January Contreras, White House American Rescue Plan Coordinator Gene Sperling, White House Office of Management and Budget...

Updated: Fri May 27 2022

Statement by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Fiji Joining the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity

President Biden welcomes Fiji's decision to join the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) as a founding member, the 14th nation and first in the Pacific Islands to do so. IPEF now reflects the full regional diversity of the Indo-Pacific, with members from Northeast and Southeast Asia, South Asia, Oceania, and the Pacific Islands. Across geography,...

Updated: Fri May 27 2022

Statement by President Biden on April Inflation Data

This morning's decline in inflation is a sign of progress, even as we have more work to do. The report showed annual inflation declining and average monthly core inflation at around 4% at an annual rate, down from around 6% in the three months before it. At the same time, inflation is still too high and...

Updated: Fri May 27 2022

FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Announces Launch of First Federally-Supported Test to Treat Site

On his first day in office, President Biden mobilized an unprecedented, comprehensive response to the COVID-19 pandemic-standing up a historic vaccination program that has gotten 220 million Americans fully vaccinated and over 100 million people boosted, and investing in other lifesaving tools, including COVID-19 therapeutics. One of the most effective treatments in our nation's medicine...

Updated: Thu May 26 2022

Nominations Sent to the Senate

Angela Price Aggeler, of the District of Columbia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of North Macedonia. Marie C. Damour, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor,...

Updated: Thu May 26 2022

NSC Press Statement on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Phone Call with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke by phone today with Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic of Croatia. They underscored their strong commitment to continue supporting Ukraine in response to Russia's unprovoked military aggression. Mr. Sullivan conveyed U.S. support for Croatia's efforts to help neighboring countries diversify their energy supplies away from Russian sources, including via the...

Updated: Thu May 26 2022