Foreign Affairs

Hong Kong - Q&A (13 May 2022)

Q: On Wednesday, the Hong Kong police arrested five members of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, including the 90-year-old Cardinal Joseph Zen, for "collusion with foreign forces." These arrests occurred three days after the election of John Lee as Hong Kong Chief Executive. A former police officer and Secretary for Security, he crushed the 2019-2020 demonstrations. Does France see a link? A: The arrest of Hong Kong civil society figures including Cardinal Joseph Zen, lawyer and former (...)

Updated: Fri May 13 2022

Israel/Palestinian Territories - Statement by Spokespersons of the Foreign Ministries of France, Germany, Italy and Spain (15

We are deeply concerned by the scenes of clashes and heightened violence today in East-Jerusalem. At this special time of religious celebrations, we call on all sides to exercise maximum restraint as well as to refrain from violence and from all forms of provocation. We call to uphold and respect the historic status quo on the Holy Sites in Jerusalem and stress the importance of Jordan's specific role in this regard. We remain actively committed to supporting all efforts to de-escalate (...)

Updated: Fri May 13 2022

North Korea - France condemns ballistic missile tests in the strongest possible terms (13 May 2022)

France condemns in the strongest possible terms the three ballistic missile tests carried out by North Korea on May 12. They represent the latest violations of UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting North Korea from carrying out any kind of launch involving ballistic technology. France remains concerned by the increased number of ballistic tests carried out by North Korea since the beginning of the year, which represent a threat to regional stability and international security. (...)

Updated: Fri May 13 2022

President Biden Announces Key Nominees

WASHINGTON - Today, President Biden announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to serve as key leaders in his administration: David Pressman, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Hungary Heide B. Fulton, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Calvin Smyre, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to...

Updated: Fri May 13 2022

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, May 13, 2022

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 1:18 P.M. EDT????? MS. PSAKI: Hi, everyone. Okay. It would not be a briefing without some special guests. So I have some with me today. Today, President Biden is welcoming mayors, chiefs of police, a county commissioner, and a community violence intervention expert to the White House to talk...

Updated: Fri May 13 2022

Statement by the Spokespersons of the Foreign Ministries of France, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Ital

We are deeply concerned by the decision of the Israeli Higher Planning Council to advance plans for the construction of more than 4.000 housing units in the West Bank. We urge the Israeli authorities to reverse this decision. The new housing units would constitute an additional obstacle to the two-State Solution. Israeli settlements are in clear violation of international law and stand in the way of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Israelis and Palestinians. This decision, (...)

Updated: Fri May 13 2022

Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials to Address Infant Formula Shortage

Via Teleconference 3:02 P.M. EDT MR. MUNOZ: Hi, everybody. Thank you for joining us this afternoon for a call discussing new additional actions President Biden is taking to expand availability of infant formula supply in the United States, especially following his meeting with manufacturers and industry this afternoon. A reminder this call and the factsheet...

Updated: Thu May 12 2022

FACT SHEET: U.S.-ASEAN Special Summit in Washington, DC

President Biden will welcome the leaders of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) for a historic U.S.-ASEAN Special Summit, held for the first time in Washington D.C. and at the White House, to re-affirm the United States' enduring commitment to Southeast Asia and underscore the importance of U.S.-ASEAN cooperation in ensuring security, prosperity, and respect...

Updated: Thu May 12 2022

G7 - Participation of the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs in the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting (Weissenhaus, 12-14 Ma

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian will take part in the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Weissenhaus, Germany, from May 12 to 14. The ministers will review the support provided to Ukraine and Moldova in the face of the Russian aggression in Ukraine and will discuss the global consequences of the crisis, especially for food security. The ministers will discuss measures to take with regard to Russia in response to its military aggression in Ukraine and ways to (...)

Updated: Thu May 12 2022

Iran - Arrest of two French nationals (12 May 2022)

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs was informed of the arrest of two French nationals in Iran. The French authorities are mobilizing all their efforts. As soon as we became aware of this situation, our ambassador in Tehran approached the Iranian authorities twice to obtain consular access to our two compatriots, and the chargé d'affaires at the Iranian Embassy in Paris was summoned by the Director-General for Political Affairs and Security. The French government condemns this (...)

Updated: Thu May 12 2022

Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Claria Horn Boom, of Kentucky, to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission for a term expiring October 31, 2023, vice William H. Pryor Jr., term expired. John Gleeson, of New York, to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission for a term expiring...

Updated: Thu May 12 2022

Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Securing the Information and Communications Technology a

On May 15, 2019, by Executive Order 13873, the President declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 170l 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 unrestricted acquisition and use of...

Updated: Thu May 12 2022

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Rhode Island Disaster Declaration

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Rhode Island and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe winter storm and snowstorm from January 28 to January 29, 2022. Federal funding is available to State, tribal,...

Updated: Thu May 12 2022

Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 1245(d)(4)(B) and (C) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Yea

Presidential DeterminationNo. 2022-12 MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY SUBJECT: Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 1245(d)(4)(B) and (C) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States,...

Updated: Thu May 12 2022

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, May 12, 2022

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 3:43 P.M. EDT MS. PSAKI: Hi, everyone. All right. Just wanted to start with one topper for all of you. President Biden has directed the administration to work urgently to ensure that infant formula is safe and available for families across the country during the Abbott Nutrition voluntary recall. ...

Updated: Thu May 12 2022

Readout of President Biden's Call with Philippine President-Elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines to congratulate him on his election. President Biden underscored that he looks forward to working with the President-elect to continue strengthening the U.S.-Philippine Alliance, while expanding bilateral cooperation on a wide range of issues, including the fight against COVID-19, addressing...

Updated: Thu May 12 2022

Readout of President Biden's Virtual Meetings with Retailers and Infant Formula Manufacturers

Today, President Joe Biden spoke with the leadership of Walmart and Target, and the infant formula manufacturers Reckitt and Gerber to receive an update on actions the companies are taking to address the shortage of infant formula caused by a voluntary recall of infant powdered formula by Abbott and the subsequent closure of its manufacturing...

Updated: Thu May 12 2022