Foreign Affairs

Meeting of foreign ministers from the Weimar Triangle countries (22 Mar. 2022)

On March 22, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs spoke via video conference with his German and Polish counterparts, Annalena Baerbock and Zbigniew Rau. Their conversation took place within the Weimar Triangle format. The ministers discussed the situation in Ukraine and their ongoing cooperation within this format, particularly in light of the European Council meeting on March 24 and 25. They reaffirmed their utter condemnation of Russia's military aggression in Ukraine and (...)

Updated: Wed Mar 23 2022

President Biden Announces Appointments to Federal Salary Council

WASHINGTON - Today, President Joe Biden announces his intent to appoint the following individuals to serve in key roles: Stephen Emerson Condrey, Member and Chair, Federal Salary Council Jared James Llorens, Member, Federal Salary Council Janice Rachel Lachance, Member, Federal Salary Council The Federal Salary Council is an advisory body of the executive branch that...

Updated: Wed Mar 23 2022

President Biden Announces Key Appointments

WASHINGTON - Today, President Biden announces his intent to appoint the following individuals to serve in key roles on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, & Nutrition, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the President's Committee on the National Medal of Science: José Andrés, Co-Chair, the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, & Nutrition Elena Delle...

Updated: Wed Mar 23 2022

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

Via Teleconference 3:03 P.M. EDT MR. ZIENTS: Good afternoon. And thanks for joining us. Today, Dr. Walensky will share the latest on the state of the pandemic and the BA.2 variant, Dr. Fauci will then discuss NIH's critical role in the research development of COVID therapeutics, and Secretary Becerra and I will discuss the...

Updated: Wed Mar 23 2022

Remarks by President Biden Before Marine One Departure

South Lawn 8:45 A.M. EDT Q Mr. President, what would you like to say to European partners? What would you like to say to European partners? MR. PRESIDENT: I'm going to say that to their face. I'm going to say - all I have to say, I'm going to say when I get...

Updated: Wed Mar 23 2022

Russia - France condemns the sentencing of Aleksei Navalny and the confirmation of Memorial's liquidation and applauds the co

We strongly condemn the nine-year prison sentence and 1.2 million ruble fine imposed against the opposition figure and anti-corruption activist Aleksei Navalny by Moscow's Lefortovo court on March 22. The Russian authorities' decision attests to the legal harassment of Mr. Navalny, his family and his close collaborators. The arrest of Mr. Navalny's lawyers, Olga Mikhailova et Vadim Kobzev, following the trial is highly concerning and demonstrates the pressure that is being exercised against (...)

Updated: Wed Mar 23 2022

Statement by President Joe Biden on the 12th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

Twelve years ago, I proudly stood beside President Barack Obama as he signed into law the most consequential expansion of health care in generations: the Affordable Care Act. With the stroke of a pen - after decades of tireless efforts - millions of Americans gained peace of mind. And because of my Administration's efforts, including...

Updated: Wed Mar 23 2022

EU - General Affairs Council (Brussels, 22 Mar. 2022)

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is chairing today's third General Affairs Council of this six-month term. The ministers are making preparations for the European Council meeting on March 24 and 25, which will focus primarily on the Russian military aggression in Ukraine and on European efforts to make it more onerous for Russia to continue the war that it instigated. The heads of State and government will also vote to adopt (...)

Updated: Tue Mar 22 2022

France welcomes the signing of a Quadripartite Memorandum of Understanding by the WHO, the OIE, the FAO and the UNEP to stren

On March 17, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO); Monique Eloit, Director General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE); Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO); and Inger Anderson, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), signed a memorandum of understanding to establish cooperation among their organizations. This Quadripartite Memorandum of Understanding will allow (...)

Updated: Tue Mar 22 2022

Moldova - Q&A - (22 Mar. 2022)

Q: With regard to Moldova, considering that Moldovan citizens are all eligible to receive Romanian citizenship, how might this change France and the EU's attitude toward that nation? A: France and the EU are mobilizing all their efforts in support of Moldova to help it deal with the repercussions the war in Ukraine is having in every area: humanitarian, energy, financial, security, refugee reception... The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs reiterated this commitment during his visit (...)

Updated: Tue Mar 22 2022

National solidarity effort for Ukraine: donations of equipment and emergency vehicles (22 Mar. 2022)

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior welcome the surge of solidarity towards the Ukrainian people shown by departmental fire and rescue services from all over France. Thanks to this exceptional mobilization, on 23 March a convoy organized by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior will dispatch to Romania response vehicles and equipment, which will be provided to Ukraine's Emergency Situations Service, mobilized (...)

Updated: Tue Mar 22 2022

Remarks by President Biden Before Business Roundtable's CEO Quarterly Meeting

Business Roundtable OfficeWashington, D.C. 6:10 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. My name is Joe Biden, and I come from Delaware which has more corporations incorporated than all of the rest of the country combined. (Laughter.) And I know the Business Roundtable because in the days when I first ran for office - (clears throat)...

Updated: Tue Mar 22 2022

Statement from Press Secretary Jen Psaki

Today, in preparation for travel to Europe, I took a PCR test this morning. That test came back positive, which means I will be adhering to CDC guidance and no longer be traveling on the President's trip to Europe. I had two socially-distanced meetings with the President yesterday, and the President is not considered a...

Updated: Tue Mar 22 2022

Ukraine: exceptional solidarity operation by France (21 Mar. 2022)

Faced with the tragic consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, France is continuing and stepping up its mobilization in terms of humanitarian support for the people affected by the war. The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs' Crisis and Support Centre coordinated the dispatch from Paris on 21 March of ?2.4 million of emergency aid bound for the Ukrainian authorities and the country's population. An A330 cargo plane made available by the CMA CGM Foundation is dispatching 55 tonnes of (...)

Updated: Tue Mar 22 2022

World Water Day - France is committed to protecting this vital resource in every way (22 Mar. 2022)

Every year on March 22, World Water Day highlights the importance of freshwater. This resource is fragile and it is dwindling under the effects of climate change, growing demand and the lack of integrated management. France is committed to protecting this vital resource and fully implementing the human right to water and sanitation. The 9th World Water Forum is being held right now in Dakar. This year, it is focusing on groundwater, an invisible, poorly understood, often overexploited and (...)

Updated: Tue Mar 22 2022

A Proclamation on National Agriculture Day, 2022

On National Agriculture Day, we recognize the invaluable contributions of American farmers, farmworkers, ranchers, fishers, foresters, and other agricultural workers, who have practiced their craft for generations and touch the lives of Americans every day. Their tireless efforts growing crops, raising livestock, and distributing food, fuel, and fiber sustain America and the entire world. They...

Updated: Mon Mar 21 2022

EU - Foreign Affairs Council (Brussels, 21 Mar. 2022)

Today, March 21, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs is attending the EU Foreign Affairs Council, which brings together the EU's foreign ministers. It will be followed by a joint meeting with EU defense ministers. The ministers will review the situation in Ukraine in light of the commitments taken by the heads of State and government in Versailles on March 10 and 11, and ahead of the European Council meeting of March 24 and 25. The French Foreign Minister will highlight the urgent (...)

Updated: Mon Mar 21 2022

European Humanitarian Forum (Brussels, 21-23 Mar. 2022)

The French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission are co-organizing a three-day conference to discuss the main humanitarian challenges and means of responding to them. Organization of the very first European Humanitarian Forum The first European Humanitarian Forum will take place in Brussels from Monday, 21 to Wednesday, 23 March 2022, in a hybrid format, so online participation and engagement will be possible in most events. It will bring together (...)

Updated: Mon Mar 21 2022

FACT SHEET: Act Now to Protect Against Potential Cyberattacks

The Biden-Harris Administration has warned repeatedly about the potential for Russia to engage in malicious cyber activity against the United States in response to the unprecedented economic sanctions we have imposed. There is now evolving intelligence that Russia may be exploring options for potential cyberattacks. The Administration has prioritized strengthening cybersecurity defenses to prepare our...

Updated: Mon Mar 21 2022