Foreign Affairs

Egypt - Q&A - (20 Dec. 2021)

Q: Do you concur with the German Foreign Ministry's statement that the September 20 [sic] verdict for three human rights activists in Egypt "will show where the human rights situation is heading" in that country, which says it has launched a "new strategy for human rights"? R: France reiterates its commitment to human rights in Egypt. This issue is brought up regularly at the highest levels as part of the candid, rigorous dialogue France maintains with the Egyptian authorities, as are (...)

Updated: Mon Dec 20 2021

FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Celebrates Expansion of Locally-Led Conservation Efforts in First Year of "America th

Progress Report Highlights Land and Water Projects Underway as U.S. Pursues First-Ever National Conservation Goal Today, the Biden-Harris Administration issued its first annual progress report on the America the Beautiful initiative, highlighting steps the Administration has taken over the past year to support locally-led and voluntary efforts to conserve, connect, and restore lands and waters...

Updated: Mon Dec 20 2021

Joint statement issued by the United States and France following the first meeting of the United States-France bilateral clea

France and the United States held the first meeting of the U.S.-France Bilateral Clean Energy Partnership (Partnership) on December 14, 2021 in Paris. This meeting was the first meeting to implement the commitment reaffirmed in October by the President of the United States and the President of the French Republic to closer bilateral and transatlantic cooperation. Both Presidents confirmed they would continue to address the climate crisis by supporting the aims of the 26th UN Climate (...)

Updated: Mon Dec 20 2021

Libya - Q&A - (20 Dec. 2021)

Q: Might elections still be held on December 24, and would a postponement be compatible with the goals established at the Paris Conference in November? A: It is up to Libya's High National Election Commission (HNEC) to announce the election timetable as part of the Libyan roadmap endorsed by UN Security Council resolution 2570 adopted at the Paris International Conference for Libya on November 12, agreed to by the transition authorities and endorsed by the UN Security Council. The HNEC (...)

Updated: Mon Dec 20 2021

Mexico - Visit by Jean-Yves Le Drian (Dec. 20-21, 2021)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian will be in Mexico on December 20 and 21. He will be hosted by the Mexican President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and will meet with his counterpart, Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard. With France and Mexico both belonging to the G20 and the OECD, Mr. Le Drian will reaffirm France's wish to promote and champion an effective multilateral system, among other things within the UN Security Council. He will also address regional crises, (...)

Updated: Mon Dec 20 2021

President Biden Announces Intent to Appoint Commissioners to the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native H

WASHINGTON - Today, President Biden announced his intent to appoint the following leaders as commissioners to the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders: The Commission will advise the President on ways the public, private, and non-profit sectors can work together to advance equity and opportunity for every Asian American, Native...

Updated: Mon Dec 20 2021

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Call with Yuriy Ushakov, Foreign Polic

Today, Jake Sullivan spoke with Yuriy Ushakov, Foreign Policy Advisor to President Vladimir Putin of Russia. He indicated U.S. readiness to engage in diplomacy through multiple channels, including bilateral engagement, the NATO-Russia Council, and the OSCE. He made clear that any dialogue must be based on reciprocity and address our concerns about Russia's actions, and...

Updated: Mon Dec 20 2021

Statement by President Joe Biden on the Passing of Former Senator Johnny Isakson

Jill and I and the entire Biden family are saddened to learn of the passing of Johnny Isakson, the distinguished former United States Representative and Senator from Georgia. Senator Isakson was a colleague and a friend. We served together on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, traveled together, and found common ground built on mutual respect...

Updated: Sun Dec 19 2021

Statement from Press Secretary Jen Psaki

Senator Manchin's comments this morning on FOX are at odds with his discussions this week with the President, with White House staff, and with his own public utterances. Weeks ago, Senator Manchin committed to the President, at his home in Wilmington, to support the Build Back Better framework that the President then subsequently announced. Senator...

Updated: Sun Dec 19 2021

Background Press Call on Broad Middle East Regional Year-End Discussion

(Via Teleconference) 11:09 A.M. EST MODERATOR: Thank you, Carolyn and everyone. Good morning. Thanks for joining us for today's broad Middle East regional year-end discussion. Today's briefing is on background and attributable to a senior administration official. The briefing is embargoed until the conclusion. For your awareness, our senior administration official is [senior administration official],...

Updated: Sat Dec 18 2021

Nomination Sent to the Senate

NOMINATION SENT TO THE SENATE: Sandra L. Thompson, of Maryland, to be Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency for a term of five years, vice Mark Anthony Calabria. ###

Updated: Sat Dec 18 2021

FACT SHEET: The Biden-?Harris Administration's Historic Investments and Support for Historically Black Colleges and Universit

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were founded in the face of discrimination and have a proud history and legacy of achievement. HBCUs vary in size and academic focus and serve a range of diverse students and communities in urban, rural, and suburban settings. But all of them create pathways to opportunity for Black students...

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration Advances Equity and Opportunity for Black People and Communities Across the Count

From the first day in office and every day since, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken a historic approach to advancing racial equity, including directing every agency across the whole of the federal government to address the lasting impacts of systemic racism on Black communities. For generations, entrenched disparities in our society and economy, at times...

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

President Biden Announces 2 Key Nominees

WASHINGTON - Today, President Joe Biden announced that he has nominated the following individuals to serve in key roles: ? Paul Monteiro, Nominee for Director of the Community Relations Service, Department of Justice ? Laura Ross, Nominee for Member of the Board of Directors, Corporation for Public Broadcasting Paul Monteiro, Nominee for Director of the...

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

President Biden Announces Key Regional Appointments for USDA, HUD, and FEMA

WASHINGTON - Today, President Joe Biden announced that he has appointed the following individuals to serve in key regional leadership roles at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at the Department of Homeland Security: David Baker, USDA State Director,...

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

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

Via Teleconference 11:06 A.M. EST MR. ZIENTS: Good morning. And thanks for joining us. Today, Dr. Walensky will give an overview of the state of the pandemic and on new practices that will help keep schools open, and Dr. Fauci will provide an update on the latest science and the importance of boosters. But before...

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jen Psaki En Route Orangeburg, SC

Aboard Air Force OneEn Route Orangeburg, South Carolina 8:00 A.M. EST MS. PSAKI: Good morning. Thanks for joining us bright and early for this trip to Orangeburg, South Carolina, where the President will deliver remarks at South Carolina State University's 2021 Fall Commencement Ceremony. Just to give you a little bit of background on what...

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

Readout of AUKUS Joint Steering Group Meetings

Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America recently held the inaugural meetings of the AUKUS Trilateral Joint Steering Groups, which were established as part of the governance structure of AUKUS in September 2021. The Joint Steering Group for Advanced Capabilities met on December 9 and the Joint Steering Group for Australia's Nuclear-Powered...

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

Readout of the Roundtable on the Biden-?Harris Administration Trucking Action Plan

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration convened trucking companies and industry associations to discuss both near- and long-term challenges the industry has faced meeting the unprecedented demand for goods as we recover from the pandemic. Participants noted how the global pandemic had shown a spotlight on the important role trucking plays getting essential goods to families and...

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

Rwanda - Q&A - (17 Dec. 2021)

Q: Do you have any comment following the verdict handed down by the Paris Criminal Court in the trial of Claude Muhayimana, a French-Rwandan national sentenced to 14 years in prison for complicity in genocide? A: We do not comment on court decisions. As President Macron reiterated during his visit to Kigali last May, France is committed to the fight against impunity for those presumed to have been involved in the Rwandan genocide through the international judicial cooperation it maintains (...)

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

A Proclamation on Wright Brothers Day, 2021

On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved a feat that humankind had dreamed of since time immemorial - a sustained, controlled, powered flight that opened the skies to all humanity. Today, we honor the extraordinary achievements of the Wright Brothers and celebrate their enduring contributions to America's unparalleled leadership in flight. Many intrepid...

Updated: Thu Dec 16 2021

Bills Signed: H.R. 5142 and S.J. Res. 33

On Thursday, December 16, 2021, the President signed into law: H.R. 5142, which provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of the servicemembers who perished in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021, during the evacuation of citizens of the United States and Afghan allies at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Thank you to...

Updated: Thu Dec 16 2021

Development - Jean-Yves Le Drian convening the National Council for Development and International Solidarity (Dec. 17 2021)

On December 17, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian will be convening the National Council for Development and International Solidarity (CNDSI). Among those in attendance will be Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister Delegate for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Minister Delegate for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, attached to the Minister for the Economy, Finance and Recovery. The Minister (...)

Updated: Thu Dec 16 2021