Foreign Affairs

Meeting of the bilateral working group on Franco-Armenian economic cooperation (9 December 2021)

M. Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister Delegate for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, attached to the Minister for the Economy, Finance and the Recovery, and Mr Ararat Mirzoyan, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs, are co-chairing in Paris today, 9 December, the first session of the bilateral working group on Franco-Armenian economic cooperation. The working group - in which (...)

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

President Biden Announces Key Regional Appointments for USDA, HHS, EPA, and HUD

WASHINGTON - Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to serve in key regional roles at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Health and Human Services (HHS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Kyle Wilkens, USDA State Director, Rural Development, Missouri Rhiannon Hampson, USDA...

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Readout of President Biden's Call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. President Biden voiced the deep concerns of the United States and our European Allies about Russia's aggressive actions towards Ukraine and made clear that the U.S. and our Allies would respond with strong economic and other measures in the event of a...

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Readout of President Biden's Call with the Leaders of The Bucharest Nine Eastern Flank NATO Allies

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with the Bucharest Nine (B9) group of our eastern flank NATO Allies to underscore the United States' commitment to Transatlantic security and our sacred commitment to NATO's Article 5. The leaders discussed Russia's destabilizing military buildup along Ukraine's border and the need for a united, ready, and resolute NATO...

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Readout of the December National Climate Task Force Meeting

Following COP26 and the President's signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the National Task Force launches new Federal Sustainability Plan to lead by example across procurement and operations Today, National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy convened the National Climate Task Force with Cabinet members and senior leadership from across the Biden-Harris Administration. This meeting followed on...

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Remarks by President Biden at a Congressional Tribute Ceremony for Senator Robert J. Dole

U.S. CapitolWashington, D.C. 10:28 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, members of Congress, distinguished guests, but most importantly, Elizabeth and Robin - I know this is not easy. Thank you for letting us do this. We meet here in the very heart of American democracy, the Capitol...

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Remarks By President Biden At The Summit For Democracy Opening Session

8:12 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Well, hello everyone, and welcome to the first Summit for Democracy. This gathering has been on my mind for a long time for a simple reason: In the face of sustained and alarming challenges to democracy, universal human rights, and - all around the world, democracy needs champions....

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Statement from President Joe Biden on Unemployment Insurance Claims

Our economic recovery has two key components: getting America back to work, and getting prices and supply chains back to normal. Simply put, it is about jobs and prices. Today, we received further evidence that our jobs recovery is one of the strongest ever. The number of Americans filing for unemployment last week was the...

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Statement to the press by Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, following his audience with Abdelmadji

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm glad to be back in Algeria. I had the pleasure and honour of speaking at length to President Tebboune and my counterpart, Minister Lamamra. I'd like to thank them for their warm welcome. It was important for me to travel to Algiers for a working visit and to assess the bilateral relationship. The aim of this visit is twofold: to rebuild a trustful relationship between our two countries, a relationship marked by respect for each side's sovereignty, but also to (...)

Updated: Thu Dec 09 2021

Covid-19 - France delivers 10 million vaccine doses to the African Union (Dec. 8, 2021)

In line with the commitments it made in 2021, France has delivered 10 million doses of AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccine for Covid-19 to the countries of the African Union. These donations are especially critical as a new wave of the pandemic is feared on the continent. Since the beginning of the pandemic, France has promoted fair, universal access to vaccines, especially in Africa. It is strongly committed to accelerating vaccination worldwide, and by summer 2022 will have donated 120 (...)

Updated: Wed Dec 08 2021

Ramy Shaath's situation- Q&A - (7 December 2021)

Q: One year ago, during the Egyptian President's visit to Paris, the French President raised the issue of the imprisonment of human rights activist Ramy Shaath, who is married to a French researcher. Since then, other visits have taken place and contracts have been signed with Egypt; why has the situation not evolved? Has his case been raised again and what has been the Egyptian authorities' response? A: As part of the rigorous, substantive dialogue that France maintains with Egypt on human (...)

Updated: Wed Dec 08 2021

Beijing Olympics - Q&A - (7 December 2021)

Q: Is France prepared to follow the United States' lead in instituting a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing? A: As the Elysée has already indicated, we have taken note of the U.S. decision and will coordinate on this issue at the European level.

Updated: Wed Dec 08 2021

Dominican Republic - Franck Riester's visit (Dec. 9 - 10, 2021)

Franck Riester, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will be in the Dominican Republic for the final stage of his Latin American tour on December 9 and 10. He will meet with Lisandro Macarrulla, Minister of the Presidency, as well as Víctor Bisonó, Minister of Industry, Trade and SMEs; Monika Infante, head of the French-Dominican Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Carolina Mejía, Mayor of Santo Domingo. (...)

Updated: Wed Dec 08 2021

FACT SHEET: President Biden Signs Executive Order Catalyzing America's Clean Energy Economy Through Federal Sustainability

U.S. Government Will Lead by Example to Leverage Scale and Procurement Power to Drive Clean, Healthy, and Resilient Operations Today, President Biden will sign an executive order that demonstrates how the United States will leverage its scale and procurement power to lead by example in tackling the climate crisis. The executive order will reduce emissions...

Updated: Wed Dec 08 2021

Iran - Q&A - (7 december 2021)

Q: Are you hoping to return to Vienna this week for negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue? A: Our goal remains the rapid conclusion of an agreement on the return of the United States to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JPCoA) and of Iran to its commitments under that agreement. Time is of the essence. Time is of the essence because Iran is continuing its nuclear program, and its trajectory is extremely worrying. On December 1, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) (...)

Updated: Wed Dec 08 2021

Nord Stream 2 - Q&A - (8 December 2021)

Q: Do you believe, as Washington does, that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline should be used as leverage to deter Russia from invading Ukraine? A: As the heads of state and government of the NATO Quint discussed several times last week, we are monitoring the Ukraine situation very closely. The heads of state and government expressed their determination to see its sovereignty respected. Strong messages were conveyed to Russia on the massive strategic consequences that a new attack on Ukraine's (...)

Updated: Wed Dec 08 2021

President Biden Announces Key Nominees

WASHINGTON - Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to serve in key roles: Constance J. Milstein, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Malta Alina L. Romanowski, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Iraq Margaret C. Whitman, Nominee for Ambassador Extraordinary and...

Updated: Wed Dec 08 2021

Remarks by President Biden Before Marine One Departure

South Lawn 10:59 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: I have some good news this morning: That Pfizer lab report came back saying that the expectation is that the existing vaccines protect against Omicron. But if you get the booster, you're really in good shape. And so that's very encouraging. That's the lab report. That's the lab report. ...

Updated: Wed Dec 08 2021