Foreign Affairs

Indian Ocean Commission - Participation of M. Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne (Saint-Denis, Réunion, 26 November 2021)

M. Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister of State for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will chair the Extraordinary Council Meeting of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) today in Saint-Denis, Réunion. At it, the Minister of State will talk to his counterparts from the member States (Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros and Seychelles). He will give an initial assessment of the first six months of France's IOC presidency in the (...)

Updated: Tue Nov 30 2021

Lebanon - Q&A - (29 Nov. 2021)

Q: France has always stood by Lebanon. A military court has just sentenced a Lebanese journalist to 13 months in prison because of an article criticizing the army and for "insulting the institution of the military and its commander-in-chief." Lebanon's laws, however, guarantee freedom of the press and prohibit jailing journalists for their professional activities. Furthermore, this ruling infringes upon the prerogatives of the Court of Publications, the only body with jurisdiction to rule on (...)

Updated: Tue Nov 30 2021

NATO - Jean-Yves Le Drian to attend foreign ministers meeting (Riga, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 - 2021)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian will be in Riga on November 30 and December 1 for the NATO foreign ministers meeting. The ministers will address the crises affecting the interests of the Allies and their partners. In particular, they will discuss NATO's relationship with and posture toward Russia, at a time of significant tension over Ukraine. The Minister will bring up his recent conversations with his Russian counterpart and with French and Russian defense (...)

Updated: Tue Nov 30 2021

Pantheonization of Josephine Baker

Josephine Baker will be admitted into the Pantheon on 30 November 2021, following the decision of the President of the French Republic. Through this move, France is honouring an iconic figure, who was born American, yet chose to move to France, the everlasting land of universal enlightenment, to continue her lifelong combat for freedom and emancipation. As a world-renowned music hall performer, Resistance fighter and an unstoppable antiracism activist, she always stood by the sides of (...)

Updated: Tue Nov 30 2021

President Biden Announces Defense Acquisition Nominee

WASHINGTON - Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate William LaPlante for Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment at the Department of Defense. William LaPlante, Nominee for Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment, Department of Defense William LaPlante, Nominee for Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment, Department of Defense Dr. William A. LaPlante...

Updated: Tue Nov 30 2021

President Biden Hosts Roundtable with Leading Retailers About Holiday Shopping, Stocked Shelves and Overcoming Supply Chain C

Today, President Biden, Director of the National Economic Council, Brian Deese and Cedric Richmond, Director of Office of Public Engagement, hosted a roundtable with a diverse group of American companies to discuss their outlook for the strong holiday shopping season, and the steps companies large and small have taken to meet consumer demands. The meeting...

Updated: Tue Nov 30 2021

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

Via Teleconference 12:36 P.M. EST MR. ZIENTS: Good afternoon, and thanks for joining us. Today, we will focus on the Omicron variant. And we'll start with Drs. Fauci and Walensky to share the latest on what we know about the variant and what we're doing to be prepared for it in the U.S. Before I...

Updated: Tue Nov 30 2021

Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jen Psaki

Aboard Air Force OneEn Route Rosemount, Minnesota 1:00 P.M. CST MS. PSAKI: Okay. Welcome to our trip to Rosemount, Minnesota. The President, as you all know, will visit Dakota County Technical College, which serves almost 3,000 credit students and 10,000 noncredit students. The majority of jobs supported by the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will not need...

Updated: Tue Nov 30 2021

Remarks by President Biden at Signing of Veterans Bills

South Court Auditorium 11:25 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think it's still morning. Good morning, everyone. Please - AUDIENCE: Good morning. THE PRESIDENT: - please be seated. I feel like we have a quorum in the House. (Laughter.) I miss the quorums. Vice President Harris, honored guests: I want to thank you all for...

Updated: Tue Nov 30 2021

Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Build Back Better Virtual Rally

Via Teleconference 10:10 A.M. EST THE VICE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everyone. Obviously, this has been a year and a half, if not two years, of this phrase we rarely used before: "You're muted. Unmute." So, take two. It is good to be with all of you this morning. It's good to be with you. ...

Updated: Tue Nov 30 2021

Sahel - Q&A - (29 Nov. 2021)

Q: With regard to the China-Africa Summit in Dakar, how does France see the call by the Senegalese foreign minister for Chinese support in the Sahel? A: European and international partners are engaged in the Sahel at the request of the countries of the region in a common fight against terrorist groups and in accordance with resolutions passed by the Security Council, where China has a (...)

Updated: Tue Nov 30 2021

South Africa - Q&A - (26 Nov. 2021)

Q: Does France envisage shutting down flights to South Africa because of the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant? What are the recommendations for compatriots? A: I refer you to the press release issued by the Prime Minister on this point and to the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs' travel advisory webpage.

Updated: Tue Nov 30 2021

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Call with Romanian Presidential Securi

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke by phone today with Romanian Presidential Security Advisor Ion Oprisor to reinforce the strong cooperation between our countries on defense, resilience, and cybersecurity issues. They agreed on the importance of close coordination bilaterally and through NATO on Black Sea security. They also exchanged views on Russian military activities near...

Updated: Tue Nov 30 2021

Tourism - Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne attending the World Tourism Organization's General Assembly (Madrid, Dec. 1, 2021)

Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister of State for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will attend the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Madrid on December 1. This meeting will include more than 70 tourism ministers, representatives of international organizations and civil society, and private sector leaders. The minister will reaffirm France's support for the UNWTO, a privileged international (...)

Updated: Tue Nov 30 2021

United States - Q&A - (30 Nov. 2021)

Q: The United States announced that it would release oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Aimed at lowering oil prices, this measure was taken "in coordination" with China, India, South Korea, Japan and Great Britain, according to their communiqué. Was France consulted? Do you have any comment? A: We were informed and we took note of the American authorities' decision to release oil from their strategic reserve. This is an issue that we are monitoring closely with our European partners (...)

Updated: Tue Nov 30 2021

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, November 29, 2021

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 1:12 P.M. EST MS. PSAKI: Hi, everyone. Q Hello. MS. PSAKI: Happy post-Thanksgiving, salad-eating days, I guess. (Laughter.) Okay, a couple of items for all of you at the top. As you all know, today is Cyber Monday - one of the biggest shopping days of the year. The President will convene a roundtable...

Updated: Mon Nov 29 2021

Remarks by President Biden Providing an Update on the Omicron Variant

Roosevelt Room 12:01 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, folks. I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving -- able to get together with your family and friends. And it was great to see so many families getting together this Thanksgiving after being apart last year. And we have much to be grateful for as...

Updated: Mon Nov 29 2021

Readout of President Biden's Meeting with COVID-19 Response Team on the Omicron Variant

Following up on the regular briefings he had on COVID while traveling, the President met in person today with his Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and members of his White House COVID Response Team. Dr. Fauci and members of the COVID Response Team updated the President on the latest developments related to the Omicron...

Updated: Sun Nov 28 2021

Statement by President Joe Biden on Hanukkah

Over these eight nights, Jews in the United States, Israel, and around the globe will proudly celebrate Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. They will light the menorah, spin the dreidel, eat latkes, and tell of how the Maccabees, guided by an abiding belief in their Creator and an inextinguishable commitment to their faith, prevailed...

Updated: Sun Nov 28 2021