Foreign Affairs

Sudan - Q&A - (27 Oct, 2021)

Q: What are your expectations of the military authorities in Sudan following Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's return home on Tuesday evening while still being kept under surveillance? A: President Macron condemned Monday's coup d'état by the Sudanese military in the strongest possible terms. France and all of its partners are very concerned by this destabilizing event that jeopardizes the country's democratic openness and the aspirations of the Sudanese people. Together with our European and (...)

Updated: Thu Oct 28 2021

ASEAN-U.S. Leaders' Statement on Digital Development

WE, the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United States of America, met via videoconference, on 26 October 2021, under Brunei Darussalam's 2021 ASEAN Chairmanship, on the occasion of the 9th ASEAN-U.S. Summit; RECOGNISING the important role that smart digital development can have in creating economies that are resilient...

Updated: Wed Oct 27 2021

Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Michèle Taylor, of Georgia, for the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council. Martha Williams, of Montana, to be Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, vice Aurelia Skipwith. Beth Van Schaack, of California,...

Updated: Wed Oct 27 2021

President Biden Announces Four New Nominees to Serve as U.S. Attorneys

President Biden is announcing four new nominees to serve as U.S. Attorneys across the country, officials who will be indispensable to upholding the rule of law as the top federal law enforcement officials for their districts. These individuals were chosen for their devotion to enforcing the law, their professionalism, their experience and credentials in this field,...

Updated: Wed Oct 27 2021

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Virginia Disaster Declaration

Yesterday, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Virginia and ordered Federal assistance to supplement commonwealth, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by flooding, landslides, and mudslides from August 30 to August 31, 2021. Federal funding is available to commonwealth, tribal, and eligible local...

Updated: Wed Oct 27 2021

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 10:15 A.M. EDT MS. PSAKI: Hi, everyone. Okay. Today, joining us - needs hardly an introduction - our National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, who will be previewing the President's trip - second foreign trip - later this week. And he'll take some questions afterwards, and then I will do...

Updated: Wed Oct 27 2021

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

Via Teleconference 2:37 P.M. EDT MR. ZIENTS: Good afternoon, and thanks for joining us. Before I turn to Drs. Walensky and Fauci, I want to provide an important update on the progress we're making across a number of fronts in our fight against the virus, starting with vaccinations. We know vaccines are the very best...

Updated: Wed Oct 27 2021

Readout of President Biden's Participation in the East Asia Summit

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. today virtually joined leaders of ASEAN member states and representatives from Australia, the People's Republic of China (PRC), India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and Russia during the annual East Asia Summit (EAS), where they discussed regional and international challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis....

Updated: Wed Oct 27 2021

Readout of White House Roundtable on Intersex Awareness Day

Yesterday, White House officials Jennifer Klein, Deputy Assistant to the President and Executive Director of the Gender Policy Council, and Chiraag Bains, Deputy Assistant to the President for Racial Justice and Equity, as well as Assistant Secretary of Health Admiral Rachel Levine, hosted the first-ever White House roundtable with intersex advocates. The roundtable celebrated Intersex...

Updated: Wed Oct 27 2021

Rwanda - Visit by Franck Riester (Oct. 27)

Franck Riester, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is in Rwanda today. This visit, part of our effort to strengthen relations with Rwanda, follows yesterday's meeting in Kigali between Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian and President Paul Kagame. Mr. Riester will meet with Uzziel Ndagijimana, Rwanda's Minister of Finance and Economic Planning. Accompanied by a delegation of French (...)

Updated: Wed Oct 27 2021

Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on the Occasion of International Religious Freedom Day

Twenty-three years ago, I was honored to support the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act, groundbreaking legislation that established the United States as the world's leader in promoting and defending freedom of religion or belief for all people across the globe. Today, on International Religious Freedom Day, I'm proud to recommit the United States...

Updated: Wed Oct 27 2021

Afghanistan - Q&A - (25 Oct. 2021)

Q: With regard to Afghanistan, what is the status of the Afghan ambassador currently in Paris, appointed by Ghani? A: Afghanistan's ambassador to France is still in his post.

Updated: Tue Oct 26 2021

Denmark - Conversation between Jean-Yves Le Drian and his counterpart (Paris, Oct. 22)

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian spoke on October 22 with Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod. Their conversation dealt mainly with current European issues ahead of the French presidency of the Council of the European Union. They discussed the Sahel and Mali, where Denmark and France are both engaged in Task Force Takuba. The ministers also addressed current work on the Strategic Compass; on the Indo-Pacific, where they agreed to work together to swiftly (...)

Updated: Tue Oct 26 2021

Fact Sheet: New Initiatives to Expand the U.S.-ASEAN Strategic Partnership

President Biden will announce the intent to provide up to $102 million in new initiatives to expand the U.S.-ASEAN Strategic Partnership during the October 26 U.S.-ASEAN Summit, reflecting the Biden-Harris Administration's deep commitment to ASEAN's central role in the U.S. vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. U.S.-ASEAN Health Futures: The United States is committed...

Updated: Tue Oct 26 2021

Fact Sheet: Private Sector Leaders Are Stepping Up to Welcome Afghans

Through Operation Allies Welcome, the Biden Administration is marshaling a whole-of-America approach to safely, securely and effectively welcoming our Afghan allies and Afghans at-risk. In concert with Welcome.US, private sector leaders are playing a crucial role in this effort, stepping up in meaningful ways to welcome individuals who supported the United States over the past...

Updated: Tue Oct 26 2021

Iran - Q&A - (22 Oct. 2021)

Q: Reuters and AFP have reported that the American envoy to Iran had come to Paris for a meeting with his French, British and German counterparts. Can the Ministry confirm that information? And if so, would it be possible to know when that meeting will take place? A : We have indeed held consultations today with our E3 partners and the United States, as we have with other participants in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), at a critical time given the four-month suspension of (...)

Updated: Tue Oct 26 2021

Israel/Palestinian Territories - Settlements (Oct. 25)

France condemns the Israeli authorities' announcement that several calls for bids would be issued for the construction of more than 1,300 housing units in West Bank settlements. France calls for ending any unilateral measures jeopardizing the two-state solution based on internationally agreed parameters, the only way to arrive at a just and lasting peace in the region.

Updated: Tue Oct 26 2021

Libya - Jean-Yves Le Drian's participation in the Libya Stability Support Conference - 21 October 2021

Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, went to Tripoli today to meet Mohamed Menfi, Chairman of the Presidential Council, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, Prime Minister, and his own counterpart Najla Mangoush, and to participate in the Libya Stability Support Conference organized by the Government of National Unity. The Minister urged all Libya's leaders to conclude the political process embarked upon. He emphasized how important it is for the presidential and parliamentary (...)

Updated: Tue Oct 26 2021

President Biden Announces Key Nominations

WASHINGTON - Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to serve in key roles: Jessica Rosenworcel, Nominee for Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission Gigi Sohn, Nominee for Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission Alan Davidson, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information at the National Telecommunications and Information...

Updated: Tue Oct 26 2021

Readout of President Biden's Meeting with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and congratulated him on thirty years of moral and spiritual leadership as Ecumenical Patriarch. The President expressed relief at the Ecumenical Patriarch's speedy recovery. They discussed efforts to confront climate change, steps to end the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the importance of...

Updated: Tue Oct 26 2021

Readout of President Biden's Participation in the U.S.-ASEAN Summit

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. today joined leaders of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) member states and the ASEAN Secretary General for the annual U.S.-ASEAN Summit. He reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to strengthening our partnership with ASEAN as well as to its centrality and applauded the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. The President underscored...

Updated: Tue Oct 26 2021

Readout of Private Sector Roundtable on Operation Allies Welcome

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, and White House Coordinator for Operation Allies Welcome Jack Markell led a roundtable with CEOs to discuss the role of the private sector in effectively welcoming and resettling our Afghan allies. Today, White House Coordinator for Operation Allies Welcome Jack Markell, Secretary of...

Updated: Tue Oct 26 2021