Foreign Affairs

Libya - Q&A - (Jan 4, 2022)

Q: Have the 300 "mercenaries and foreign fighters" that were supposed to leave Libya at France's request left the country? A: France supports the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement of October 2020 and the Joint Military Commission's action plan of October 2021 for the withdrawal of mercenaries, foreign fighters and foreign forces. Together with the Libyans, the UN and all participants in the International Conference for Libya held in Paris on November 12, France called for foreign (...)

Updated: Wed Jan 05 2022

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, January 4, 2022

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 3:05 P.M. EST MS. PSAKI: Hi, everyone. Happy New Year! I hope everyone had nice time with family and friends. Q (Inaudible.) MS. PSAKI: Thank you. I just have two items for you at the top. I just wanted to highlight that yesterday President Biden, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, and Attorney General Garland met with...

Updated: Wed Jan 05 2022

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

Via Teleconference 11:10 A.M. EST MR. ZIENTS: Good morning, and thanks for joining us. Today, Dr. Walensky will provide an update, and Dr. Fauci will present the latest science on Omicron. I'll start by briefly underscoring the key points the President made yesterday. The coming weeks are going to be challenging. We're going to see...

Updated: Wed Jan 05 2022

Russia-Ukraine - Communiqu� from Jean-Yves Le Drian (Jan 5, 2022)

I have spoken with my counterparts in Germany, Ms Annalena Baerbock, Italy, Mr Luigi Di Maio, and Poland, Mr Zbigniew Rau, the latter Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE since 1 January, as well as with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Mr Josep Borrell, to discuss the current tensions with Russian and the Ukraine issue. These discussions followed those on 29 December with the American, German and British Foreign Ministers. I highlighted the (...)

Updated: Wed Jan 05 2022

Syria - Q&A - (Jan 4, 2022)

Q: Do you have any comment on recent attacks in Idlib province? A: France condemns the resumption of airstrikes in Syria's Idlib region, especially against humanitarian infrastructures that thousands of civilians depend on. Continuous attacks on civilian infrastructures by the Syrian regime and Russia are flagrant violations of international humanitarian law. France calls for an immediate de-escalation in Idlib and the protection of civilian populations and humanitarian workers in (...)

Updated: Wed Jan 05 2022

Ukraine - Q&A - (Jan 4, 2022)

Q: According to information from Moscow and Berlin, the Normandy Format meeting of advisors from Russia, France and Germany will be held this week. Can you confirm that? Is there a specific date? A: France, together with Germany, is continuing its efforts within the Normandy Format with a view to the full implementation of the Minsk Agreement, the only agreed-upon basis for a lasting resolution of the Donbas (...)

Updated: Wed Jan 05 2022

Kuwait - First session of the France-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue (Jan. 4, 2021)

Today, Franck Riester, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the first plenary session of the France-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue with Majdi Al-Dhafiri, Kuwait's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. This session was part of the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between France and Kuwait and the 30th anniversary of Operation Daguet, which led to (...)

Updated: Tue Jan 04 2022

Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Viquar Ahmad, of Texas, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Commerce, vice Thomas F. Gilman. Viquar Ahmad, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, vice Thomas F. Gilman. Mari Carmen Aponte, of Puerto Rico, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States...

Updated: Tue Jan 04 2022

Readout of President Joe Biden's Event with Farmers, Ranchers on his Action Plan for a More Competitive Meat and Poultry Supp

Today, President Biden convened a roundtable with farmers, ranchers, an independent poultry processor, and members of his Cabinet to discuss the need for greater competition in beef, pork and poultry processing and to announce the Administration's Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain. The President, Secretary Vilsack,...

Updated: Tue Jan 04 2022

Remarks by President Biden Before Meeting on COVID-19

South Court Auditorium 2:11 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Folks. THE VICE PRESIDENT: Happy New Year, everyone. PARTICIPANTS: Happy New Year. THE PRESIDENT: The Admiral is in the house. SURGEON GENERAL MURTHY: Hi, sir. How are you? THE PRESIDENT: How are you? Well, since we're more than 10 feet apart while we're speaking, we're going to...

Updated: Tue Jan 04 2022

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Call with Nordic Counterparts

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke today with his counterparts from the five Nordic countries to consult on ways to strengthen Transatlantic security. Mr. Sullivan and his counterparts discussed their readiness to impose severe consequences on Russia if it engages in further aggression against Ukraine. They also underscored the importance of diplomacy to de-escalate the situation,...

Updated: Tue Jan 04 2022

Statement by President Joe Biden on 5G Deployment Agreement

My Administration is committed to rapid 5G deployment, while minimizing disruptions to air operations and continuing to maintain the world's safest airspace. Last night's agreement is a significant step in the right direction, and we're grateful to all parties for their cooperation and good faith. This agreement ensures that there will be no disruptions to...

Updated: Tue Jan 04 2022

Iran - Q&A - (31 Dec. 2021)

Q: Do you have any comment on Iran's announcement that it launched a space-launch vehicle yesterday? A: Iran announced that it went ahead with the launch of a space-launch vehicle on December 30. France condemns this action, which is counter to UN Security Council Resolution 2231. Security Council Resolution 2231 calls on Iran to refrain from carrying out activities, including launches, related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Because of the great (...)

Updated: Mon Jan 03 2022

Nominations Sent to the Senate

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Bridget Meehan Brennan, of Ohio, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio, vice Dan A. Polster, retired. Tovah R. Calderon, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for the term of fifteen...

Updated: Mon Jan 03 2022

Sudan - Resignation of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (Jan. 3, 2021)

The Sudanese Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok, announced his resignation yesterday evening. France pays tribute to his efforts in support of the democratic transition in Sudan, which made it possible to institute critical reforms that must continue. France reaffirms the importance it attributes to respecting the principles set forth in the Constitutional Declaration of August 2019 and calls for the reestablishment of the transitional institutions reflecting the democratic aspirations of the (...)

Updated: Mon Jan 03 2022

UN - Entry of new Security Council members (Jan. 1, 2022)

France congratulates Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates, which will begin their two-year term as members of the UN Security Council tomorrow. France wishes to work closely with each of these partners and knows it can count on their commitment to ensuring that the Security Council fully embraces its eminent responsibility to maintain international peace and security. On this occasion, France applauds the remarkable job done by Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the (...)

Updated: Mon Jan 03 2022