The United States is deeply concerned by ongoing convictions of Vietnamese ethnic minority and religious freedom advocates, including five convictions since January 2024. We are particularly troubled by the recent 13-year sentence of Y Krec Bya, who has been a peaceful voice for freedom of religion or belief in Vietnam. We also continue to be […]

On March 29, the United States hosted the second meeting of the U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) Trilateral Diplomatic Working Group to counter cyber threats posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), following the first trilateral Working Group in Tokyo in December 2023.  Led by U.S. Deputy Special Representative for the DPRK Lyn Debevoise, Japanese […]

This month marked 13 years since the Assad regime began its violent suppression of peaceful protests in Syria. The regime has committed atrocities, including war crimes and crimes against humanity. In December 2023, Secretary Blinken announced a new visa restriction policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act that includes current and former […]

U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta will travel to Tokyo, Japan April 1-5, 2024, joined by member of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Congressional Caucus Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove.  This WPS Caucus trip is the first of its kind, bringing together leadership from the Department of State and the Congress to exchange WPS lessons learned and best practices with Japanese counterparts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japanese Diet. While in Tokyo, Ambassador Rao Gupta and Representative Kamlager-Dove, […]

Last week while in Lagos, Nigeria, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield announced that the United States will elevate educational and cultural platforms to strengthen creative economies between the United States and Africa. The announcement of these platforms builds on a recent visit to Nigeria by Secretary of State Antony […]

Today marks one year since Russia wrongfully detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.  To date, Russia has provided no evidence of wrongdoing for a simple reason: Evan did nothing wrong.  Journalism is not a crime.  In the year since Evan’s wrongful detention, Russia’s already restrictive media landscape has become more oppressive, with a continued […]

Secretary Blinken applauds the Department of State winners of the Federal Energy and Water Management Awards, who were honored in a ceremony on March 27 at the Department of Energy’s 2024 Energy Exchange conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Department of State had three of the winning teams selected from across the federal government for their […]

On March 19-20, 2024, the U.S. Department of State, in collaboration with the Department of Defense, convened and hosted 161 participants from 60 countries for a two-day inaugural plenary meeting of States endorsing the Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy. The event was held at the University of Maryland, College […]

Over the past year, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has continued to take actions against Hong Kong’s promised high degree of autonomy, democratic institutions, and rights and freedoms. This includes Hong Kong authorities’ recent enactment of legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law, which has broad and vaguely defined provisions regarding “sedition,” “state […]

Under President Biden’s leadership, the United States has coordinated global efforts to end the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the international community is better prepared to respond to the next pandemic. Consistent with our longstanding commitment to global health and security, the United States has worked closely with allies and partners to […]