Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with Colombian Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva for the tenth U.S.-Colombia High Level Dialogue (HLD) in Washington, D.C. March 27-28.  At the HLD, the two countries will discuss issues of shared interest including migration, counternarcotics, security, human rights and equity, education, economic opportunities, energy transition, and climate action. Official news […]

On 23 and 24 March 2023, the European Union and the United States of America conducted a joint naval exercise, as decided at the last round of the EU-U.S. High-Level Consultations on the Indo-Pacific on 2 December 2022. The joint naval exercise took place in the framework of the EU and U.S. patrolling and exercising […]

Assistant Secretary of State for Conflict and Stabilization Operations Anne A. Witkowsky will travel to Australia and Papua New Guinea March 27-31.  While there, she will hold talks with government counterparts, community groups, human rights leaders, academia, donor partners, multilateral organizations, and civil society representatives on opportunities to expand our collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region. […]

On March 24, the Department of State updated the processing times for U.S. passport applications. Routine processing will take 10-13 weeks and expedited processing, which costs an additional $60, will take 7-9 weeks.  These new processing times only apply to new applications submitted on or after March 24.  Processing time begins the day we receive […]

I welcome today’s release of Paul Rusesabagina by the Government of Rwanda. It is a relief to know that Paul is rejoining his family, and the U.S. Government is grateful to the Rwandan Government for making this reunion possible. We also thank the Government of Qatar for their valuable assistance that will enable Paul’s return […]

On behalf of the Government and people of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Greece and Greeks around the world as you celebrate the 202nd anniversary of the founding of the Hellenic Republic. As I reflect on the previous year, I am proud to say that the partnership between the United […]

Today, we celebrate, along with Belarusians across the world, Belarus Freedom Day.  This day highlights the democratic legacy of the first independent Belarusian state, established in 1918 after 150 years of Russian occupation. Despite the Lukashenka regime’s complicity in Russia’s war against Ukraine, brave Belarusians continue to stand up for an independent, stable, and democratic […]

Yesterday President Biden transmitted to Congress new 10-year plans to implement the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability with our priority partner countries and region.  The plans represent an important step in advancing efforts to bring stability to conflict-affected areas and are a move toward greater global peace.  They acknowledge that the most […]

On behalf of the United States of America, I would like to convey my warmest congratulations to the people of Bangladesh on your Independence Day. As you celebrate your 53rd Independence Day, Bangladesh has many reasons to be proud. With a rapidly growing economy, an increasingly well-educated workforce, and a dynamic youth demographic, Bangladesh is […]

Special Presidential Advisor (SPA) for the Americas Christopher J. Dodd will travel to Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic, on March 24-25 to attend the 28th Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government.  SPA Dodd is attending the summit at the invitation of Dominican President Luis Abinader, whose government is hosting the event.  In Santo Domingo, […]