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Foreign Policy Update

CHINA

Secretary Pompeo hosted the U.S.-China Diplomatic & Security Dialogue where leaders from both nations participated in a “friendly” and “constructive” dialogue on issues affecting the U.S.-China relationship and also made preparations for meetings between the US and Chinese leaders during the upcoming G20 meeting.

Secretary Pompeo addressed continuing concerns “about China’s activities and militarization in the South China Sea.” He said he has pressed China to live up to its past commitments in this area. “Regarding our strong ties with a democratic Taiwan,” he added, “I reiterated the U.S. policy has not changed and that we are concerned about China’s increasing efforts to coerce others, constraining Taiwan’s international space. And finally, I stated the United States and the international communities will continue to express our concerns with respect to China’s repression of religious groups – Christian, Buddhists, and 800,000 to possibly millions of Muslims that have been denied their freedoms.”

EUROPE AND EURASIA

The State Department announced that the U.S. is imposing financial sanctions on three individuals and nine entities that are supporting Russia’s attempt to integrate Crimea region of Ukraine through private investment and privatization projects or those that are engaging in serious human rights abuses in furtherance of Russia’s occupation or control over parts of Ukraine.

The action reinforces the Crimea Declaration of July 25, 2018, which states that the United States does not and will not recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea. The State Department Spokesperson’s office added that “The designations underscore the United States’ steadfast partnership with Ukraine and the European Union in unified opposition to Russia’s illegal purported annexation and occupation of Crimea and use of force to control parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Eastern Ukraine.”

IRAN

The day after US elections Secretary Pompeo spoke about Iranian sanctions with BBC Persian. When asked if there was  any sign that the Iranian leaders are coming to the table to have negotiations, he said that the United States has not seen any indication yet but is “very hopeful that they will do that.”  He added that “We think it’s what the Iranian people would want them to do. Remember the purpose. The purpose is to stop Iran’s destabilizing influence in the region, assassination campaigns in Europe, work to support Lebanese Hizballah that’s threatened Americans and Israelis, and using Iranian people’s wealth to foment this terror around the world is not what the Iranian people want.” The American effort is aimed at getting the Iranian leadership to understand this isn’t in the best interests of their country or their people and to try to push for a change in their behavior.
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None of the sanctions Washington imposed prevent humanitarian assistance. They include extensive exemptions for medicine, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural imports. The goal of the Administration is to cause a change in state behavior, according to the Secretary, not to harm the Iranian people.

RUSSIA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

At a State Department briefing on November 7, Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino discussed upcoming meetings in Moscow. He urged all countries to support a direct dialogue between the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban to reach an end to the war. He said: “we’ve been clear that no government, including Russia, can be a substitute for the Afghan Government in direct negotiations with the Taliban.”

The United States, in coordination with the Afghan Government, plans to send a representative to the working level to observe the discussions

Palladino pointed out that Washington made a determination against the Russian Government over its use of Novichok nerve agent against Sergei and Yulia Skripal back on August 6th. Under the act, he said, “the chemical biological weapons act, the Russian Government had until yesterday, November 6th, to take steps to meet the conditions required under the act… by yesterday, it had not done so, so we followed what was required under the act and we informed the Congress that we were unable to certify that the Russian Federation was in compliance. And so what – as we move forward we will be proceeding with our statutory requirements.” The U.S. wants to ensure that sanctions and handled carefully and will be effective. Washington has not set a start date yet.

DARIA NOVAK served in the United States State Department during the Reagan Administration, and currently is on the Board of the American Analysis of News and Media, which publishes usagovpolicy.com and the New York Analysis of Policy and Government.  Each Saturday, she presents key updates on U.S. foreign policy from the State Department.

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