SAUDI ARABIA
Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on September 18, according to State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus.
The Secretary and the Crown Prince discussed the recent attacks by Iran against oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and declared it an “unacceptable and unprecedented attack” that not only threatened Saudi Arabian national security, but also endangered the lives of all the American citizens living and working in Saudi Arabia, as well as the world’s energy supply in general.
“This was an Iranian attack” according to Secretary Pompeo. He called it “an act of war.” “It’s not the case that you can subcontract out the devastation of five percent of the world’s global energy supply and think that you can absolve yourself of responsibilities,” he added.
It is believed by the intelligence community that the equipment used in the attack was not in the Houthi arsenal but transferred from Iranian sources. Analysts in Washington believe these transfers have been ongoing for over a half-dozen years. Additionally, analysts examining the missile flight patterns say that they didn’t come from the south where Yemen is located.
VENEZUELA
The United States is joining the Interim Government of Venezuela and ten other countries in invoking the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR). According to the State Department, this Venezuelan-led request is “proof of the region’s support for the Venezuelan people and recognition of the increasingly destabilizing influence that the former regime of Nicolas Maduro is having on the region.”
More than four million Venezuelans have fled their homeland, finding refuge in countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean which has placed a huge economic and social burden on their host countries.
Recent bellicose moves by the Venezuelan military to deploy along the border with Colombia as well as the presence of illegal armed groups and terrorist organizations in Venezuelan territory demonstrate that Nicolas Maduro not only poses a threat to the Venezuelan people according to State Department reports. Catastrophic economic policies and political repression by Maduro continue to drive this unprecedented refugee crisis, straining the ability of regional governments to respond.
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In a recent announcement, the Department of State reported ongoing corruption and financial mismanagement by Afghan government institution. “Leaders must be transparent and accountable to the Afghan people.” The Administration in Washington is standing up against those who exploit their positions of power and influence to deprive the Afghan people of the benefits of foreign assistance and a more prosperous future.
“We expect the assistance funds we provide to Afghanistan to serve the interests of all Afghan citizens. Due to identified Afghan Government corruption and financial mismanagement, the US Government is returning approximately $100 million to the Treasury Department that was intended for a large energy infrastructure project,” according to the announcement.
The State Department said the US still is fulfilling its commitment to complete the project, which consists of five substations and other transmission infrastructure between Ghazni and Kandahar and Kajaki and Kandahar. A decision was made to use a US Government “off-budget” mechanism given the Afghan government’s inability to transparently manage US Government resources.
Lack of transparency surrounding procurement decisions by the National Procurement Authority remains a cause for concern for Washington. As a result, the US will be withholding $60 million in planned assistance due to the Afghan government’s failure to meet benchmarks for transparency and accountability in public financial management.
The State Department concluded that the Afghan government’s Monitoring and Evaluation Committee is incapable of being a partner in the international effort to build a better future for the Afghan people. The announcement said that the US “will cease funding to this entity at the end of this calendar year.” Washington has consistently called for the Afghan government to demonstrate a clear commitment to fight corruption, to serve the Afghan people, and to maintain their trust.
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 Inc., 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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