CHINA
It is incredibly important that the US get to the bottom of what transpired at the start of the corona virus outbreak, according to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo. He said that the Chinese Communist Party needs to “come clean” about how this all began in order to save lives going forward. “We need our scientists, our academics, our epidemiologists all to have access to the data, access to a sample of the virus, access to the places it might have come to.”
When asked by a reporter if Washington should rethink the US-China relationship Pompeo noted that there’s places that the US can work alongside China while there are other areas such as trade where there is unfair treatment.
Pompeo pointed out that the State Department also is concerned about developments in the South China Sea where China is aggressively claiming territory beyond accepted international limits. He also pointed out that Huawei, a Chinese telecommunications company that is controlled by the Chinese Government, is courting countries around the world. The results, he said, is that American citizens’ data may be subjected to scrutiny by the Chinese Government if it crosses over the Chinese G5 network.
VENEZUELA
The US policy of maximum pressure on the former Maduro regime remains and is increasing in intensity in recent weeks, according to acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Michael Kozak. The Treasury Department earlier this week announced a new, narrowly limited, seven-month license for U.S. oil companies in Venezuela to wind down operations and engage only in those transactions necessary for the limited maintenance of essential operations, safety of employees, and preservation of assets in Venezuela. This license does not allow for business as usual, according to the State Department. Maduro will receive no money and no benefit from these operations.
CUBA
The United States remains steadfast in its support for the Cuban people and for holding the Cuban regime accountable for its human rights abuses. Earlier this week the State Department reported that the regime has taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to continue its exploitation of Cuban medical workers. The State Department said that Washington will continue to “stand up for the rights of Cuban medical personnel and to oppose their exploitation and abuse, particularly in this moment where we must protect doctors more than ever.” The Cuban regime takes up to 90 percent of what doctors earn.
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Iran’s military announced Thursday it launched a satellite into orbit after saying they did not have a space program. Secretary Pompeo said it was “really jarring” to see that the “Iranians had lied once again.” He pointed out that they told the world that they didn’t have a military program that was involved in missiles and satellites.
The IRGC, the cutting edge of the Iranian military, announced that they had launched a satellite into low Earth orbit. IT is a move considered dangerous and destabilizing to other countries. Pompeo said that he intends to gather the nations across the world to disassociate themselves from Iran. He added he is confident that there will now be “more countries that understand what President Trump has understood since he first came into office, that the Iran deal was a crazy, bad deal, that we all need to move away from it, that the world needs to disassociate itself from Iran, and that the community of nations needs to come together and convince the Iranian regime to cease their activity, which has led to them being the world’s largest state sponsor of terror for so many years.”
When asked about Iranian military boats harassing US ships in the region, Secretary Pompeo said pointed out that the Trump Administration behaves totally different than the previous one. “You’ll recall when they took our Navy sailors, made them kneel down, and Secretary Kerry apologized to get them back. This President has taken a completely different approach. He has told the Iranian regime enough, we’re not going to permit this, we’re going to defend our soldiers, our sailors, our airmen, and Marines. I think the Iranians understand that as well.”
GUYANA
The still is no outcome in Guyana’s elections which were held more than seven weeks ago. The Guyana Elections Commission has a preliminary work plan for a recount but has not issued a timeline. The Statement said it remains “gravely concerned that so much time has passed without a credible result. Further delays violate the Guyanese people’s rights to a transparent, credible, and timely electoral process.”
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.
Illustration: Pixabay