Tag: Foreign Policy Update

MIDDLE EAST

In a recent press conference Secretary of State Michael Pompeo discussed America’s leadership role in the role and how it has evolved under the Trump Administration.  He said Americans live in a “complicated world, dangerous world.” He pointed out that America is no longer leading from behind, but also recognized the United States can’t be everywhere and do all things. He added that “We’re doing it right; we’re doing it well.

The work that Vice President Pence did in Ankara trying to stop the Turkish incursion was “truly lifesaving,” he pointed out. Pompeo said the complexity of the Middle East is even greater. Although the caliphate is no longer, he said “We still have threats from terrorism all around the world, not just in the Middle East, in Asia too.”

The mission at the State Department is to “deliver against President Trump’s priorities, to make sure that we’re doing this right in the true American tradition of diplomacy, and to keep the American people safe and secure,” according to Pompeo. He added that if they do their jobs well, “we’ll have to put fewer young men and women in harm’s way in the military, and we reduce the risk to our people back home, and we can continue to do the things we love to do in places like here in Kansas and take care of our families, grow our economy, all the things that Americans value.”

UKRAINE

“This is a results-based administration. This is about realism. It’s about being practical. It’s about delivering on real outcomes to keep the American people safe. Our interest in Ukraine has consistently been aimed at the singular focus of what’s in America’s best interest – that is, how do we get the outcome that keeps the American people safe,” according to Pompeo. Washington views a strong Ukraine, that is less corrupt and less under the influence of Russia’s Putin will be more secure for the Ukrainian people. And that it will help Europe in that it pushes back against the threats that are from Russia.

TURKEY

Asked if he was comfortable with the President lifting sanctions against Turkey a day after Erdogan met with Russian President Putin, Pompeo said “Yes. I recommended that to the President.”  

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Vice President Pence had led a delegation along with Pompeo to meet with President Erdogan and explain to the Turkish leader that the President was “very unhappy that he had conducted an incursion into Syria.” Pompeo added that “We wanted to stop that incursion to save lives. We did that. We set up a five-day pause so that we could extract SDF fighters safely, they wouldn’t be killed as they moved back. We were largely successful in doing that.”

The Turks did halt their Operation Peace Spring which has allowed for the initiation of a permanent ceasefire phase which Washington plans to monitor. US sanctions were put in place to convince the Turkish leadership that it was in their best interest to halt that operation, to stop the death, to stop the killing that would have taken place, according to Pompeo.

VENEZUELA

Venezuela recently was given a seat on the UH Human Rights Commission to the disbelief of many member countries. Secretary Pompeo commented that “this is untethered to anything, left, right, center, and America would understand as decent and right and protecting human dignity. If you observe what’s going on in Venezuela today, you can see that it’s the antithesis of the protection of individual liberty and freedom and the rights that we all know.” The Maduro regime has long abused the citizens of Venezuela and illegally attempted to retain power. The resulting economic decay in the country and abuse has led millions of Venezuela’s citizens to seek refuge in other nations.

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

U.S. Department of Commerce Further Tightens Cuba Sanctions

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the U.S. Department of Commerce has announced that it will further restrict the Cuban regime’s access to commercial aircraft and other goods. According to Commerce. “This action supports the Administration’s earlier decision to hold the Cuban regime accountable for repressing its own people as well as continuing to provide support to the illegitimate Maduro regime which has terrorized the Venezuelan population and wantonly destroyed the once-prosperous economy relied on by millions. This action by the Commerce Department sends another clear message to the Cuban regime – that they must immediately cease their destructive behavior at home and abroad.  Commerce Secretary  Wilbur Ross noted that “The Trump Administration will continue to act against the Cuban regime for its misdeeds, while continuing to support the Cuban people and their aspirations for freedom and prosperity.”

Commerce reports that “In order to generate revenue for its illicit activities, the Cuban regime is resorting to transporting tourists on leased aircraft subject to BIS jurisdiction. Consequently, BIS is revoking existing licenses for aircraft leases to Cuban state-owned airlines, and will deny future applications for aircraft leases. Additionally, BIS is expanding Cuba sanctions to include more foreign goods containing U.S. content, and is imposing additional restrictions on exports to the Cuban regime.”

Turkey Ceasefire

On October 18, Vice President Pence announced an agreement between the United States and Turkey to establish a ceasefire in Northeast Syria. As a result, Turkey has agreed to pause its offensive operations in Syria for 120 hours to allow for the withdrawal of the Peoples Protection Units from the roughly 20-mile safe zone along its border. Upon completion of the YPG withdrawal, Turkey has committed to enacting a permanent ceasefire.

Defense Secretary Esper spoke with the Turkish Minister of Defense. He reiterated the United States’ position that Turkey must adhere to the full terms of this agreement, and that Turkey is expected to ensure the safety and well-being of all people in the area controlled by Turkish Forces. Protecting religious and ethnic minorities in the region continues to be a focus for the Administration. This ceasefire is a much needed step in protecting those vulnerable populations. Esper  reminded Turkey about its responsibility for maintaining security of the ISIS detainees located in the affected areas.

Esper noted that “The United States is continuing our deliberate withdrawal from Northeastern Syria as previously announced. The force protection of our service members remains our top priority, and as always, U.S. forces will defend themselves from any threat as we complete our withdrawal from the area. No U.S. ground forces will participate in the enforcement of this safe zone, however, we will remain in communication with both Turkey and the SDF.”

Secretary of State Pompeo’s Comments on Meeting with Columbia’s Foreign Minister

The United States has a significant stake in the outcome of Colombia’s crackdown on the production of and trafficking of narcotics.  That’s why we join President Duque in setting an ambitious goal to reduce coca cultivation and cocaine by half by the end of 2023.

We’ve seen signs of progress.  We just had the chance to chat about that.  Last year, coca cultivation decreased for the first time since 2012.  More than 86,000 hectares of coca were eradicated Innovation is the best thing, which is provided along with the pill, one also has to take the medicine without for to leave its long-lasting results on the health. slovak-republic.org levitra 60 mg Cases of problems generic levitra with vision have also been reported. Three natural, non-drug ways can decrease whole body acidity and online viagra cialis presumes that your pancreatic juice and bile are also acidic. One most effective medication in particular for promoting sexual energy and stamina is kamagra 100 mg pills give your sexual power an extra boost in the bedroom. viagra soft tablets see to find out more – 20 percent more than we had set as our joint goal.

Much more work needs to be done… we’ll discuss how to expand our counternarcotics efforts to achieve and sustain the ambitious five-year goal that we set.

We’ll also address Colombia’s valiant humanitarian efforts to support the now 1.6 million people who have fled Venezuela and come to Colombia.

To date, the United States has provided more than $250 million to aid Colombia in its response to the Venezuelan crisis, and our support is ongoing and continuing.

Just this past month, at the U.N. General Assembly, I announced nearly $119 million in new funding to support relief efforts throughout the region.

And since 2018, we have twice deployed the U.S. Navy Ship Comfort on medical missions to the region, stopping each time in Colombia.

As I’ve shared with the foreign minister today, we stand ready to do even more to support Colombia’s heroic efforts to save lives and stabilize the region.

And then finally, we’ll talk about an important topic: how we strengthen our economic ties between the two countries.  There’s real good progress already underway.

Colombia’s per capita GDP has doubled since 2000, and poverty has declined from one in five to one in 25.

That’s been a lot of hard work by Colombia and its people, but the United States has helped as well.  We’re Colombia’s largest trade and investment partner, and our trade supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in each of our two countries…

When I last visited Latin America in April, I explained the Trump administration’s ultimate goal in the region, which is to cement a future of democracy, peace, and prosperity.

As I said then, it’s not an impossible dream.  Nor it is a foregone conclusion. We will all have to work on this together.

Colombia is proof – is proof that the dream is indeed possible and that hard work pays off.  And today, that work continues.

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

CHINA 

China is providing the United States and other nations critical components for military weapons and equipment, according to a White House study released Friday.

The report recommends that the US invest in domestic manufacturing to eliminate supply chain vulnerabilities that could potentially cripple the American defense sector, and which pose a significant risk to national security. It also points out that the US already is experiencing delays in receiving Chinese solar cells for military use, flat-panel aircraft displays and rare earths for which China is a sole supplier at this time. 

According to the report: “China is the single or sole supplier for a number of specialty chemicals used in munitions and missiles.” It also points out that: “China’s actions seriously threaten other capabilities, including machine tools; the production and processing of advanced materials like biomaterials, ceramics, and composites; and the production of printed circuit boards and semiconductors.” 

US DISASTER RESPONSE IN INDONESIA

The United States, through USAID, is now providing a total of $3.7 million in assistance through its partners to deliver essential relief items, including shelter kits, blankets, hygiene kits, solar-powered lamps, and other lifesaving aid, according to the State Department Spokesperson.

USAID is also airlifting heavy-duty plastic sheeting to Indonesia to provide for emergency shelter needs of up to 110,500 people and has deployed a team of disaster experts to coordinate our humanitarian response efforts and is supporting a U.S. Forest Service emergency operations expert who’s on the ground providing technical support to the Government of Indonesia’s disaster response, she added. The Department of Defense has provided three C-130s and has already transported nearly 30 – 63 metric tons of disaster relief supplies into the affected areas. 

This is not the first time the US has supported humanitarian disaster relief in Indonesia. During the 2004 tsunami in Sumatra, Indonesia which followed the 9.1 earthquake, the United States providing operating rooms aboard an aircraft carrier. It was the first and only nation to offer such assistance.

STATE DEPARTMENT NOMINEES HELD UP IN THE SENATE

There are still 65 State Department nominees sitting in the United States Senate, according to the State Department spokeswoman. She said: ”That’s over a quarter of all the senior-level confirmable positions that the United States Department of State is tasked with using to achieve its diplomatic outcomes. There is bipartisan agreement that a fully staffed State Department is critical to American national security. The State Department has been criticized for having gaps in leadership positions, but now we’ve done our part to fix that; now the Senate needs to do its part.”

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Secretary Pompeo has repeatedly stated that these candidates are quality candidates and that they’re not sitting on the Senate floor because of objections with respect to their quality, their professionalism, or their excellence and ability to deliver American foreign policy. 

Democratic members of the Senate not the Administration are at fault, the Secretary noted. He added that those for whom partisanship has now driven delay and obstruction of getting America’s diplomatic corps into every corner of the world, are to blame.

NORTH KOREA

Secretary of state Pompeo and North Korean Chairman Kim discussed the four pillars of the Singapore summit recently, according to the State Department. The Secretary of State and President Trump discussed the meeting and a possible second summit upon the Secretary’s return. 

According to officials, there is some positive movement as Chairman Kim has invited inspectors to visit the Punggye-ri nuclear test site to confirm that it’s been irreversibly dismantled.  However, it should be noted that this particular site is an older one which already has been destroyed. While there is some progress, there is a long path ahead.

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

NORTH KOREA

Intelligence sources believe North Korea has once again fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) just days ahead of upcoming talks with the United States on denuclearization of the country.  The last known submarine launch by the North occurred in August 2016 when a ballistic missile flew about 310 miles. The maximum SLBM range is believed to be about 800 miles. It was the 11^th in a series of launches this year. This most recent test was at a high angle and did not travel the missile’s maximum possible flight range.

ITALY

In response to the Pope’s call for “building bridges, not walls” Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said: “It’s a dangerous journey across Mexico into the United States.  A much better solution is to try and create the conditions on the ground in those countries where those people can thrive. We feel the same way about migration all across the world.  The best solution to these migration challenges is to create safety, security, and prosperity in the home countries of these people.  It’s where they, frankly, want to be themselves.” The US and the Holy See both agree that developing institutions and economies is a critical step in helping places thrive and grow. 

CHINA

While traveling in Italy Secretary Pompeo was asked about the danger of China’s 5G technology to the security of the Atlantic alliance. He responded that the Atlantic alliance is not at risk and that this danger is “overblown.” Pompeo explained that every piece of information traveling across a network is at risk and that if it is controlled by China it presents additional and unique challenges.

“We’ve seen military-civil cooperation inside of China.  We’ve seen the connectivity between Chinese state-owned enterprises and their government.  And what we’re asking each country to do, Italy included, is to make their own sovereign decision about the right approach, but do so with eyes wide open about the potential risks of an ordinary Italian citizen’s data being transmitted across the network that was accessible by the Chinese Communist Party.”

LIBYA

The situation in Libya is complicated and in need of a political solution according to Secretary Pompeo. He said the first step is to ensure those outside Libya providing arms, weapons systems, and munitions cease delivery to reduce the violence. Pompeo said it will require nearby countries to change their mindset from searching for a military victory to seeking a political solution. He added that “We need to get there as quickly as possible.”

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RUSSIA

On September 30 the State Department issued a statement notifying the public that the Administration is continuing to take action in response to “Russian attempts to influence U.S. democratic processes.” It imposed sanctions on four entities and seven individuals saying that it serves as a warning to “any actors who continue to engage with these individuals, companies, aircraft, or vessel may also be subject to future sanctions. The U.S. government will continue to work to ensure that Prigozhin and others like him find no refuge or comfort as long as they carry out destabilizing activities that threaten the interests of the United States and its allies and partners.”

The State Department is pushing back against Russian attempts to interfere in US election politics in an attempt to subvert the democratic process. A State Department official said that it will not hesitate to impose additional costs on Russia if it continues its malevolent activities. 

IRAN 

President Trump announced a Presidential Proclamation restricting entry into the United States for senior Iranian government officials and members of their families. Under this proclamation, designated senior regime officials and their families will no longer be allowed entry into the United States.  The document stated that “No longer will elites reap the benefits of a free society while the Iranian people suffer under the regime’s corruption and mismanagement.”

Iran’s belligerent behavior toward the United States and its neighboring countries has been cause for alarm as the regime continues to threaten peace and stability in the region. The President, in his recent talk at the United Nations, called for Iran’s leaders to stop stealing money from its citizens and then using it to fund protracted violence inside Iran and abroad. The impact of American sanctions is having an effect on Iran’s economy. The question that remains unanswered is will it be enough to change the regime’s behavior and in time to avoid a serious regional war.

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

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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AFGHANISTAN

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.

Illustration: Pixabay

IRAQ

Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, in a talk at the 40^th anniversary luncheon of Concerned women for America, announced that the US is providing $340 million to support Iraq’s religious and ethnic minorities, including Christians. He pointed out: “When religious freedom is denied, a host of other freedoms are often denied alongside it.  This is especially true for women and girls.  We’ve seen this with the enslavement of Yazidi women by ISIS in the Middle East and with the assault and kidnapping of Nigerian girls by Boko Haram.”

Today, 83% of the world in living in nations that threaten, restrict or totally deny religious freedom.  

AFGHANISTAN

The President reiterated recently his goal was achieving peace in Afghanistan and bringing our troops home. According to the State Department Spokesperson, this remains the objective although it will not be easy. Protecting the homeland continues to remain at the center of discussions for the President’s entire security team. Secretary Pompeo on Monday said he hopes “we can get them back to the negotiating table; we hope we can get the Taliban to make a commitment to break from al-Qaida and to reduce violence in the country.  If we can get those three commitments, we’ll reduce the need for America’s young men and women to put their lives at risk by going and serving in this faraway place.”

Secretary Pompeo, in a recent interview, pointed out that he believed that the President was absolutely right to cancel the talks as they are, and that this “is the direction that the President has given us for now.”  

How we get there, he added, “obviously is going to diverge from how we thought we were going to get there two weeks ago.” Pompeo noted that the Administration will “work on a path forward in Afghanistan that continues to be inclusive of the Afghan Government, of women, of civil society, of all elements in Afghanistan.”  

IRAN

The Iranian regime recently delivered oil to Syria, according to the State Department. That “fuel goes straight into the tanks of troops that are slaughtering innocent Syrians, and that’s something – again, the Iranians lied about this,” according to the State Spokesperson. She added that it should be no surprise as Iran also lied to the EU and the international community. 

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The State Department has been calling out the Iranian regime for a while on oil deliveries. The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control identified Adrian Darya as “blocked property” on August 30th and has filed a civil complaint against the vessel. The illicit oil again goes to the Assad regime. The Spokesperson said that: “…the thing that is incredibly troubling about that is we know exactly what the Assad regime is using that for. They’re using it to slaughter Syrians.

NORTH KOREA

The North Korean foreign ministry recently asked the  United States for the new conditions of negotiations. The State Department Spokesperson said the Administration’s goal “has not changed and will not change for North Korea.” A denuclearized North Korea remains the end objective. The regime has continued to fire test missiles in an attempt to draw the US to the negotiating table on its terms without success.

TERRORISM

On Tuesday the President signed an Executive Order modernizing and expanding sanctions to combat terrorism.  According to the State Department, this Executive Order – the most significant update of terrorism designation authorities since the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks – enhances the United States’ ability to target and deprive terrorists and their enablers of financial, material, and logistical support worldwide.  

The goal it to expand the government’s counterterrorism authorities to enable it to more effectively sanction the leaders of terrorist organizations, as well as those who participate in training to commit acts of terrorism.  This Order also puts foreign financial institutions on notice that they risk sanctions if they knowingly conduct or facilitate any significant transactions on behalf of designated terrorists. 

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

IRAN

The United States Government is intensifying its maximum pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to the State Department. This week under its “Awards for Justice” program it announced a reward of “up to $15 million” for any person who helps disrupt the financial operations of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and Qods Force.

This program gives individuals an incentive to work with the United States to bring terrorists to justice and to prevent acts of terrorism globally, according to Brian Hook, the Special Representative for Iran and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State.  

It marks the first time that the United States has offered a reward for information that disrupts a government entity’s financial operations.  The IRGC and the Qods Force were designated as a foreign terrorist organization in April 

Hook said the “IRGC trains, funds, and equips proxy organizations across the Middle East.  Iran wants these groups to extend the borders of the regime’s revolution and sow chaos and sectarian violence.  We are using every available diplomatic and economic tool to disrupt these operations.”

The United States also is also taking sweeping action against an IRGC/QF oil-for-terror network as it has moved hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of illicit oil which is then used to fund terrorism.    

VENEZUELAN REGIONAL CRISIS 

The United States Announced additional humanitarian assistance in response to the Venezuelan regional crisis. Deputy Secretary John Sullivan and United States Agency for International Development Administrator Mark Green announced September 4 more than $120 million in additional U.S. humanitarian assistance to address the largest external displacement of persons in the Hemisphere’s history. 

According to the State Department, Maduro’s rampant corruption, brutal repression, and vast social and economic mismanagement has forced more than 4.3 million Venezuelans to flee the country. Its socialist policies have wreaked havoc on the once prosperous nation and created an environment in which there was a 65% increase in maternal mortality in a single year and in 2018 saw 94% of households living in poverty.  

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The aid includes emergency food and health assistance, to vulnerable Venezuelans in Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, and throughout the region.  To date the US has contributed over $376 million in aid since FY2017.  In 2019 ninety percent of hospitals reporting shortages of medicine and critical supplies, along with severe shortages of electricity.  

CHINA

The United States’ Treasury Secretary Munchin, USTR Lighthizer and China’s Vice Premier Liu He have agreed to ministerial-level discussions on the ongoing trade dispute in Washington in early October. Chinese and US trade officials spoke via telephone over the last few weeks to resolve issues to enable to talks to move forward toward resolution of the trade dispute between the two countries. 

This will be the first face-to-face meeting since the recent escalation and is expected to include deputy-level official meetings this month in preparation for the October talks. President Trump announced additional tariffs last month that are scheduled to take effect in October on $250 billion of Chinese goods. 

While some analysts report that the Administration is restricted in its future options, the upcoming talks offer an opportunity to make “meaningful progress,” according to a US trade official. Resolution of the dispute remains a distant goal, although both sides remain committed to ending the dispute.

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

CHINA

In a recent interview on the Hugh Hewitt Show Secretary of State Michael Pompeo discussed US-China trade relations, pointing out that the US understands the long game that China is playing and that Washington is prepared for it. He said the United States wants China “to stop stealing our stuff, to stop forcing our companies to transfer technology if they just simply want to do business and serve the Chinese market.  We want our trade barriers gone.  They want – we want zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers.  We want a fair trading relationship.” The Secretary was firm saying that Washington will be successful in pushing back the Chinese challenge. Recently, Beijing announced it was not imposing additional tariffs on the United States, a strong indication that China is aware it is running out of American goods to tax.

In a separate interview on the Tony Katz Show the Secretary spoke again about the US-China relationship and how the Administration is pushing back. He noted that Washington’s view is that the US “can’t allow China to continue to take money from the United States.” Pompeo said: “We watch their military build up as well. That is, as they steal our intellectual property, including our intellectual property connected to our things like airplanes and helicopters and telecommunications, and all the things that provide security for people in our country – as we watch them grow their security on our backs, we recognize that’s not sustainable….”

According to Pompeo, the US is working on multiple fronts. While the most visible is the trade effort, the Administration also is “pushing back against them [China] to make sure that there’s not Chinese telecommunications” stealing Americans’ private data by having their information traverse across a Chinese network with Chinese equipment.   

AFGHANISTAN

Concerning the ongoing negotiations with the Taliban, Secretary Pompeo reinforced previous statements that the two objectives President Trump has set out continue to be in place. He noted the first is “the President has said we, given the geostrategic challenges that the country faces, we have to make sure that the resources we deploy in every theater are appropriate for the time, and he has talked about these endless wars in places like the Middle East and said we need to reduce our cost and our risk to the young men and women we send there.”

The second objective, he added, is that we “ensure that we protect the American people.” In Afghanistan that means reducing the risk of terrorism emanating from the region. 

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IRAN

Secretary Pompeo called President Trump “very forward-leaning” when it came to dealing with foreign leaders such as North Korean President Kim and the Iranian leadership. He added it presents the US with a “conundrum” as the President has stated that having conversations creates value. “You can understand each other.  You know what the positions are more clearly rather than talking through the press or having some intermediary,” Pompeo pointed out.

“With respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran, we took over two and a half years ago with them on a pathway to a nuclear weapon.  They had this JCPOA, which protected them and gave them that clear pathway.  They had money.  The previous administration had given them an enormous amount of wealth and allowed them to trade with the world so that they could grow their wealth, which they would use to conduct terror campaigns all around the world.  We flipped all of that.  We got out of the JCPOA.  We’re aiming to find a deal that actually protects the American people from the potentiality of an Iranian nuclear weapons program, said Pompeo.”

Washington put economic sanctions in place against the revolutionary regime with the specific goal of starving Tehran’s capacity to underwrite Hizballah, which threatens Israel, and to underwrite militias in Iraq that threaten Americans around the world, and to take down their machine. Pompeo said it takes wealth and resources to conduct terrorism. “We’re trying to deny them the wealth and resources” to prevent them from fomenting terror around the world.   

Pompeo pointed that it is the Iranian people who will drive the destiny of their nation.  And in the end, he added, the “Iranian people will demand that their leaders behave in ways that don’t undermine their economy and threaten them from a security perspective, deny them the most basic fundamental rights.” 

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

HONG KONG

In a recent television interview Secretary of State Pompeo commented on the unrest in Hong Kong, saying that “these are protesters who are simply seeking liberty and freedom. They’re asking only that China uphold its commitment, the promise that it made, which was that there would be one country but two systems, respecting Hong Kong in ways that were appropriate for the Hong Kong people. That’s what President Trump’s made clear. He said he is for liberty, he is for democracy, and we hope that the Chinese Government will respect that.” 

The protests are ongoing and have attracted several million Chinese participants in recent weeks. The Chinese leadership in Beijing does not readily accept the rights of the protesters or their complaints as legitimate.  “Luan,” or chaos, from the government’s perspective is disruptive to society and counterproductive. Without a history of freedom of speech or other individual rights, western analysts remain unsure how long Beijing will tolerate the unrest. 

In June 1989 the Chinese government forcefully removed student protesters from Tiananmen Square in a massive military move resulting in the deaths of thousands of its own citizens. Today Chinese President Xi faces criticism from many nations for repressing the protesters as well as from domestic constituencies divided between hardliners in the military who would like to see the unrest end and a nascent civil society of human rights advocates supporting the demonstrators. The decision Xi makes will have significant fallout. Extreme repression of the protesters in Hong Kong could further drive Taiwan toward the United States and make military action one of the few remaining options for Beijing to gain control of the island. Xi could also face additional scrutiny from the international community, further sanctions, and a loss of confidence by neighboring countries that China has been wooing as it rises in power as a new Pacific hegemon.

CHINA/VIETNAM

China continues to take aggressive action in the South China Sea. The United States is “deeply concerned” as China is continuing its interference with Vietnam’s longstanding oil and gas activities in Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) claim. On August 13 China redeployed a government-owned survey vessel, together with armed escorts, into waters offshore Vietnam near Vanguard Bank in what is viewed as an escalation by Beijing in its efforts to intimidate other claimants out of developing resources in the South China Sea.

According to the State Department, this calls into “serious question” China’s commitment, including to the ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, to the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes.

China’s actions undermine regional peace and security, impose economic costs on Southeast Asian states by blocking their access to an estimated $2.5 trillion in unexploited hydrocarbon resources, and demonstrate China’s disregard for the rights of countries to undertake economic activities in their EEZs, under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, which China ratified in 1996, according to the State Department.

GEORGIA

The United States is “troubled by reports that Russian-backed de facto authorities have resumed the installation of fencing on Georgian territory near the administrative boundary line of the Russian-occupied Georgian region of South Ossetia,” according to the State Department spokesperson. The creation of the “border” separates families, affects local farming, and hurts critical infrastructure in the region.

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Washington is calling for the immediate halt of construction of new fencing and other barriers. And, for “Russia to suspend its illegal occupation of 20 percent of Georgian territory; to withdraw its forces to pre-conflict positions; and to allow unfettered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance in accordance with its clear obligations under the 2008 ceasefire agreement.”

IRAN-SYRIA

An Iranian oil tanker, the Bonita Queen, is sailing towards Syria in violation of sanctions placed on Iran. The State Department confirmed Secretary Pompeo is aware of the situation and that Washington views the shipment as aiding terrorism conducted by the Assad regime. 

Secretary Pompeo stated on August 22 that if the ship heads to Syria “we’ll take every action we can consistent with those sanctions to prevent that.” He also used the opportunity to reinforce the United States’ strong position that all ports in the Mediterranean “should be wary of accepting any ship which is carrying Iranian oil and violating US sanctions.” According to the State Department, if crew members on board a ship violating sanctions or others assist it, they may be ineligible for visas and admission to the United States.

 CUBA

This week the State Department strongly condemned Cuba’s prosecution of Roberto Quinones. His crime: reporting on a pastor home-schooling his child. The Cuban regime has a long history of violating human rights, including the right of freedom of expression and fair trial guarantees. In this latest case Quinones, on August 7, the Cuban regime convicted Quinones on dubious charges of resistance and disobedience and sentenced him to one year in a labor camp. 

His detention and trial, according to the State Department, were marked by the “flagrant disregard for legal norms that are typical of the Cuban regime.” Cuban authorities did not inform Quinones of the charges against him until minutes before the trial and did not permit him legal representation in the courtroom, it said. In addition, the Cuban regime’s prosecutors did not permit Quinones to present evidence of his injuries at the hands of the police who arrested him. Adding cruelty to injustice, regime officials have refused to allow Quinones to visit his ailing father. The Trump Administration uses targeted sanctions and trade restrictions aimed at the regime to limit it from obtaining outside resources it can use to further oppress its citizens and to prop up the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

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

The Latest State Department Press Briefing

Delivered by Morgan Ortagus

I’d like to turn to Secretary Pompeo’s recent trip to Asia, which is a very successful effort that underscored the United States firm commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. This trip allowed the Secretary to personally reinforce America’s support for our allies and partners in the region, as well as our commitment to effective, meaningful multilateralism.

In Bangkok, the Secretary participated in the ASEAN-U.S. Ministerial, the ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial, the East Asia Summit Ministerial, and the Lower Mekong Initiative, which has just celebrated the tenth anniversary. The Secretary held very positive bilateral meetings with a variety of his counterparts, including leaders from Thailand, the Philippines, China, and India. He also participated in a trilateral meeting with foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea as well as a trilateral meeting with Australia and Japan, after which those three nations released a statement expressing serious concerns about negative developments in the South China Sea.

Our diplomacy within ASEAN nations has been consistently guided by our desire for partnership, our respect for sovereignty, and a shared commitment to the rule of law, human rights, and sustainable economic growth – all points the Secretary reiterated in his speech at the Siam Society in Bangkok, which I’d encourage everyone to read.

In Sydney, the Secretary underscored our ironclad commitment to Australia, an unbreakable alliance based on shared democratic values and overlapping strategic interests. Secretary Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Esper led the U.S. delegation to AUSMIN, the Australian-U.S. Ministerial consultations, and discussed shared priorities – our work to achieve our shared vision for a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific; the denuclearization of North Korea; freedom of navigation and global shipping and air lanes; the eradication of ISIS and other terrorist groups; and the campaign to counter foreign interference in our elections.

And finally, in Micronesia, Secretary Pompeo was warmly welcomed and became the first secretary of state to visit to the Federated States of Micronesia, where he stressed the importance of our decades-old partnership with the freely associated states and our continued support for the security, economic development, and prosperity of the region. Secretary Pompeo announced the United States’ intent to begin negotiating amendments to certain provisions of the Compacts of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands and our intent to begin the compact review discussions with Palau.

Next I’d like to go – it has been 11 years since Russia’s military invasion of Georgia, when hundreds were killed or injured and over 190,000 civilians were displaced. For many, the impact of the conflict continues. Livelihoods remain destroyed; families remain separated; freedom of movement has not been restored; and property has not been returned. Within the last 24 hours, we received reports that Russian-backed de facto authorities have started the process of borderization at a village near a South Ossetia administrative boundary line. If completed, this action would cut the village off from its irrigation system. These actions are a threat to peace and stability.

As today’s actions show, Russia consistently violates the Georgian people’s right to security and property. Further, Russia’s invasion and occupation of 20 percent of Georgian territory is in stark violation of the UN – of the principles of the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, and the fundamental norms and principles of international law. We urge the Russian Federation to reverse its recognition of the so-called independence of Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions. We call upon the Russian Federation to implement in full the EU-mediated August 2008 ceasefire agreement to withdraw its forces from the occupied territories of Georgia and to affirm and to implement a commitment not to use force against Georgia.

We will not stop working until Russia ends its occupation of sovereign Georgian territory. We support the right of hundreds of thousands of IDPs and refugees to return to their home safely and with dignity. Finally, we stand with the Georgian people and welcome the day we can commemorate the end of Russia’s occupation of their territory.

We welcome the joint statement by the United States and Turkey yesterday on establishing a safe zone in northeast Syria. The military-to-military talks in Ankara made progress towards establishing a sustainable security mechanism that addresses the legitimate concerns of our NATO ally Turkey and the United States. While there are additional details that need to be worked out, we are encouraged by the initial steps that came out of these talks.

A U.S.-Turkey joint operation center will be established in Turkey to continue planning and implementation. We look forward to continuing our work with our partners on this important matter to How do these people get their grimy hands on your email address. effects of cialis Whatever the cause of your erectile dysfunction, the affects are damning for your love life, relationships cialis cheapest and sexual satisfaction. Its quick dissolving formula provides cheap cialis for sale quick result to improve the condition. One letter, received by George Lusk of the White chapel Vigilance Committee, included half of a preserved human kidney, supposedly from viagra tablet for sale one of the victims. achieve peace and security in northeast Syria.

The United States strongly condemns the vicious terror attack outside a hospital in Cairo on August 4th that killed at least 20 people and injured many more. The explosion, which occurred near a hospital, only underscores the callousness of this disgraceful act of terror. We extend our condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those wounded. The United States stands with Egypt in its struggle against terrorism.

This week, the United States and Poland formally launched the Warsaw Process Working Group. Each group is dedicated to tackling a challenge to peace and security in the Middle East. The working groups build on the historic ministerial hosted in Poland in February. The Warsaw ministerial reinvigorated our efforts to address regional security concerns on built alliances with our partners. It was an opportunity for us to share our assessments of the region and together offer solutions to the ongoing global challenges.

These working groups will enhance cooperation around key areas of concern in the region. That includes cyber security, human rights, energy security, missile proliferation, and maritime and aviation security. The groups will begin meeting this fall, hosted by our partners – the Republic of Korea, Bahrain, Romania, Poland, and also the United States.

Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale’s Meeting with Transitional Military Council Chairman Abdel Fattah el-Burhan of Sudan

Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale met on August 8 with Sudan’s Transitional Military Council Chairman, General Abdel Fattah el-Burhan.  They discussed the need for swift formation of a civilian-led transitional government in line with the recently-agreed political and constitutional documents, which the United States supports.  The Under Secretary noted that the transitional government has a significant mandate to end internal conflicts, pursue economic reforms, credibly investigate recent acts of violence, prepare a new constitution, and organize free and fair elections.  The interlocutors agreed that success will be critical to advancing the interests of both of our countries.

The United States remains a steadfast partner to the Sudanese people in their pursuit of a civilian-led government that will advance peace, security, and prosperity.

Public Designation of Sudan’s Salah Gosh under Section 7031(c)

On August 14, The United States designated Salah Abdalla Mohamed Mohamed Salih, known as Salah Gosh, the former director general of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), under Section 7031(c) of the FY 2019 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (Div. F, P.L. 116-6), due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights. Specifically, the Department has credible information that Salah Gosh was involved in torture during his tenure as head of NISS.

Section 7031(c) provides that, in cases where the Secretary of State has credible information that foreign officials have been involved in significant corruption or a gross violation of human rights, those individuals and their immediate family members are ineligible for entry into the United States.

The law also requires the Secretary of State to publicly or privately designate such officials and their immediate family members. In accordance with the law, I am also publicly designating his spouse, Awatif Ahmed Seed Ahmed Mohamed, as well as his daughter, Shima Salah Abdallah Mohamed.

The designation of Salah Gosh and his family underscores our support for accountability for those involved in gross violations of human rights. We join the Sudanese people in their call for a transitional government that is truly civilian led and differs fundamentally from the Bashir regime, particularly on the protection of human rights. We make this announcement today in support of an effort by the Sudanese people to place the Bashir regime, with its long record of human rights violations and abuses by Gosh and other officials, in the past for good.

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