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Regional Affairs

Announcement of Visa Restrictions to Address Forced Assimilation in Tibet

Release: The State Department is taking steps to impose visa restrictions under the authority of Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act on People’s Republic of China (PRC) officials for their involvement in the forcible assimilation of more than one million Tibetan children in government-run boarding schools. These coercive policies seek to eliminate Tibet’s distinct linguistic, cultural, and religious traditions among younger generations of Tibetans.


Regional Affairs

Assistant Secretary of State Satterfield Travels to India

Release: From August 22-27, 2023, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Lee Satterfield will travel to India to lead the United States’ delegation to the Group of 20 (G20) Culture Ministerial in Varanasi, India. The Assistant Secretary’s trip comes on the heels of Prime Minister Modi’s official state visit to the United States in June and precedes the G20 Leaders’ Summit which is slated to occur in early September.


Regional Affairs

The Central African Republic’s Constitutional Referendum

Release: On Aug. 21, the Constitutional Court of the Central African Republic validated the results of the July 30 constitutional referendum, which, among other changes, removes presidential term limits, and undercuts the country’s democratic governance. We believe that regular peaceful transitions of power...


Regional Affairs

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Foreign Minister Shoukry of Egypt

Release: The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller.


Regional Affairs

Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Bitter’s Travel to Armenia, Jordan, and Egypt

Release: Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter will travel August 21-28 to Yerevan, Amman, and Cairo. During her trip, the Assistant Secretary will observe U.S. consular operations and meet with foreign government counterparts to underscore our deep and sustained commitment to the protection of U.S. citizens overseas and the facilitation of legitimate travel to the United States.


Regional Affairs

Acting Special Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Matza’s Travel to Indonesia and the Philippines

Release: Acting Special Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) Helaina Matza will travel to Jakarta and Manila, August 21-31, to advance ongoing PGI-led efforts to facilitate strategic infrastructure investments in electric vehicle supply chains, clean energy solutions for captive power, connective transportation corridors, and trusted digital networks.


Regional Affairs

Tenth Anniversary of the Ghouta, Syria Chemical Weapons Attack

Release: Ten years ago the Assad regime launched rockets carrying the deadly nerve agent sarin into the Ghouta district of Damascus, killing more than 1,400 people.


Regional Affairs

Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Kerry’s Travel to Switzerland and United Kingdom

Release: Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will travel August 21-25 to Geneva, Switzerland; Edinburgh, Scotland; and London, England to hold meetings to advance objectives related to COP 28, climate solutions, innovation, and private sector initiatives, including the First Movers Coalition.


Regional Affairs

Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Mike Hammer Travels to Stockholm and Brussels

Release: U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa (SEHOA) Mike Hammer will travel to Stockholm, Sweden and Brussels, Belgium August 19-26. In Stockholm, he will participate in World Water Week, hosted by the Stockholm International Water Institute. He will also participate in a roundtable discussion hosted by...


Regional Affairs

Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Mike Hammer Travels to Stockholm and Brussels

Release: U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa (SEHOA) Mike Hammer will travel to Stockholm, Sweden and Brussels, Belgium August 19-26. In Stockholm, he will participate in World Water Week, hosted by the Stockholm International Water Institute. He will also participate in a roundtable discussion hosted by ...


Regional Affairs

Hungary’s National Day

Release: On behalf of the United States of America, I wish the people of Hungary a happy Saint Stephen’s Day as you celebrate over a thousand years of history as a nation.


Regional Affairs

U.S.-Philippines Energy Policy Dialogue

Release: The United States and the Philippines launched the inaugural U.S.-Philippines Energy Policy Dialogue (EPD) on August 17. The U.S. Department of State’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Energy Resources Laura Lochman and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Deputy Assistant Secretary...


Regional Affairs

Arrival of Ambassador Kathleen FitzGibbon to Niger

Release: At the direction of Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Ambassador Kathleen FitzGibbon has traveled to Niamey to lead our diplomatic mission in Niger and bolster efforts to help resolve the political crisis at this critical time. As a career senior diplomat with significant experience specializing in West Africa, she is uniquely positioned to lead U.S. government efforts in support of the American community and the preservation of Niger’s hard-earned democracy.


Regional Affairs

Promoting Accountability for the Ortega-Murillo Regime for Restricting Freedoms

Release: Today the Department of State is taking additional actions to promote accountability for the Ortega-Murillo regime’s relentless attacks on civil liberties by imposing visa restrictions on 100 Nicaraguan municipal officials who participated in efforts to repress civil society organizations, close civic spaces like that of the Universidad Centroamericana, and unjustly detain courageous individuals who support a free civil society, including Bishop Rolando Álvarez.


Regional Affairs

U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea Trilateral Meeting on Women’s Economic Empowerment

Release: The United States hosted Japan and the Republic of Korea in Seattle, Washington on Friday, Aug. 18, on the margins of the APEC Women and the Economy Forum. Assistant to the President and Director of the Gender Policy Council Jennifer Klein led the U.S. delegation, which also included U.S. Ambassador-at-Large...


Regional Affairs

Lifting of Defense Trade Restrictions on the Republic of Cyprus for Fiscal Year 2024

Release: Secretary Blinken determined and certified to Congress that the Republic of Cyprus has met the necessary conditions under applicable legislation to allow the Department to approve exports, re-exports, and transfers of defense articles to the Republic of Cyprus for fiscal year (FY) 2024. Compliance with ...


Regional Affairs

On Fighting in Nyala in South Darfur, Sudan

Release: The United States calls on the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to cease renewed fighting in Nyala, South Darfur, and other populated areas, which have caused death and destruction. We are particularly alarmed by reports of indiscriminate shelling carried out by both the...



Regional Affairs

Ambassador Fick’s Travel to India and Sri Lanka

Release: From August 17 to 23, 2023, Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy Nathaniel C. Fick will travel to India and Sri Lanka.


Regional Affairs

Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Rao Gupta Travels to Seattle for the APEC Women and the Economy Forum

Release: U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta will travel to Seattle August 17-20 to participate in the APEC Women and the Economy Forum (WEF) and related events during the Third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting and Related Meetings (SOM3). As part of the 2023 U.S. host year, the...