Informal Communication

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Ritz-Carlton Hotel

QUESTION:  Mr. Secretary, thank you for joining us.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thank you for having me.

QUESTION:  This is your sixth tour in the region since the war started in October.  Are you carrying any more initiatives to end the bloodshed in Gaza?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  We are.  We’re pressing for an immediate ceasefire t

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Regions: Egypt , Iran , Israel , Jordan , Lebanon , Qatar , United Kingdom , United States , West Bank , Yemen

Topics: Climate and Environment, Energy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Tomorrow marks two years since Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.  After ten years of conflict, sovereign, democratic Ukraine remains courageous in the face of formidable odds.  The United States will continue to stand resolutely with the Ukrainian people in their defense of their homeland.  Putin’s war threatens not only Ukraine, but also the security of the United States, our NATO Allies, and the free and open international order we

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Topics: Countering Terrorism, Energy, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Munich, Germany

Bayerischer Hof

MODERATOR:  (In progress) for Germany.  Welcome.  (Applause.)

Antony Blinken, Secretary of State of the U.S.  (Applause.)  Nice to have you.

And Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, Republic of India.  Minister.  (Applause.)

I hope that based on the topic of the session that you will not all agree with each other and we can have some sparks.  We have about 43

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Topics: Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Energy, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation, The Ocean and Polar Affairs

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

Benjamin Franklin Room

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, good morning, everyone.  It is wonderful to have our friends and colleagues from the EU here in Washington for our Trade and Technology Council number five.

Let me just say at the outset, in the challenge of these times it is particularly valuable and appreciated by the United States to have in the EU a partner of first resort, not last resort.  And if we lo

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Regions: Belgium , United States

Topics: Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

QUESTION:  For the latest on the conflict, we’re joined now by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.  We appreciate your time this morning, Mr. Secretary.  You had five Democratic senators send a letter to you, the Defense Secretary, the President this week calling for increased accountability for Israel’s use of American weapons.  And yet your State Department is now pushing through the sale of 13,000 rounds of tank ammunition for

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Topics: Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

The United States is marking Human Rights Day and the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10th by taking actions to promote accountability for human rights abuses and violations.  Together, the Departments of State and the Treasury today have imposed visa restrictions and sanctions on 37 individuals in 13 countries.

With today’s actions, the United States is addressing some of the most challenging and harmful forms

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Topics: Climate and Environment, Human Rights and Democracy

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Dean Acheson Auditorium

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, good afternoon, everyone.  It’s genuinely a pleasure to welcome Foreign Secretary Cameron here to the State Department, to Washington.  The infamous special relationship has never been more important than it is now, and I think that’s reflected in the conversations we’ve had.  Actually, we began on the phone almost immediately after your appointment, then we were in Brussels together jus

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Topics: Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, The Ocean and Polar Affairs, Treaties and International Agreements

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

In close coordination with the Government of Mexico and pursuant to President Biden’s National Drug Control Strategy , today the United States Governme

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Regions: Mexico , United States

Topics: Combating Drugs and Crime, Energy, Global Health

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Today, the United States is imposing sanctions on eight key individuals for supporting Hamas, as well as Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) officials involved in financing and training Hamas.  A number of the individuals and entities designated today have played key roles in facilitating sanctions evasion by Hamas-affiliated companies.

Additionally, the United States is designating four entities for ties to Specially Designated Global Terrorists,

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Regions: Iran , United States

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

The United States welcomes the signing of an electoral roadmap agreement between the Unitary Platform and representatives of Nicolas Maduro.  This is a concrete step toward resolution of Venezuela’s political, economic, and humanitarian crisis.

Consistent with our longstanding commitment to provide U.S. sanctions relief in response to concrete steps toward competitive elections and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, the United States Dep

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Regions: United States , Venezuela

Topics: Energy, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Iran’s development, procurement, and proliferation of missiles and missile-related technology remains one of the greatest challenges to international peace and security. We see the horrific impact of Iran’s provision of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to designated terrorist organizations and militant proxies that directly threaten the security of Israel and our Gulf partners.

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Topics: Countering Terrorism, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

The horrific attacks that Hamas terrorists perpetrated on October 7 against civilians in Israel shocked the world. The United States has expressed our unconditional support to the people of Israel as they go through these tragic times. We continue to condemn these acts of terrorism that resulted in numerous lives lost and families shattered.

Today, the United States is imposing sanctions on ten key Hamas terrorist group members, operatives, and financia

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Topics: Countering Terrorism

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

The Benjamin Franklin Room

QUESTION:  And joining me now is Secretary of State Antony Blinken.  Mr. Secretary, welcome back to Meet the Press.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good morning, Kristen.

QUESTION:  So the big question on everyone’s mind, Mr. Secretary:  How did Israel, how did the United States miss what Hamas was planning?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, first, put this in perspective –

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Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

Benjamin Franklin Room

QUESTION:  Mr. Secretary, thank you for joining us this morning.  I know you’ve been working through the day, through the weekend.  What is the United States doing right now?  What comes next?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, George, first, to put this in perspective – and as some of your correspondents just said – this is the worst attack on Israel since 1973, the Yom Kipp

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Topics: Countering Terrorism, Energy, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

Benjamin Franklin Room

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good afternoon.  Welcome.  Welcome back to the State Department for so many of you.  Welcome to the Ben Franklin Room, newly refurbished.  A lot went into this.  And I think maybe a word about Ben Franklin before we get to today’s event.

As you all know, he was America’s first diplomat, ambassador to France, negotiated our first treaty, charted the Gulf Stream, pioneered el

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Topics: Climate and Environment, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Treaties and International Agreements

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

The United States is leading global efforts to stop the illicit manufacture and trafficking of fentanyl, a leading cause of death of people age 18 to 49 in the United States.  Today, we are taking action to target transnational criminals responsible for a significant portion of the illicit fentanyl, cocaine, and other deadly drugs trafficked into the United States.

The United States is sanctioning ten individuals involved in the production of illicit dr

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Regions: Mexico , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Combating Drugs and Crime

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

New York City, New York

QUESTION:  And Nancy’s sticking around because our next guest is Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in town because New York is beautiful in the fall, of course, and also a little thing called the UN General Assembly.

Mr. Secretary, thank you very much for being here.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Great to be with you.  Thanks.

QUESTION:  We just saw the amazing footage of these Americans returning

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Topics: Countering Terrorism, Energy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

New York City, New York

QUESTION:  And joining us now in Studio 1A, Secretary of State Antony Blinken.  Secretary Blinken, good morning to you.  Good to have you here.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good morning.

QUESTION:  Let’s talk about the news this week, the prisoner swap – five Americans brought home.  You cannot look at these pictures of Americans being returned to U.S. soil and not be elated for them, emotional.  But the

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Topics: Countering Terrorism, Energy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thank you.  Good morning, everyone.

AUDIENCE:  Good morning.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Dean Steinberg, Jim, thank you for the honor of joining the SAIS community to help inaugurate this truly magnificent new home.

Jim has contributed so much over his remarkable career, but his most lasting contribution is the generation of thinkers, the generation of d

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Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

The Russian Federation is in the process of conducting sham elections in occupied areas of Ukraine. These so-called elections are taking place nearly one year after the Kremlin staged sham referenda and purported to annex Ukraine’s Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts, and over nine years after Russia purported to annex Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. The Kremlin hopes these pre-determined, fabricated results will strengt

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Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Darfur have committed atrocities and other abuses, inducing ethnically motivated killings, targeted abuses against human rights activists and defenders, conflict-related sexual violence, and looting and burning of communities. In response, the Department of State and Department of the Treasury are taking actions against two of its senior commanders.

The Department of State is imposin

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Regions: Sudan

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

On August 25,  the sixth anniversary of genocide against Rohingya, the United States stands with the victims and survivors and reaffirms our commitment to pursue justice and accountability for the atrocities committed by the Burma military.  We are deeply grateful to the Government and the people of Bangladesh for giving shelter and refuge to nearly one million Rohingya, as well as o

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Regions: Bangladesh , Burma , United States

Topics: Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

Press Briefing Room

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good morning.  Good morning.

QUESTION:  Good morning.

QUESTION:  Well, barely morning.  (Laughter.)

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Speak for yourself, Matt.

Very good to see everyone here.  Actually, I kind of hoped more of you might be on vacation by now but – (laughter) – I see we have a pretty full house

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Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Climate and Environment, Countering Terrorism, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Today, the United States is imposing sanctions on four prominent members of Russia’s financial elite who have served on the supervisory board of the Alfa Group Consortium, one of the largest financial and investment conglomerates in Russia.

We are also imposing sanctions on the Russian Association of Employers the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), a Russian business organization involved in the technology sector of the Russian Fe

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Regions: United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Science, Technology, and Innovation

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Today, as part of the United States whole-of-government strategy to tackle the nation’s overdose epidemic, and in close coordination with the Government of Mexico, the United States is designating three Sinaloa Cartel members involved in the illicit trafficking of fentanyl and other deadly drugs.

Illicit production and trafficking of synthetic drugs pose a serious global health and security challenge and directly contribute to the U.S. opioid overdose e

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Regions: United States

Topics: Combating Drugs and Crime, Global Health

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Today marks three years since the fraudulent presidential election in Belarus and the Alyaksandr Lukashenka regime’s crackdown on the Belarusian people’s demands for freedom. The United States continues to stand with the brave people of Belarus as they seek a country grounded in the rule of law, respect for human rights, and an accountable, democratically-elected government.

Today, the United States is sanctioning eight individuals and five entities for

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Regions: Belarus , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

QUESTION:  Well, we’re now joined by the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss the Black Sea Grain Initiative and food security.  He’s joining us from Washington, D.C.

Secretary Blinken, thanks so much for making time for Focus on Africa.  And I’ll get straight into it.  Russia says it will only return to the Black Sea grain deal if reconnected to the SWIFT payment system.  And all this is happening w

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Regions: Niger , Russia , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Global Health

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

Via Translation

QUESTION: Hello, Mr. Secretary.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Hello.

QUESTION: Thank you for answering RFI’s questions.  You recently accused Russia of blackmail regarding the Black Sea Grain Initiative.  Indeed, Moscow demanded several conditions for their participation in the agreement.  Is the United States willing to negotiate?

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Regions: France , Niger , Russia , Ukraine , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Energy

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Today, the United States is designating three Malian officials who have worked closely with the Wagner Group to facilitate and expand Wagner’s presence in Mali since December 2021.  Civilian fatalities have surged by 278 percent since Wagner forces deployed to Mali in December 2021.  Many of those deaths were the result of operations conducted by Malian Armed Forces alongside members of the Wagner Group.

The United States will continue to take action ag

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Regions: Mali , United States

Topics: Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen Security Forum

QUESTION:  Mr. Secretary, pleasure to have you on.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  It’s great to be with you, Fareed.

QUESTION:  Tell us what you can sense of what is going on in the counteroffensive that Ukraine is managing – attempting with Russia.  So far the reports seem to be, it is very slow and very tough going.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, first, Fareed, put this in pe

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Topics: Climate and Environment, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen Meadows Resort

MS MITCHELL:  Good morning, everyone.  It’s wonderful to be back in Aspen, and especially after such a great program all week, and most especially to be with Secretary Blinken.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thank you.

MS MITCHELL:  Tony Blinken, of course, you all know, but – (applause) – I think this is your first time here since becoming Secretary.

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Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

The United States is taking further action to hold accountable perpetrators of the Nicaraguan regime’s repressive actions. The United States is imposing sanctions on the Nicaraguan judges who played a role in stripping over 300 Nicaraguans of their citizenship, leaving many of these individuals stateless.

The three Nicaraguan judges, Judge Nadia Camila Tardencilla Rodriguez, of the Second District Trial Court of Managua; Judge Ernesto Leonel Rodriguez M

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Regions: United States

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Today, the Department of State and the Department of Treasury are taking actions against a global sanctions evasion network that facilitates the payment, shipment, and delivery of cash, art, and luxury goods for the benefit of Hizballah financier and Specially Designated Global Terrorist Nazem Said Ahmad.  The Treasury Department is designating this network and the State Department is re-advertising its reward offer of up to $10 million for information on Hizb

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Regions: United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Karuizawa, Japan

The Prince Karuizawa

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Let me – let me start with the situation in Sudan.  For the past 36 hours, we and our partners have been focused on how to stop the widespread fighting in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.  Indiscriminate military operations have resulted in significant civilian deaths and injuries, and are recklessly endangering the Su

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Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Climate and Environment, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Today, the Department of State and the Department of Treasury are imposing sanctions on more than 120 entities and individuals across more than 20 countries and jurisdictions in connection with the Russian Federation’s unlawful and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, including facilitators of sanctions evasion.

More than one year into Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the effects of our globally coordinated sanctions have forced the Russian Federatio

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Topics: Energy

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

The United States remains committed to disrupting al-Qa’ida affiliates who exploit under-governed spaces and conflict zones in Syria.  Groups like Hurras al-Din (HaD) are responsible for killings, kidnappings, and violence targeting of members of religious minority groups.

Today, the Department of State is designating Sami Mahmud Mohammed al Uraydi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist for his leadership role in HaD.

The Department’s Rewards

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Regions: United States

Topics: Countering Terrorism

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Brussels, Belgium

European Council Building

HIGH REPRESENTATIVE BORRELL: Good morning. Good morning. I’m very happy to welcome you, Secretary Blinken, in Brussels. We just had a very good bilateral meeting marking our great transatlantic cooperation. Now we will co-chair the EU-U.S. Energy Council, and later we will see each other also at the NATO Ministerial.

Allow me some words about our bilateral discussion.  Certainly

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Topics: Climate and Environment, Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Science, Technology, and Innovation

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, everyone.  Thank you all so much for joining.  It’s very good to be with friends and partners from around the world as we prepare to open the second Summit for Democracy.

In his first year in office, President Biden launched the summit to look at the future of democracy, which we see is at an inflection point.  Worldwide, we see autocrats violating human right

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Topics: Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Climate and Environment, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy, Energy, Global Health, Human Rights and Democracy, Refugee and Humanitarian Assistance, Treaties and International Agreements

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

The United States continues to promote accountability for the Burmese military regime’s assault on the democratic aspirations of the people of Burma.  Today we are designating two individuals and six entities.  The regime continues to inflict pain and suffering on the people of Burma.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury is imposing sanctions on Tun Min Latt and his spouse Win Min Soe, as well as three entities owned or controlled by Tun Min Latt.

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

The United States is designating four entities and three individuals for sanctions, pursuant to Executive Order 13382, involved in an Iranian military procurement network that has links to Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs.  This procurement network operates on behalf of the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).

Today’s action follows Treasury’s 

Sanctioning Individuals in Bosnia and Herzegovina for Corruption, Destabilizing Activity, and Drug Proliferation