Informal Communication

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Seoul, Republic of Korea

Shilla Hotel

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thank you, everyone.  Thank you, and good morning again.  Thank you.

So I again want to thank President Yoon and Foreign Minister Cho for bringing us together to discuss what is one of the most transformational forces that’s shaping our future, our world, our democracies – and that is artificial intelligence.

I think it’s hard to overstate the extent to which

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Regions: Chile, United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Energy, Global Health, Global Women's Issues, Human Rights and Democracy, Science, Technology, and Innovation

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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Regions: Canada , China, Haiti , Sudan , Uganda , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, Human Rights and Democracy

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

Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta, Ambassador-at-Large Office of Global Women’s Issues

Washington, D.C.

Benjamin Franklin Room

AMBASSADOR RAO GUPTA:  Good afternoon, and welcome to the Department of State.  My name is Geeta Rao Gupta and I serve as ambassador-at-large for global women’s issues here in the State Department.  It is my honor an

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Regions: Afghanistan, Colombia , Iran , Israel , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Climate and Environment, 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 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

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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Regions: China, Iran , Israel , Russia , United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Countering Terrorism, Science, Technology, and Innovation

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

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

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

Today, the United States designated Genesis Market, a hacking group that is also one of the world’s largest illicit marketplaces for stolen device credentials and related sensitive information.  Genesis Market is believed to operate out of Russia and sells stolen credentials from leading U.S. companies and facilitates cybercrimes against them.

The United States will continue our efforts to protect U.S. businesses from malicious cyber actors, disrupt the

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Regions: Russia , United States

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

As the United States continues to support reform, we are also promoting accountability for the actions of those undermining democratic institutions and furthering their agenda for political and personal gain at the expense of peace and stability in the Western Balkans.

Ethnonationalist political parties continue to undermine democratic institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), engage in corrupt behavior, and violate the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA)

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Regions: United Kingdom , United States

Topics: Combating Drugs and Crime