SECRETARY BLINKEN: Morning.

QUESTION: Thank you very much for being here. Boy, there’s only so many times you can mention escalating tensions and risks of an all-out war before it becomes cliché, but things are definitely not going in the right direction. And I think there’s a philosophy question here for the U.S. to answer: Do you end all of this violence in the Middle East by putting pressure on Israel to stop on both fronts, or do you empower Israel to finish the job?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, what we’ve seen since the horrific attacks on October 7th are periods when we’ve had a real risk of escalation, a real risk of something turning into a full-blown war, including in Lebanon between Israel and Hizballah. And through diplomacy, through deterrence, we’ve managed to avert that in the days immediately following October 7th, more recently in April. We’re focused right now on making sure that we can de-escalate, avoid a full-scale war.

But Tony, Israel’s got a legitimate problem here. Starting on October 8th, Hizballah in the north from southern Lebanon started lobbing rockets and missiles into Israel. People living in northern Israel had to flee their homes – about 70,000 – and Israel understandably, legitimately wants a secure environment so people can return home. The best way to get that is through diplomacy, an agreement to pull back forces, allow people to return home in northern Israel – also many Lebanese in southern Lebanon forced from their homes. We want to get people back home. The best way to do that is not war; it’s diplomacy.

QUESTION: So Hizballah went to their weapon systems. Hizballah began firing into Israel after October 7th —

SECRETARY BLINKEN: That’s right.

QUESTION: — in allyship with Hamas and the people in Gaza.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Exactly.

QUESTION: Where do ceasefire talks stand? Because that – if that is their motivation there on the Hizballah side, that’s the key to making them pull back and stop.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: That would certainly be one of the keys. It would be an ideal key because it would end the horrific situation in Gaza – horrific for the hostages, horrific for so many men, women, and children who’ve been caught in this crossfire of Hamas’s making.

We’ve been working on this ceasefire deal for a while. We have an agreement, a piece of paper that’s got 18 paragraphs. Fifteen of them are agreed. The last three continue to need some work. The problem we have right now is that Hamas hasn’t been engaging on it for the last couple of weeks, and Sinwar, its leader, has been talking about an endless war of attrition. Now, if he really cares about the Palestinian people, he’d bring this agreement over the finish line.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, do you believe that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu truly wants a ceasefire?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: If we’re talking about Gaza, as I said, I think hard decisions remain to be made by Israel. But the problem right now in terms of bringing this across the finish line has – is Hamas, its refusal to engage in a meaningful way. We’ve been at this in recent weeks again trying to get these last —

QUESTION: So in no part do you put blame on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: So what we’re seeing is this. I don’t think this is a question really anymore of the substance of the agreement, because it’s very close. It is a question of political will. In the first instance, that political will needs to be demonstrated by Hamas. We haven’t seen it the last couple of weeks. Israel would have some hard decisions to make to bring this to a close, but we’ve got to see if Hamas is actually serious.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, ProPublica has determined that two agencies found that Israel is deliberately stopping humanitarian aid from getting to civilians. And as you well know, the U.S. Government says that it has to restrict supplying weapons to a country that does this type of thing. Why have we not done so?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: So this is actually pretty typical. We had a report to put out on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and what Israel was doing to try to make sure that people got the assistance they needed, and I had different assessments from different parts of the State Department, from other agencies that were involved like USAID. My job is to sort through them, which I did, draw some conclusions from that, and we put out our report. And we found that Israel needed to do a better job on the humanitarian assistance. We’ve seen improvements since then. It’s still not sufficient.

QUESTION: Secretary Blinken, the man in the arena, thank you very much. Appreciate it.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good to be with you. Thanks.

A. Reform of the United Nations

Bearing in mind our responsibility to work towards the reform of the United Nations as we approach the 80th Anniversary of the Organization in 2025;

We commit to invigorate the General Assembly through:

1. Strengthening of the General Assembly’s role, as the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations, to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including on questions relating to the maintenance of international peace and security, through an improved and intensified interaction with the Security Council;
2. Transformative procedures and practices that recognize the authority and enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the General Assembly, in line with the UN Charter, including in relation to meetings, reports and resolutions;
3. Increased nominations of women candidates for President of the General Assembly.

We pledge to reform the Security Council through:

1. A transformative reform that aligns it with the realities and demands of the 21st century, makes it more representative, inclusive, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable, and more transparent to the whole of the UN membership, allowing for better responsibility sharing among all its members;
2. An enlarged composition that improves the representation of the underrepresented and unrepresented regions and groups, such as Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean;
3. Improving the effectiveness and transparency of its working methods.

We pledge to strengthen the Economic and Social Council through:

1. Greater synergies and coherence with UN Agencies, Funds and Programs to better promote sustainable development in its three dimensions and to assist member states in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
2. Increased Economic and Social Council coherence and enhanced engagement with international financial institutions, particularly within the High-Level Political Forum, and forums for international economic cooperation, such as the G20, while respecting existing governance mechanisms and mandates independent of the United Nations;
3. Greater involvement of academia, the scientific community, civil society, and other stakeholders in its work, with wide geographical representation and gender balance, and consistent with the intergovernmental nature of the UN.

We commit to strengthen the Peacebuilding Commission through:

1. Enhanced role in proactively addressing the underlying causes and drivers of conflicts and by mobilizing political and financial support for national prevention, sustaining peace and peacebuilding efforts, in particular to avoid possible relapse into conflict, in accordance with the Commission’s mandate;
2. Regular interaction with the Security Council, the General Assembly, and the Economic and Social Council in order to make their work increasingly more complementary, including in UN missions transitions;
3. More systematic and active engagement with the Peacebuilding Fund, as well as with donors and financial institutions, in particular multilateral development banks;
4. Promoting strategic and complementary engagement between the UN Peacebuilding Architecture and regional and subregional arrangements in peacebuilding.

We will work to ensure a more representative United Nations Secretariat through:

1. Transparency, equitable geographical distribution, rotation of nationalities, merit and gender balance in filling positions, in particular at senior levels, across the UN system and reaffirming that no post should be considered the exclusive preserve of any member state or group of states;
2. Increased nominations of women candidates for the position of UN officials at senior levels, including Secretary-General.

B. Reform of the International Financial Architecture

Welcoming recent progress in global financial governance and acknowledging the importance and urgency of further improvements and reforms to achieve an international finance system that is fit for purpose, with a view to accelerate progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs;

We express our support for actions aimed at:

1. Achieving an international finance system that delivers significantly more financing to help developing countries and Emerging Market Economies to fight poverty, tackle global challenges, including climate change, and maximize development impact;
2. Addressing the need for an international development finance system that is fit for purpose, including for the scale of need and depth of the shocks facing developing countries, in particular the poorest and most vulnerable;
3. Delivering better, bigger, and more effective Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to better address countries’ sustainable development goals as well as global and regional challenges with a renewed sense of urgency and determination and continued focus on addressing the development needs and priorities of low- and middle-income countries. In this context, we appreciate the efforts of the G20 Independent Expert Group on Strengthening MDBs;
4. Collectively mobilizing more headroom and concessional finance to boost the World Bank’s capacity to support low and middle-income countries that need help in addressing global challenges, with a clear framework for the allocation of scarce concessional resources, and to provide strong support for the poorest countries;
5. Underscoring the need for enhancing the representation and voice of developing countries in decision-making in MDBs and other international economic and financial institutions to deliver more effective, credible, accountable, and legitimate institutions. In this context, we welcome the decision to create a 25th chair at the IMF Executive Board to enhance the voice and representation of Sub-Saharan Africa;
6. Continuing to invite countries that are willing and legally able to explore channeling Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to MDBs, while respecting the reserve asset status of the resulting SDR denominated claims and ensuring their liquidity, which could strengthen MDBs’ financial capacity to support the SDGs and address global challenges, including the goals of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty;
7. Recognizing that stronger MDBs will be important to our efforts to mobilize financing from all sources for a quantum jump from billions to trillions of dollars for development;
8. Ensuring a strong, quota-based, and adequately resourced IMF at the center of the global financial safety net;
9. Acknowledging the urgency and importance of realignment in quota shares to better reflect members’ relative positions in the world economy, while protecting the quota shares of the poorest members;
10. Welcoming the IMF Executive Board’s ongoing work to develop by June 2025 possible approaches as guide for further quota realignment, including through a new quota formula, under the 17th General Review of Quotas (GRQ);
11. Strengthening the international financial architecture, including by promoting sustainable capital flows and using sound policy frameworks to address excess capital flow volatility when needed;
12. Encouraging IMF members with strong external positions, especially those that have not already contributed, to make additional voluntary contributions to the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) / Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST);
13. Continuing to work together towards a fairer, more stable and efficient international tax system fit for the 21st century, with a commitment to tax transparency and fostering dialogue on fair and progressive taxation, including of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, among other topics;
14. Welcoming the IMF Executive Board’s review of charges and surcharges to an outcome that could alleviate the financial burden on borrowing countries while preserving their incentive functions and safeguarding the Fund’s financial soundness.

C. Reform of the Multilateral Trading System

Noting the commitment made at MC12 and reaffirmed at MC13 to work towards necessary reform of the World Trade Organization to improve all its functions, so that it can become more responsive and resilient in addressing current trade challenges;

We express our support for actions aimed at:

1. Reaffirming that a rules-based, non-discriminatory, fair, open, inclusive, equitable, sustainable and transparent multilateral trading system, with WTO at its core, is indispensable;
2. Supporting policies that enable trade and investment to serve as an engine of growth and prosperity for all;
3. Fostering a favourable trade and investment environment for all;
4. Pursuing WTO reform to improve all its functions through an inclusive, member-driven and transparent process, and remaining committed to conducting discussions with a view to having a fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system accessible to all members by 2024;
5. Reiterating the centrality of the development dimension in the work of the WTO.

States endorsing the present Call to Action express their appreciation for the convening of this first G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and open to all other UN members. We express our support for exploring how future G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meetings can be made more open and inclusive.

Brenda Vien

Celebrating Transformational Stories of Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Personal and Professional Success.

As a coach committed to helping others achieve personal and professional success, Brenda Vien shares her own inspiring journey of perseverance, growth, and transformation. In her chapter, she emphasizes how challenges in life can become opportunities for incredible growth and transformation when faced with the right mindset.

Brenda explains that her motivation to contribute to Unstoppable! Volume 4 was rooted in a desire to inspire other women to rise above their own challenges. “I want to encourage women facing difficult situations to see their circumstances as an opportunity for growth,” she commented. “Whether they are navigating personal challenges like divorce or loss or striving for success in their careers, they can emerge from these experiences stronger and with a renewed vision for their lives.”

Her story is a testament to the power of resilience and determination. Brenda shares how, through both personal trials and business challenges, she was able to realign her vision and purpose, transforming obstacles into stepping stones. As she puts it, “Greatness lies within each of us, but sometimes it takes others to help us see that potential.”

In Unstoppable! Volume 4, Brenda highlights her mission to help women Dream It, Believe It, and Achieve It. Drawing on her vast experience as a transformational coach, Brenda offers personalized coaching services to women who need support in overcoming life’s obstacles—whether in their careers or personal lives.

“My role as a coach is to be a sounding board and provide tools and insights that assist my clients in their journey,” she explains. “Health and wellness are the foundations for any meaningful change. When you first focus on yourself and feel better mentally and physically, it brings clarity and purpose to every other area of your life.”

Her coaching programs are uniquely tailored to meet the needs of each individual. Whether someone is seeking to improve their health and well-being, take their business to the next level, or simply enhance their current path, Brenda is dedicated to guiding her clients to reach their fullest potential.

When asked how she hopes to inspire other women to become unstoppable, Brenda reflects on the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. “It all starts from within,” she explains. “Building yourself up from the inside will cause others to notice the changes happening around you. Surround yourself with people who can help you take the next step in your journey. Support and guidance are essential for achieving any goal.”

Brenda credits her own mentors, coaches, and trainers for helping her see the things she couldn’t see in herself. She believes that having an outside source to provide honest feedback and accountability is crucial to personal and professional growth. “You need people who are supportive and will hold you accountable as you work to achieve your goals,” she adds. “We can all be unstoppable—what’s holding you back?”

As a final takeaway for readers, Brenda encourages women not to give up, no matter what challenges they face. “Keep going,” she says. “When something doesn’t work out as expected, evaluate and pivot if needed. Every challenge presents an opportunity to learn and grow. Winners don’t quit, and quitters don’t win! Believe in yourself, and keep pushing forward.”

Through her work, Brenda continues to inspire women to embrace their own strength and potential, providing them with the tools and support needed to achieve their dreams and become truly unstoppable.

Be sure to follow Brenda Vien on Facebook and learn more about her coaching at Brenda.vien@yahoo.com.

Brenda Vien
.Brenda.vien@yahoo.com

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The most important step the global community must take to combat the worst impacts of sea-level rise is to accelerate global reductions of greenhouse gas emissions in this critical decade.  At the same time, worsening impacts globally have made clear that we must simultaneously scale up efforts to build adaptation and resilience.  Through the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE), the United States is supporting vulnerable developing countries around the world to build resilience to the impacts of the climate crisis, including those from sea-level rise.  To address the impacts of sea-level rise both domestically and with our international partners, the United States is:

1. Investing in science to improve sea-level rise monitoring and predictions to better understand the impacts to low-lying islands and coastal areas at high-resolution;
2. Supporting efforts to translate and integrate scientific data for improved disaster preparedness and long-term adaptation planning;
3. Collaborating with partners to support regional and global efforts, particularly in the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Sea-level rise monitoring and predictions

To understand and manage the impacts of sea-level rise, it is critical that communities have access to current, scientifically accurate, and usable data.  The United States is a global leader on ocean observation and modeling, and we are putting these tools into the hands of communities that need them at home and abroad, including by:

• Getting science into the hands of citizens and decisionmakers: The Interagency Task Force on Sea Level Change, an interagency group within the U.S. Global Change Research Program, just launched globalchange.gov, a federally co-produced web resource delivering authoritative sea-level science and information for the United States in a dynamic and interactive new site.  Putting this information in the hands of State and local governments and stakeholders will facilitate timely and inclusive decision-making to safeguard populations, ecosystems, and livelihoods from the impacts of sea-level rise.
• Supporting the world’s ocean observing capabilities: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operates over 50% of the Global Ocean Observing System, including over 20% of the tide gauges around the world, with more than 3,000 instruments collecting more than 1 million ocean observations every day.  These observations allow us to monitor sea level, global ocean temperatures, and ocean currents that form the basis for sea-level rise predictions and projections which are openly shared to support global resilience efforts.  Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), NOAA has made $2.7 million in new investments to improve ocean observations, allowing us to improve and refine sea-level rise predictions for decision makers in the United States and around the world.
• Expanding high-resolution sea-level rise mapping for all Pacific Island countries to support their long-term adaptation planning: Enabled by over $285 million of investments in global sea level-related satellite missions and over $100 million in associated science during the Biden-Harris Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA’)s Sea Level Change Team built high-resolution technical assessments of future sea-level rise and associated impacts for every Pacific Island country. When combined with national adaptation planning, these assessments provide a scientific foundation for supporting climate-resilient, science-based decision-making to adapt to and manage the impacts of sea-level rise on lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems. The new tool will be here: https://sealevel.nasa.gov/flooding-analysis-tool-pacific-islands/.
• Advancing global capabilities for predicting coastal impacts at high-resolution: Due to interactions between the ocean, ice sheets, and solid earth, sea levels do not change uniformly across the globe – resulting in further uncertainty for disaster managers and long-term adaptation planning. The Department of Energy’s Los Alamos National Laboratory is working to extend the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) to provide the first consistent regional sea-level projections from an Earth system model that account for these interactions. This capability will enable a more detailed understanding of sea-level change that is important for decision-making at the facility-level, with results that will be available globally. Los Alamos National Laboratory also has a well-established effort to simulate the compound risk from tides, waves, and sea-level rise through 2050 at facility-level resolution, a capability that currently can be applied anywhere in the world.
• Quantifying present and future coastal flood hazards in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to prevent loss of life and preserve livelihoods: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in partnership with DoD and USACE’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, is quantifying present and future coastal flood hazards for Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). With probabilistic coastal flood hazard data describing extreme waves and water levels for current and future sea-level conditions, communities in Guam and CNMI will – for the first time – have a more precise understanding of flood risks to enable actions to protect their homes, businesses, and families. FEMA will use the data for incorporation into its flood maps. The joint study also represents the first within the Pacific basin that advances FEMA’s goal of shifting to more comprehensive, graduated flood hazard and risk analysis.
• Understanding Sea-Level Rise in the Florida Everglades: Covering more than 6000 square kilometers, the Florida Everglades is a low-lying subtropical wetland ecosystem bordered by ocean on three sides. The Everglades provides numerous ecosystem services (e.g., supporting diverse fish and wildlife, storing carbon, providing clean water, and protecting coastlines) that are threatened by sea-level rise and storm intensification. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists have advanced understanding of the impact of sea-level rise in the Everglades through collaborations on: predictive modeling on and formulation of a decision support tool for ecological responses to sea-level rise and other hydrologic change; long-term marsh elevation measurements in threatened mangrove forests; prediction of the effects of sea-level rise on the habitat of an endemic endangered bird species; development of an Everglades vulnerability analysis that examines landscape-scale vegetation response to increasing salinity accompanying sea-level rise; and integration of sea-level rise into Everglades restoration plans.

Supporting adaptation & resilience for vulnerable communities

The Biden-Harris Administration has deployed an all-of-government effort to support U.S. communities and other countries as they adapt to and manage the impacts of climate change, including sea-level rise.

• Strengthening and expanding early warning systems: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has, over the past few years, helped implement an array of early warning systems that provide real-time, specific, and accurate information for natural hazards including tropical cyclones, flooding, and tsunamis, the impacts of which are worsened as sea levels rise. Early warning systems are an effective disaster risk reduction tool for Earth’s changing climate and the challenges posed by rising seas.  The critical information provided by these early warning systems has been essential to safeguarding lives and livelihoods in over 40 countries — particularly in the Pacific, the Caribbean, and Africa.
• Supporting sustainable development and ecosystem management: During the Biden-Harris Administration, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has programmed $86 million to date to help vulnerable coastal communities in more than 10 countries build resilience to climate shocks such as flooding and sea-level rise. Conserving marine and coastal ecosystems is an effective nature-based solution to adapt to the impacts of sea-level rise. In Madagascar, USAID is supporting the sustainable management of marine natural resources and protected areas, and improved governance of marine and coastal ecosystems, such as coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass, as effective nature-based solutions for adapting to the impacts of sea-level rise. In Honduras, USAID is supporting the Conserving Coastal Ecosystems activity, which aims to improve coastal ecosystem management and generate economic opportunity for at least 10,000 Indigenous Peoples, especially Garifuna and Pech communities, across 150,000 hectares along Honduras’ Pacific and Caribbean coasts and Bay Islands.
• Protecting access to resources in lawfully established maritime zones: Sea-level rise has the potential to shift coastal baselines and thus shift established maritime zones, such as exclusive economic zones. In 2022, the United States announced a policy stating that it will not challenge maritime zones and baselines that have been established consistent with international law and that are not subsequently updated despite sea-level rise caused by climate change. For the many countries that rely on the resources found within their exclusive economic zones, this policy helps preserve access to critical sources of food, livelihoods, and revenue.
• Committing to work with other States on issues relating to sea-level rise and statehood: For some States, particularly low-lying island States in the Pacific Ocean, increasing sea levels pose an existential threat. In 2023, President Biden announced that the United States considers that sea-level rise driven by human-induced climate change should not cause any country to lose its statehood or its membership in the United Nations, its specialized agencies, or other international organizations.  The State Department is working with those States and others on issues relating to human-induced sea-level rise and statehood to advance these objectives.
• Protecting coastal infrastructure and promoting coastal resilience in the United States: During the Biden-Harris Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has programmed approximately $2.55 billion in boosting domestic efforts to address sea-level rise by providing planning, engineering, and construction of infrastructure projects in the coastal United States and territories. For example, in Louisiana, USACE’s Southwest Coastal Louisiana Hurricane Protection project is working to restore coastal ecosystems and elevate over 3,000 residential structures to design heights that include projected sea-level rise through the year 2075, reducing flood risk now and in the future for this vulnerable area. $120 million of construction funding for this project was provided in the 2022 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. NOAA is also investing $4.1 billion from BIL and the Inflation Reduction Act to promote Climate Ready Coasts and Communities, through projects including habitat restoration, workforce development, and accelerating coastal community resilience via regional partnerships, technical assistance, and data access.
• Assessing vulnerability to climate impacts in Toamasina, Madagascar: Rapid sea-level rise and coastal flooding threaten Toamasina, Madagascar’s second-largest and principal port, and its critical road and rail connections to the rest of the country. Through U.S. Department of State support for the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance, the Stimson Center has just completed a Climate and Ocean Risk Vulnerability Initiative (CORVI) assessment for Toamasina, together with the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy of Madagascar and the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association. The CORVI in Madagascar compares a diverse range of ecological, economic, social, and political risks with 94 climate indicators to produce a detailed, place-based coastal risk assessment for Toamasina and recommendations for action to build climate resilience. The CORVI found that sea-level rise presented the 2nd-highest level of risk in the assessment, given the projected impacts on the city’s road network and the single rail connecting Toamasina to the rest of the country.
• Comprehensive efforts to address sea-level rise impacts on U.S. installations and surrounding communities: The Department of the Navy has taken a comprehensive approach to understanding and addressing the impacts of sea-level rise on critical infrastructure, including through improved scientific understanding, nature-based solutions, and community partnerships. On the engineering side, the Navy has invested in 43 projects around the country to invest in nature-based and hybrid solutions to address issues like salt-water intrusion and coastal flooding impacting facilities. These efforts include investments in shoreline stabilization, erosion control, dune restoration, and wetland restoration. The Navy is also supporting states and communities to partner with their local installations as “one community” to identify natural threats that are likely to impair the continued operational utility of local military installations and assess potential impacts to shared critical infrastructure.

Collaborating with partners

Sea-level rise is a global challenge, so it requires global solutions. The United States is working with partners across a wide range of sectors to combat sea-level rise and the complex ways it impacts communities:

• Increasing support for the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF): The Department of State has been a strong champion of the PRF since its inception, through both pledges of financial support and ongoing close coordination with the Pacific Island Forum’s team.  The initial U.S. pledge of $4.5 million from the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs to the PRF has already been supplemented by an additional pledge of $20 million, pending Congressional notification and completion of domestic procedures, that was just announced at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Nuku’alofa, Tonga.  This funding and our engagement will help the PRF establish core operational procedures and meet high quality fiduciary and safeguard standards, as well as support project preparation for an initial set of grants to bolster adaptation and resilience in the region.
• Collaborating to develop risk assessments in the Caribbean: The U.S. Global Change Research Program supports international collaboration to inform decision-making and disaster resilience at local and regional levels. Through the Latin American Caribbean Initiative (LACI), the USGCRP is partnering with 21 countries to develop risk assessments for climate-related topics such as water security, freshwater access, and extreme events exacerbated by sea-level rise. One project is to co-design a Water Security Observatory in the La Plata Basin to develop a decision support tool for policy makers on freshwater access, sea-level rise, and other water-related natural disasters with regional stakeholders among Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
• Mitigating impacts on national security by improving data accessibility for island communities: The Department of Defense made significant investments towards understanding and building resilience to sea-level rise at domestic and overseas installations. This includes investment in the Kwajalein Atoll Sustainability Laboratory, a field lab jointly established with the Office of Naval Research and Republic of Marshall Islands to deploy and test innovative climate adaptation technologies for low-lying Pacific Island nations. The Department of Defense has also developed Climate Resilience Dashboards for the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Diego Garcia, providing data visualization for over 20 climate change hazard indicators, including coastal inundation resulting from sea-level rise, storm surge, waves, and tides. These Dashboards are being used by the DoD for planning adaptation and recovery and reconstruction measures.
• Building capacity and resilience across the Pacific Islands: The Department of the Interior’s U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) plays a key role in building capacity across the Pacific Islands region to address sea-level rise and associated challenges. For example, the USGS partners with other organizations to co-develop tools for visualizing sea-level rise (for example, American Samoa), has facilitated development of a Pacific-wide mangrove monitoring network, and is originating models to simulate mangrove-coral reef interactions and inform investment in nature-based solutions to mitigate the effects of sea-level rise. The USGS is also expanding early warning systems for coastal flooding to include the impact of sea-level rise on amplifying flooding hazards for the Pacific Islands and collaborates with Pacific Islanders, Native Hawaiians, and local communities to exchange knowledge and co-develop best practices to meet the challenge of sea-level rise.
• Lowering barriers to accessing climate and disaster finance: Increasing access to climate and disaster finance will strengthen the ability for governments to plan for and respond to climate shocks and stresses, including sea-level rise. As part of USAID’s $86 million commitment to supporting sustainable development and coastal ecosystem management, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Caribbean Resilient Economies and Sectors Activity (RESET) supports national governments and private-sector entities to lower barriers to accessing climate and disaster finance and to increase on-the-ground approaches and technologies for climate and disaster resilience across priority sectors. Seventy percent of the population in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean nations lives in coastal zones vulnerable to rising sea levels and severe weather conditions.
• Building an enduring network of island-to-island technical experts: The United States is a founding member of the Local2030 Islands Network, where we are partnering with island economies to promote community-led, bottom-up approaches to sustainable development and building resilience to climate change. With continued support totaling $15.6 million from the Department of State, this Network and its partners are producing and scaling island-led solutions to the climate crisis, including the impacts of sea-level rise, through centering local knowledge and local priorities. For example, in Palau, the Local2030 Islands Network is supporting U.S. partner Pacific Research for Island Solutions on Adaptation (RISA) to better understand historic flooding impacts and develop flood threshold tolerances for critical community assets under various sea-level rise and flooding projections. These findings are then translated to policymakers locally and nationally in Palau and translated for use by the more than 125 other island economies engaged in the Network’s global peer-to-peer Communities of Practice.

We’re here for a straightforward reason. Climate change is melting glaciers. It’s causing sea levels to rise. It’s fueling extreme weather like storms, which have become even more devastating when combined with higher seas. Already, in so many of our countries, these patterns are upending lives and livelihoods.

Based on current trends, by 2050, sea-level rise could displace tens of millions of people.

We can still prevent this, but the time to act is running out.

That’s why President Biden worked with our Congress to make the single largest investment in clean energy ever, putting the United States on track to cut our emissions in half by the end of this decade. President Biden has also pledged to provide $11 billion a year in climate financing to support our partners as they work toward their own climate goals – a pledge that we expect to meet this year.

The United States is helping vulnerable nations manage the challenges that they’re confronting right now. Today, NASA released snapshots of every Pacific Island country, with information and analysis to help them predict and prepare for the consequences of rising seas.

Through the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience, the United States is helping more than half a billion people in developing countries adjust to the ways that climate change has already reshaped our communities and our coastlines. This includes deploying early warning systems in 80 countries, so people can better prepare for storms and other disasters and get to safety.

The United States is also updating our policies to reflect our changing planet. Our position is that sea-level rise should not diminish a country’s maritime zones, including the fishing grounds and resources under a nation’s jurisdiction. And no country should lose its statehood or membership in the United Nations or other international organizations because of sea-level rise.

Tackling the climate crisis, slowing sea-level rise – I know these can feel like daunting, maybe even insurmountable, tasks. But when it comes to global warming, every tenth of a degree matters. That means that every step that we take matters too, for protecting our planet and our shared future.

Both Victor and Elan are highlighted in the recent final report of the United Nations Panel of Experts as being significantly responsible for the crisis in Haiti.  The report states that the “levels of violence and the depths of cruelty that gangs will go to in violating human rights are unprecedented, with regular indiscriminate attacks against the population and the obstruction of humanitarian assistance.  Sexual and gender-based violence and rape, in particular, have become one of the most horrific expressions of violence over the past two years.”

Promoting accountability for gender-based violence is a top priority for the U.S. government and for our use of the Global Magnitsky sanctions program.  We will continue to use the tools at our disposal to expose those who commit such heinous crimes anywhere they occur.

President Biden issued a Memorandum on Promoting Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in November 2022 that directs the U.S. government to strengthen our exercise of financial, diplomatic, and legal tools against this scourge.  The Department of the Treasury sanctions actions today were taken pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world.  For more information, see Treasury’s press release.

Among the vessels blocked today are four ships associated with the fleet of U.S.-designated Syrian national Abdul Jalil Mallah and his brother Luay al-Mallah, who is being sanctioned today.  Abdul Jalil Mallah and Luay al-Mallah have continued to use these vessels in support of Iran and Hizballah’s destabilizing activities.

Today’s action reaffirms our commitment to disrupting sanctions evasion networks that benefit Iran-aligned actors in the Middle East.  We will continue to expose the efforts of these actors to exploit the international financial system to finance Iran’s partners and proxies.

The Department of the Treasury sanctions actions today were taken pursuant to counterterrorism authority Executive Order 13224, as amended.  For more information see Treasury’s press release.

When President Lula and President Biden met here last year, President Lula said this:  “Another world is possible with more fraternity, with more solidarity…with more fairness.”

That’s the spirit in which we gather here today and that’s the spirit the United States is bringing to the G20’s agenda under Brazil’s presidency.

Our country is committed to broad-based, inclusive growth that can expand opportunity and lift up all of our people. 

That’s only possible in an economy that honors and protects its workers, particularly the most discriminated against, the most vulnerable.  President Biden and President Lula launched the Partnership for Worker Rights last year to promote labor rights, worker voices, collective bargaining – unleashing a race to the top for workplace, economic, and environmental standards. 

The United States is also investing in quality, sustainable infrastructure – roads, clean energy, fiber optic cables – through our Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.

We’re coming together with partner countries to enhance food security.  The United States is proud to be the world’s largest donor – funding one out of every three dollars of the World Food Programme’s global operations, providing more than $17.5 billion in food aid since 2021, in addition to our long-term investments to prevent hunger.

We strongly support Brazil’s initiative to stand up the G20’s Global Alliance Against Hunger.  We’ll do our part to ensure the alliance delivers on its ambitious – and crucial – mission.

So many of us are also seized by the need to tackle the climate crisis, which threatens not only our individual nations but our entire planet.

The United States is making the biggest investments of any country ever to accelerate the transition to clean energy, keeping us on track to cut our emissions by half by 2030.

At the same time, we’re working with partners like Brazil to preserve the Amazon, dedicating billions to help people in developing countries adapt to and manage the impacts of the climate crisis.

Three years ago, President Biden pledged to quadruple climate financing to developing nations.  This year we’re on pace to provide $11 billion toward that goal.

Effectively addressing any of these challenges – economic inequality, food security, climate change – requires us to reform global institutions to better reflect today’s world, not the world of 80 years ago.  Developing countries in particular must have a greater voice in the multilateral system.

That’s why the United States strongly supported the African Union joining the G20 – and we’re so glad to have them with us today.

Earlier this month, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield announced that the United States supports expanding the UN Security Council to include two permanent seats for African countries, a non-permanent seat for Small Island Developing States, and to move from talk to action – text-based negotiations through the intergovernmental negotiations process. 

We’ve reaffirmed our support for permanent representation for Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as those countries we have long supported for permanent seats – Germany, India, Japan.

It’s critical as well that we reform the multilateral development banks – an effort that India did so much to advance during its own G20 presidency – to better deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals, to ensure that the benefits of greater prosperity are shared more equitably.

Our collective efforts have increased the capacity of our international financial institutions to support low- and middle-income countries as they respond to climate shocks, public health challenges, crushing debt.

As the G20 Global Governance Call to Action and the Pact for the Future underscore, all of these reforms must be rooted in the principles at the heart of the UN Charter and international law.

And I would add we were glad to see the near consensus on the Pact for the Future.  It’s unfortunate that there was one outlier.  We also look and support reform of the WTO – this, too, would be important progress.

Finally, let me just briefly address current challenges that many have alluded to and that actually are the things that make it harder for us to deliver on this affirmative agenda. 

We continue to strongly condemn Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.  We continue to stand for the principles at the heart of the United Nations Charter.  We all have to do that whenever those principles are being violated, especially by a member of the United Nations Security Council and a member of this group, the G20.

And in the Middle East, we’re intensely engaged with a number of partners to de-escalate tensions in Lebanon and to work to get a ceasefire agreement that would have so many benefits for all concerned.

But mostly, what I want to say today and what we’ll continue to do in Rio is to affirm the United States commitment to promoting an affirmative agenda.  And we look forward to working with all of our partners toward a future of greater dignity and greater opportunity for all of our people. 

Romania is a valued U.S. partner and Ally, and this significant loan agreement will further strengthen NATO’s Eastern Flank.  Romania is undertaking a major military modernization program, including purchases of U.S. defense equipment such as Abrams main battle tanks and coproduction of ammunition.  Romania is a leader in NATO, working closely with Allies to advance Black Sea security and providing critical assistance to Ukraine, including the transfer of a Patriot strategic air defense system and training Ukrainian F-16 pilots.

The U.S. government is providing $60 million in FMF grant funding for the cost of this loan, which will help accelerate Romania’s defense modernization by supporting urgent procurements of defense articles and services from the United States.

FMF direct loans are a security cooperation tool reserved for some of our most important partners.  Loan proceeds will further advance Romania’s military modernization effort across a wide range of capabilities, substantially contributing to strengthening the defense and deterrence of NATO’s Eastern Flank.  Today’s agreement further solidifies our unwavering commitment to enhancing NATO’s eastern flank.

The announcement at an event on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly brought together government officials from across South Asia, private sector and civil society partners, and students, demonstrating the United States’ continued commitment to engage and empower young people globally by expanding the youth network model to South Asia. YSALI joins regional youth networks from across the globe, including the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), and the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI).

For further information, please contact SCA-Press@state.gov.

The meeting announced the release of the New York Principles on Undersea Cables, a joint statement to declare our collective commitment to maintaining and increasing security and resilience of undersea cable infrastructure in a globally digitalized world. These principles serve to set forth a shared global approach to ensure the security, reliability, interoperability, sustainability, and resiliency for the deployment, repair and maintenance of undersea cable infrastructure. The meeting also celebrated the continued and collective success of undersea cable initiatives in Pacific Island Countries over the last year, including the Vice-Ministerial on March 28^th of this year, and the potential of such initiatives to serve as a model to collaborate with foreign governments and private sector in other regions as well. The demand for undersea cables and supporting infrastructure has become indispensable to commerce and digital growth across every sector of the global economy, and the expansion of undersea cable networks is foundational to a more interconnected and interdependent global community.

Ambassador Fick also called on meeting attendees to recognize the “New York Principles,” a joint statement on a shared global approach to ensure the security, reliability, interoperability, sustainability, and resiliency for the deployment, repair and maintenance of undersea cable infrastructure. To date, over thirty countries have endorsed the principles.

For further information, please contact CDP-Press@state.gov.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye yesterday in New York. Secretary Blinken and President Faye discussed their shared commitment to democratic values, peace and security, and economic growth and prosperity. President Faye briefed the Secretary on his vision for Senegal’s development and emphasized his intent to create economic opportunities for youth and to bolster food security. He also discussed his efforts to work with partners in West Africa to counter terrorism. The Secretary welcomed this update and reiterated that the United States stands with the Senegalese people as they build a more prosperous Senegal.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good morning.

QUESTION:  Let’s start right there.  Donald Trump says he was briefed by intelligence officials about Iran’s efforts to assassinate him.  The ODNI has confirmed this.  U.S. officials have.  How concerned are you about this threat?  And will there and should there be consequences against Iran?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Look, this is something we’ve been tracking very intensely for a long time – an ongoing threat by Iran against a number of senior officials, including former government officials like President Trump, and some people who are currently serving the administration.  So it’s something we take very, very seriously.  We’re looking at it very carefully. I don’t have any further information to share, but know that we’re watching this very carefully.

QUESTION:  Let’s talk about what’s going on right now in the Middle East – as you well know, a massive bombardment by Israel into the north into Hizballah territory.  The Israeli theory here is escalate to de-escalate; in fact, just in essence, hit Hizballah so hard they’re forced to the negotiating table.  Put simply, does the U.S. support this escalation strategy by Israel?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well first, Israel has a real and legitimate problem, because here’s what happened.  After the horrific events of October 7th by Hamas in Israel in the south, Hizballah from Lebanon joined in and started firing rockets into Israel.  People who lived in northern Israel had to evacuate their homes.  Villages were destroyed.  Homes were destroyed.  Seventy thousand Israelis were forced from their homes.

And Israel started firing back.  You had a tit-for-tat going back and forth.  People in southern Lebanon had to leave their homes too.  And what everyone wants is to have a secure environment in which people can simply return home, kids can go back to school.  That’s what Israel is after.

So the best way to get that is not through war, not through escalation.  It would be through a diplomatic agreement that has forces pulled back from the border, create a secure environment, people return home.  That’s what we’re driving toward.  Because while there’s a very legitimate issue here, we don’t think that war is the solution.

QUESTION:  Well fair enough, but Israel is not listening to that.  In fact, the U.S. defense secretary on Sunday told his Israeli counterpart to give time for diplomacy to work.  And on Monday, this Israeli bombardment was the most serious, deadliest day in Lebanon since 2006.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Yeah, what —

QUESTION:  But Israel is not listening to the U.S.  Why not?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  What we’re focused on now, including with many partners here in New York at the UN General Assembly, the Arab world, Europeans and others, is a plan to de-escalate and, again, to make sure that people can go back to their homes.  But if there were to be a full-scale war – which we don’t have and which we’re working to avoid – that’s actually not going to solve the problem.  It’s unlikely that people would be able to return home if there’s a full-scale war going on.

QUESTION:  Short answer:  Does the U.S. support what Israel is doing right now in terms of this escalation in order to later de-escalate and get to the negotiating table?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  What we support is solving the problem of making sure that people can go home.  But we believe the best way to solve it is through diplomacy, not through war.

QUESTION:  Why does the U.S. not have or use more leverage over Israel, its ally?  We are the supplier of the bulk of its weapons of war, and yet there are countless examples – and you probably know them better than I – where Israel seems to flout what the U.S. is asking or suggesting.  Why is that?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Look, we have a longstanding relationship and security relationship with Israel, including making sure that it has what it needs to prevent the many enemies that it has from attacking it, to deter them.  And that’s important to avoiding war as well.

And in this instance, there is a real problem that needs to be solved.  Again, from our perspective, the best way to do it is diplomatically.  We’re engaged with Israel on that.  We’re engaged with others in the region on that.  And we need to, I think, find the opportunity now to stop any escalation, prevent a full-scale war, get people back to their homes.

QUESTION:  Should the U.S. have been given a heads-up, for example, that Israel was going to assassinate a political leader in Iran, in Tehran, or this pagers attack of last week?  Shouldn’t the U.S., its Israeli ally, have gotten a heads-up at that a minimum?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Look, it’s always nice not to be surprised by the action that someone takes.  Certainly that’s better.  But since October 7th, besides trying to make sure that October 7th never happens again, besides trying to sure that civilians in Gaza – men, women, and children who are caught in this horrific crossfire of Hamas’s making – are better protected and get the assistance they need.

We’re – we’ve also been working to prevent this war from spreading, from escalating, from going to other places.  That’s what we’re focused on now – making sure that what you’re seeing in northern Israel, southern Lebanon now, doesn’t become a full-scale war, and on the contrary, that we resolve the problem that Israel has.

QUESTION:  Can I ask about that pagers attack where Hizballah members were the targets and their – literally in their hands their pagers exploded.  Some see this as a technological coup and an ingenious move by Israel.  Others, including John Brennan, former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who you know well, saying it’s a form of terrorism and it went too far.  Where do you come down on it?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Look, we’ve got to start with the proposition that Hizballah is a terrorist organization.

QUESTION:  No question.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  So designated by the United States.  And the reality is Israel left southern Lebanon.  It had been occupying southern Lebanon for 15 years.  It left in 2000.  And all of these militia that existed there were supposed to put down their weapons.  Hizballah didn’t do it.  And then repeatedly in the time after that, it attacked and posed a threat to people living in northern Israel.  So it’s very legitimate that Israel do something about Hizballah.  We’d like —

QUESTION:  No question about it.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  The only question is:  What’s the best way to do it?

QUESTION:  Oh, and the tactics.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  And what are the best tactics?  And those are things that we’re always discussing with them.  But right now, our main challenge is preventing a broader war, one that actually won’t solve the challenge that Israel has, and by the way the Lebanese have because they want to get their people back to their homes in southern Lebanon too.  We want that too.

QUESTION:  In fairness, you didn’t answer whether or not you approved of this particular tactic.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Look, you’re always looking at what someone is doing, trying to figure out what the second- or third-order consequences may be.  Does it open up a whole new Pandora’s box?  It is something we’re looking at.

QUESTION:  Both sides, as far as the ceasefire in Gaza, do not seem very interested in a deal.  It seems like the U.S. is working quite hard at it, and you have Netanyahu moving the goal posts late in the negotiations in some case, you have the Hamas leader who’s also doing the very same thing.  And it goes without saying it is Hamas that broke the ceasefire that existed on October 6th.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Right.

QUESTION:  Let’s not forget that.  You had said in mid August that there was – this was sort of maybe the last best chance, you said, for the deal.  So in that same spirit of candor, what is the likelihood of a ceasefire deal right now?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  We have a piece of paper, an agreement.  It’s got 18 paragraphs.  Fifteen of those paragraphs have been agreed between Hamas and Israel.  But what’s happened over the last few weeks is Hamas has simply not been at the table, not been willing to engage on the remaining outstanding issues that, if we close them, will close the deal, will get it over the finish line.  Now, Israel would have some hard decisions to make in the very end game too, so we have to look to that.

QUESTION:  Well, let’s just say the quiet part out loud.  President Biden is a lame duck president.  He’s not running again.  Do you think that Netanyahu, Sinwar, other world leaders, are biding their time just running out the clock hoping they’ll fare better in a new administration, potentially one of Donald Trump?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Look, I can’t put myself in the minds of other leaders, other partners.  I can tell you though that with the end of a term, with the end of an administration – and I’ve been through a few of them in the past – there’s also a certain amount of freedom because – and especially for President Biden, who has been doing this for so long and so well.  He knows what he wants to get accomplished.  He is determined to use the months that he has left as president to run through the tape.

QUESTION:  So your message to anyone who perceives weakness or indecision —

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Our message, my message to anyone who perceives weakness, is President Biden is here till January 20th.  He’s going to use every single day to advance the national interest.

QUESTION:  Secretary of State Tony Blinken, thank you so much for your time.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Great to be with you.

Concurrently, the Department of the Treasury is sanctioning Ivanov and Russia-operating virtual currency exchange Cryptex, and issuing an order that identifies PM2BTC as being of “primary money laundering concern” in connection with Russian illicit finance.  These actions are part of a coordinated international effort to disrupt Russian cybercrime services and are being taken in conjunction with actions by other U.S. government agencies and international law enforcement partners.

According to the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Shakhmametov allegedly utilized the moniker “JokerStash” in his capacity as the creator/operator of Joker’s Stash, one of the most profitable online marketplaces for stolen credit card data and compromised personally identifiable information. Ivanov laundered the proceeds from Joker’s Stash.  USSS alleges Ivanov to be a reliable, long-term provider of money laundering services for top tier cybercriminals since approximately 2005.

Today’s actions underscore the United States’s commitment, along with our allies and partners, to not allow cybercrime facilitators to operate with impunity.  We will continue to use all our tools and authorities to deter and expose these money laundering networks and impose cost on the cyber criminals and support networks.  We reiterate our call that Russia must take concrete steps to prevent cyber criminals from freely operating in its jurisdiction.

Today’s reward offer is authorized by the Secretary under the Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, which supports law enforcement efforts to disrupt transnational crime globally and bring fugitives to justice.  If you have information, please contact the USSS via email at MostWanted@usss.dhs.gov.  If you are located outside of the United States, you may also visit the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  If you are in the United States, you can also contact the local USSS office in your city.  The Department of the Treasury sanctions action today were taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13694, as amended by E.O. 13757, and E.O. 14024.  For more information, see Treasury’s press release.

ALL IDENTITIES ARE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.  Government officials and employees are not eligible for rewards. 

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Angolan President Joao Lourenco today in New York City. Secretary Blinken and President Lourenco discussed the growing importance of the U.S.-Angola partnership, as demonstrated by President Biden’s upcoming trip to Angola. They also spoke about the importance of the Lobito Corridor to the development of the region and Angola’s critical leadership in the peace process for the Eastern DRC.

The $5 million Feed the Future activity will contribute to existing programs and aims to enhance sustainable agricultural practices among Guatemalan farmers. The project will implement capacity-building activities and increase innovative agricultural practices and technologies that will foster resilience to climate change.  The activity includes training farmers on nutrient management practices that will strengthen soil health and fertility in local agricultural production and increase crop diversity with nutritious and sustainable options.

In collaboration with the Guatemalan government, the United States, other international donors, and stakeholders, this activity will create and improve coordination among agriculture and food security sectors.  The activity will contribute to efforts helping the 1.6 million people that are engaged and dependent on the agricultural sector as well as aims to impact 47% of children under five who are chronically malnourished.

Launched in February 2023 to address food insecurity initially in Africa, the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) has grown into a global movement and expanded into the Western Hemisphere and Pacific Islands.  VACS has generated global interest and commitment, including the VACS Partnership co-led by International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO).  VACS has been embraced by the private sector and NGOs – recognized through the VACS Champions program.  VACS is part of the U.S. government’s signature global hunger initiative Feed the Future.

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In a rapidly changing Arctic marked by new challenges and increased strategic competition, the region has become a growing focus for the United States and Canada. Our common interests in the region have served as the foundation of our bilateral Arctic relations for many decades and will continue to guide our Arctic cooperation in the future.

To further our cooperation in the Arctic, Canada and the United States are announcing the creation of a joint U.S. – Canada task force to undertake negotiations on the maritime boundary in the Beaufort Sea including resolving the overlap in the continental shelf in the Central Arctic Ocean. The area at issue is situated north of Alaska, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.

The task force is expected to begin negotiations this fall and reflects the commitment of the United States and Canada to clarify our shared northern boundary through cooperative bilateral negotiation and meaningful engagement with state, territorial, and Indigenous partners.

Canada and the United States will work collaboratively toward a final agreement that will provide clarity on our Arctic maritime boundaries, bearing in mind the responsible conservation and sustainable use of Arctic resources for the mutual benefit of Americans and Canadians, including Indigenous Peoples.

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The Challenge Initiative (TCI) offers a unique approach to financing, scaling up and sustaining family planning programs designed to address the rapid urbanization taking place in Africa and Asia.  TCI has engaged more than 200 city governments across 13 countries to implement high-impact family planning practices and other interventions that rapidly scale access to family planning information and services.  Led by Johns Hopkins’ William H. Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health, with support from Bayer AG and the Gates Foundation, TCI works through six regional hubs in East Africa, Francophone West Africa, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and the Philippines.  Since launching in 2016, TCI has contributed to an additional 4.5 million family planning users in 213 cities across 13 countries – Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, India, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda – covering a total population footprint of 244 million people.

To stay updated on The Challenge Initiative’s success story, please visit their website.

For media inquiries on State Department engagements at the Concordia Annual Summit, please contact partnerships@state.gov.

Our visa restriction policy is part of our comprehensive approach to reduce irregular migration and targets owners, executives, and senior officials of companies providing travel services and transportation by land, sea, or charter air designed to facilitate irregular migration to the United States.  These are restrictions pursuant to section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Donors seized the opportunity of the UNGA 79 side event to share ways to make humanitarian assistance efforts more resilient to the impacts of a changing climate and invited additional donor governments to join the Donor Declaration.  In the face of climate change and related impacts, donor governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations have been compelled to review their approaches to meeting the needs of vulnerable people.

To that end, the Donor Declaration outlines how donors can support humanitarian actors in making their operations more climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable.  Signing the Donor Declaration affirms the United States’ ongoing commitment to make our humanitarian assistance more resilient and sustainable and to support donor partners around the globe to do the same.  The United States calls on other donor governments to turn the Donor Declaration’s principles into action by joining the declaration, formalizing their commitments to climate-resilient humanitarian assistance, and increasing coordination with other Donor Declaration signatories.

For further information, please follow @PRMAsstSec, @StatePRM, and @ClimateatState.

Let me start by thanking all the heads of state, all the leaders, the foreign ministers, who took time during this incredibly busy week to be here today. The exceptional group that’s gathered in this room is a testament to the priority that our countries place on addressing the synthetic drug crisis – and the strength of our partnerships.

Now, for years, the threat of synthetic drugs has been rising around the world: methamphetamines in the East, in Southeast Asia; Captagon in the Middle East, tramadol in Africa; and here in the United States fentanyl, the number-one killer of Americans aged 18-49[1]. And think about that for just a minute – not car accidents, not guns, not cancer, not heart attacks – fentanyl.

This is by definition a global challenge: people ship precursor chemicals, the ingredients that go into fentanyl from one country to another; criminals make them into synthetic drugs, and then sell them in a third country. Every country needs to take steps at home to address this challenge. But no single government can solve it alone.

So last year, in July, the United States and our partners launched this global coalition to mobilize a coordinated response to the threat of synthetic drugs. We started out with 80 countries; today, nearly 160 countries and 15 international organizations.

Over the last year, we’ve consulted with more than 1,600 experts from around the world. And together, this coalition has taken concrete steps to make our communities safer, to make our people healthier.

We’ve created an international network for legislators so that they can share best practices and create laws that make it harder for drug traffickers to buy the precursor chemicals or smuggle products across borders.

Together, we’re tracking and warning law enforcement and health professionals about new trends in drug use.

We’ve trained officials on how to use a new tool that scrapes the internet and finds people who are illegally selling precursor chemicals and other substances.

Members of this coalition are developing new public health measures, whether that’s sharing school curriculums, expanding access to naloxone, creating resources for addiction treatment centers.

Today, the United States is introducing a new pledge, outlining seven lines of effort that will guide our work together for the year ahead, on areas like regulating drugs and chemicals, monitoring supply chains, sharing real-time data on drug use.

These lines of effort can be tailored to every country and every organization. So we welcome you joining us and pledging your support.

In a moment, we’ll also hear from several coalition members about their leadership, their commitments, and we’ll carry this work forward together.

Together, all of our countries’ efforts add up to a stronger global network, a more effective response to synthetic drug threats.

So please, keep it up. We can save lives. We are saving lives. We can protect our communities. We are protecting our communities. And we can make this world we share a little bit healthier and a little bit more secure.

Now, it is my honor to introduce a powerful advocate for this work, someone who spent years building coalitions to deliver on the issues that matter most to people – President of the United States, Joe Biden.

Carolyn Fornataro

Business Coach and Mentor Shares Her Journey in International Best-Selling Book, Inspiring Women to Dream Big and Take Charge of Their Success

Unstoppable! Volume 4 continues the tradition of bringing together transformational true stories from 25 women around the globe, each sharing their personal journeys of overcoming obstacles and finding success. After the triumph of Volumes 1, 2, and 3, this edition further expands the powerful message of resilience, hope, and empowerment. Carolyn Fornataro’s contribution is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the impact of mindset and mentorship on achieving success.

Carolyn’s story is one of perseverance and transformation. Having battled significant health challenges during the early years of her life, Carolyn found herself trapped by her circumstances and limited by her beliefs. However, through personal growth and determination, she broke free from the constraints of her past and discovered her voice and passion. In Unstoppable!, Carolyn opens up about how she used her experiences to inspire others to take control of their lives and businesses.

“I have always felt that I had a story to tell,” Carolyn Fornataro explains. “My health issues shaped my formative years and held me prisoner for the first two decades of my life. I have hidden my pain for so many years, I needed to be set free to live the life I always wanted. This was my golden opportunity to break the chains and become the master of my destiny.”

For Carolyn, becoming a best-selling author is both exciting and overwhelming. She never imagined that her story would resonate with so many, but through Unstoppable! Volume 4, she has realized the immense power of sharing her journey.

“I believe my story will impact other women by inspiring them to break the chains of their limiting beliefs and keep moving forward,” Carolyn says. “As a Business Coach and Mentor, I will help them dream big and think bigger so they can create their success. I will help them create a sustainable plan for the long term so that they will meet and exceed their goals.”

Carolyn’s coaching program is designed to offer women a blend of personalized one-on-one coaching and group sessions. By helping her clients identify their goals, implement proven strategies, and remain accountable, Carolyn provides the tools they need to take their businesses to the next level.

“Program benefits include connecting with their clients and closing deals with ease. They will develop a growth mindset and prioritize their personal development. Generating high-quality leads and turning them into paying customers. Tracking their income-producing activities and maximizing their time. This program is an opportunity to transform their business,” Carolyn explains.

Through her coaching, Carolyn empowers women to realize their dreams and take charge of their futures, both personally and professionally. Her message is clear: age, circumstances, or setbacks should never be barriers to success. Carolyn is living proof that with the right mindset and mentorship, anything is possible.

For women seeking to become unstoppable, Carolyn offers this powerful piece of advice: “Dream big and think even bigger. Create their success plan, for without a plan, a dream is only a wish. Tap into someone with proven strategies to show them a way for them to then make their own plan. Remove people from your circle that are taking up your oxygen. Be the Master of your success.”

With Unstoppable! Volume 4 - The Powerhouse Edition achieving international best-seller status, Carolyn Fornataro’s story and coaching programs are poised to inspire a global audience of women ready to take control of their lives and reach their full potential.

For more information about Carolyn Fornataro and her coaching programs, email her directly at Carolynfornataro@gmail.com.

Carolyn Fornataro
.Carolynfornataro@gmail.com

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September 15, 2024, 02:04 GMT

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Recently, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger and Minister of Public Security General Luong Tam Quang affirmed our nations’ shared intention to strengthen the CSP in the fields of cybersecurity and emerging technologies based on commitments to mutual assistance and cooperation.  Recognizing the shared strategic interests in these fields, the United States and Vietnam will endeavor to cooperate on a range of technical, policy, and capacity building activities to achieve common national security and economic objectives.

The two sides jointly committed to continue driving progress through existing mechanisms such as the CSP Cyber Security Working Group, the CSP Economic Dialogue, the Law Enforcement and Security Dialogue, and the Counter Ransomware Initiative. With the ultimate goals of strengthening critical infrastructure network resilience and building a digital economy for the future, the enhanced cybersecurity partnership will seek to unlock new levels of bilateral collaboration and more broadly promote network security and digital growth across the region.

This U.S. assistance will save lives and help protect, shelter, and feed those forced to flee violence and persecution.  Additionally, it will be used to: support disaster preparedness and protection for refugees and host communities; bolster access to education and skills training; and prepare refugees for their potential return home when conditions allow. 

The U.S. government has provided more than $2.5 billion for the regional Rohingya response since August 2017, including more than $2.1 billion in Bangladesh, of which nearly $1.3 billion was contributed through PRM.  The United States remains committed to delivering assistance to crisis-affected communities in Bangladesh and the region and calls on other donors to continue their support. 

We meet more than two and a half years since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, shredding the core principles of the United Nations Charter – sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence. 

Every day since, Russia has waged a war of aggression – the textbook example of a threat to international peace and security that this council was created to prevent and address.

The question before us today is not what will Russia do.  We already know that.  Putin will continue to wage his unjust war. 

The question before us is how we, members of this council, can end Putin’s war and reinforce the international rules and rights that make all of our nations safer and more secure.

There are two immediate and interrelated steps that we must take. 

First, we must address Russia’s growing cooperation with North Korea and Iran. 

Iran has been providing armed drones to the Kremlin since 2022.  It built a drone factory in Russia.  Just a few weeks ago, it transferred hundreds of short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, and Tehran has trained Russian military personnel in Iran how to operate these weapons. 

Meanwhile, the DPRK has delivered trainloads of weapons and ammunition to Russia, including ballistic missiles, launchers, and millions of artillery rounds.

Support from Tehran and Pyongyang is helping Putin inflict carnage, suffering, and ruin on innocent Ukrainian men, women, and children; demolish Ukrainian apartment buildings, grain silos, and ports; ravage Ukrainian power plants, heating, and natural gas facilities just as freezing temperatures are setting in. 

These actions by Iran, North Korea, and Russia have violated multiple Security Council resolutions – resolutions that Russia voted for, and as a permanent member, has a special responsibility to enforce.

This is also not a one-way street. 

The more Russia relies on their support, the more Iran and North Korea extract in return. 

And the more Putin gives to Pyongyang and Tehran, the more he exacerbates threats to peace and security – not just in Europe, but in the Indo-Pacific, in the Middle East, all around the globe. 

As North Korea ramps up its military support for Russia, Putin has reciprocated with military commitments and with money. 

The two countries recently revived a treaty pledging to provide military assistance if either is invaded.  In March, Russia used its veto to end the work of the UN Panel of Experts on the DPRK, which for 14 years had monitored the regime’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.  Russia’s banks are helping North Korea evade sanctions, freeing up more funds for its unlawful weapons programs. 

All this for a regime that has carried out more than 150 ballistic missile tests since 2022 and whose leader routinely threatens to obliterate South Korea and Japan and other countries. 

Meanwhile, as Tehran provides Putin with drones, ballistic missiles, and training, Russia is sharing technology with Iran on nuclear issues, as well as space information.  The two countries have accelerated negotiations on a comprehensive strategic partnership.  Last year, Russia announced plans to send Iran advanced fighter aircraft and attack helicopters. 

This as Iran continues to arm, to train, and to fund proxies in the Middle East to carry out terrorist attacks across the region and beyond – including Hamas, whose appalling October 7th attacks killed civilians from over a dozen UN member-states; and including the Houthis, whose attacks on international shipping have driven up the cost of food, of medicine, other supplies for people around the world, and have added to the suffering of the Yemeni people.

North Korea and Iran are not the only ones aiding and abetting Russia.  China, another permanent member of this council, is the top provider of machine tools, microelectronics, and other items that Russia is using to rebuild, to restock, to ramp up its war machine and sustain its brutal aggression.

Now, some may ask how the United States or any other country helping Ukraine defend itself can criticize countries for providing military support to Russia.

There is a profound difference. 

Russia is the aggressor; Ukraine, the victim. 

Russia fights for conquests.  Ukraine fights for survival. 

If countries stopped supporting Russia, Putin’s invasion would soon come to an end. 

If countries stopped supporting Ukraine, Ukraine could soon come to an end. 

This brings me to the second step that members of this council can take. 

One of the council’s primary responsibilities is seeking to peacefully resolve conflicts.  As President Zelenskyy has said, no one wants peace more than Ukraine. 

The United States also wants to end this conflict.  And before Putin launched his full invasion, we used every tool we could to try to prevent it, including right here at the Security Council. 

But the way the council seeks to end this conflict matters.  The UN Charter is crystal clear on this point.  When fulfilling its responsibilities, the Security Council, and I quote, “shall act in accordance with the purpose and principles of the United Nations,” end quote.  In other words, we must seek a peace that upholds, rather than undermines the UN’s core tenets.

That’s why all of us here have a responsibility to support Ukraine’s call for a just and lasting peace to end Russia’s war of aggression.

A just and lasting peace must affirm the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence. 

A just and lasting peace must preserve Ukraine’s right to choose its own path, its own allies, its own future. 

A just and lasting peace requires Ukraine’s full participation – and assent. 

A just and lasting peace must support Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery, with Russia paying to fix the damage it’s caused. 

A just and lasting peace must address both accountability and reconciliation. 

The United States is ready and willing to work with any partner dedicated to supporting peace based on these principles. 

Ukraine has said multiple times that diplomacy is the only way to end this war – and that it’s prepared to engage in negotiations.

Putin, on the other hand, has no interest in such a peace – recently declaring that Russia would return to the negotiating table only when Ukraine withdraws its troops from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhya; in other words, when Ukraine withdraws from its own territory. 

Putin continues to claim, falsely, that Ukraine is not a real state.  He continues to deny that the Ukrainian people have their own identity.  In Putin’s eyes, the Ukrainian people – like Ukraine itself – do not exist. 

Other countries have put forward their own proposals – some of which make no mention of the UN Charter or its principles, fail to distinguish between the aggressor and the aggressed, and call on all sides to de-escalate.

A proposal along these lines would reward Putin’s aggression, allow him to rest, re-arm, re-invade Ukraine – as he has done time and again.  It would also embolden would-be aggressors everywhere around the world. 

As history teaches us, peace without principle is prologue to more conflict, to more suffering, to more instability. 

So, to all nations who want this conflict to end – and do it in a way that will endure – the quickest way forward is simple: stop those who are enabling and fueling Putin’s aggression and demand a just peace that upholds the principles of the United Nations Charter. 

I thank you, Mr. President. 

The roundtable showcased the consortium’s progress on the Lobito Corridor since the signing of the seven-side Memorandum of Understanding for infrastructure investment last year. This included key milestones for the new greenfield Zambia-Lobito rail line, building toward the continent’s first open-access rail network.  Discussions also solidified commitment for the next phase of expanding the economic corridor and preparing the Heads of State to codify the roadmap forward in an anticipated summit during the President of the United States’ upcoming trip to Angola.

Several key announcements were made during the event.  AFC, lead developer of the Zambia-Lobito rail project, announced the completion of the key feasibility study, and signed a concession agreement with the governments of Zambia and Angola to develop and operate the rail.  This historic new transportation infrastructure, connecting Angola and Zambia for the first time and on track to break ground in early 2026, will unlock Zambia’s Copper Belt and spur economic integration and inclusive growth across borders.  Additionally, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced a $2 million grant for an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the rail project, which will ensure it is delivered according to the highest international standards.

PGI investments across the Lobito Corridor exemplify the U.S. commitment made at the African Leaders Summit to go beyond traditional aid and focus on partnership and investment.  In less than 18 months since the initial U.S. commitment, over $3 billion has been dedicated to developing the corridor through investments in multiple interconnected sectors, including transportation and logistics, agriculture, clean energy, health, and digital access.  By bringing together G7 PGI partners and African financial institutions, the consortium demonstrates a new model of investing in infrastructure in frontier markets, aiming to boost regional trade, attract private investments, and promote sustainable development across various sectors.

Bonnie Gomez

Mentor and Creator Shares Her Journey of Faith and Creativity in International Best-Selling Anthology.

Unstoppable! Volume 4 brings together the powerful stories of 25 women from around the world, each showcasing their resilience, courage, and determination to rise above adversity. Following the success of the previous volumes, this edition continues to inspire by spotlighting women who turned their struggles into opportunities for growth and transformation. Bonnie Gomez’s personal narrative of faith and creativity is an integral part of this collection.

As a mentor and creator, Bonnie’s mission is to uplift women by sharing her story of personal transformation through faith. She opens up about her challenges and how her unwavering belief has shaped her journey. Reflecting on her decision to contribute to Unstoppable! Volume 4, Bonnie commented “I wanted to become an author of Unstoppable because I felt like my story is important and has the potential to make a difference in other women’s lives. I’ve always felt that God saved me to be a living testimony to the power and love that HE has for us.”

Bonnie’s chapter in Unstoppable! details her path toward embracing her faith, stepping out of her comfort zone, and finding the courage to share her experiences. By doing so, she hopes to inspire other women to reveal their own truths and connect with the strength within them. Bonnie shared her excitement about becoming a best-selling author, stating, “It’s an exciting time for me. I never believed I would have such an opportunity like this. I feel ready, nervous, excited, and confident. I know I’m taking a step in the right direction because God has opened every locked door for me so that I can be here today sharing His mercy and goodness.”

Bonnie’s passion extends beyond storytelling. As a talented creator, she crafts custom tumblers and gifts, and her next step is to share her creative talents with others through online classes. “My vision is to offer classes via Zoom, either in groups or one-on-one, to share my love and gift of crafting these beautiful pieces,” Bonnie explains. “It helps one to show pride in the fact that they can make it happen too! The benefits are endless—some might find a source of side income, while others will experience fun and a little therapy through the arts.”

Her aim is to empower women to find their creative voice and build confidence in their abilities. Bonnie believes that every woman has the potential to be unstoppable, and her goal is to help them unlock that inner strength. “I would love to inspire women to be unstoppable by showing them just how amazing they truly are. I feel like women aren’t told this enough in life and are always feeling the competition or expectations that are just too unrealistic to achieve. I want to share my strength with them until they are able to carry it on their own,” she adds.

Bonnie’s advice to women who want to become unstoppable is simple but powerful: “Be determined to not be denied! You deserve this and have the unstoppable ability to make your dreams come true!”

With Unstoppable! Volume 4 - The Powerhouse Edition, Bonnie Gomez’s story serves as a beacon of hope, reminding women that with faith, determination, and creativity, they can overcome any obstacle and achieve greatness.

For more information on Bonnie Gomez and her mentorship programs, please contact her on Facebook.

Bonnie Gomez
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September 15, 2024, 02:00 GMT

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The Iranian regime is increasingly attempting to influence the outcome of the forthcoming U.S. election because it perceives the outcome will impact U.S. foreign policy towards Iran.  Iranian state-sponsored actors have undertaken a variety of malicious cyber activities, such as hack-and-leak operations and spear-phishing, in an attempt to undermine confidence in the United States’ election processes and institutions while also seeking to influence the political campaigns.  The United States is committed to safeguarding the integrity of elections and democratic institutions around the world, including our own.  Today’s actions underscore our continuous efforts to expose and deter activities that target our democracy.

For more information on the Iranian regime’s efforts to undermine our democracy, see Joint ODNI, FBI, and CISA Statement.  The Department of the Treasury sanctions actions today were taken pursuant to Executive Order 13848.  For more information see Treasury’s press release.

But I’m so pleased that we were all able to find the time to come together. The United States is a steadfast supporter of the independence, the sovereignty, the territorial integrity of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.

And we are also steadfast in our partnership. We’ve done very good work through the C5+1, and, of course, a highlight was a meeting among our leaders with President Biden.

But we’ve been delivering on the C5+1’s vision of regional solutions to global challenges. The engagement among all of us enhances sustainable economic growth. It strengthens energy and climate resilience and security.

Next year, 2025, will mark ten years since we launched the C5+1, and the United States, for its part, looks very much forward to celebrating this enduring partnership, but not just celebrating it, continuing to grow it, to strengthen it.

And today’s a very good opportunity to take stock of what we’ve been able to achieve but also to keep us focused on the future and all that we can do together. Thank you.

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On September 25, representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, and the Republic of Yemen met to discuss the impact of unjustified Houthi detentions of United Nations, NGO, civil society, former diplomatic mission, and other staff in Yemen.

These individuals must be released immediately, and all staff must be allowed to perform their work without fear of unjustified detention or intimidation. We call on all countries and organizations to explore every possible diplomatic channel to advance negotiations for the release of current detainees.

The Houthis must respect international norms and ensure the safety and security of all diplomatic, humanitarian, civil society, and United Nations personnel. We cannot in good conscience put individuals at risk of unjustified detention or worse by continuing business as usual.

As a result of the detentions, we support the United Nations in its decision to minimize the exposure of staff to risk in Houthi-controlled territories. We welcome the UN decision to suspend all non-life saving and non-life sustaining activities in Houthi-controlled areas and call on the international community to redirect such assistance to elsewhere in the country. We urge the Houthis to provide an adequate operating environment in which principled humanitarian assistance can be implemented.

Delivering aid to those most in need across Yemen remains an international humanitarian imperative and requires an operating environment which assures the safety and security of aid workers. We underscore our strong concern for the welfare and dignity of the Yemeni people, and our desire to continue to be able to support their well-being, which is inhibited by the actions and repression of the Houthis.

We reaffirm our strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Yemen, and our determination to stand by the people of Yemen.

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These senior State Department officials will accompany a delegation from the Government of Senegal led by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.  President Faye will be joined by Minister of Communication, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy Alioune Sall, Minister of Finance and Budget Cheikh Diba, and other senior Senegalese government officials.  While in California, the group will meet entrepreneurs and representatives from tech companies, academia, financial institutions, Senegalese start-up companies, and the Senegalese diaspora community.  

This joint visit reaffirms the United States’ commitment to supporting Africa’s digital transformation and deepening partnerships between the United States and Senegal and between our African partners and the U.S. private sector and academic institutions.  The visit closely follows Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s September 23 launch of the Partnership for Global Inclusivity on AI and other initiatives to harness the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) to advance sustainable development globally.

For further information, please contact the Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships and Bureau of Cybersecurity and Digital Policy at Partnerships@state.gov.

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Iraq and the United States of America are connected  by a strategic relationship, and as a result of consultations and discussions with the leadership of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and its friendly member states, intensive discussions within the U.S.-Iraq Higher Military Commission, which worked diligently and professionally in intensive meetings over the past nine months, and after studying and evaluating the military and security situation in Iraq and the region, announce the following:

First:  Concluding the Coalition’s military mission in Iraq over the next twelve months, and no later than the end of September 2025, and transitioning to bilateral security partnerships in a manner that supports Iraqi forces and maintains pressure on ISIS.

Second:  As Iraq is a key member of the Coalition, and to prevent the return of the ISIS terrorist threat from northeast Syria, and subject to conditions on the ground and consultations among Iraq, the United States, and the members of the Coalition, the military mission of the Coalition operating in Syria from a platform determined in the HMC will continue until September 2026.

Third:  The Higher Military Commission commits to formulate the procedures necessary to achieve what is stated in the paragraphs above, the timing, and mechanisms to implement them, including procedures to ensure the physical protection of Coalition advisors present in Iraq during the transitional period, consistent with the Iraqi constitution and laws. Practical steps to implement these commitments have started.

Iraq thanks the Coalition for the backing and support provided to the Iraqi security forces to confront this common threat and secure ISIS’s territorial defeat in Iraq. At the forefront of these countries has been the United States of America, which stood with Iraq in difficult circumstances. The Coalition appreciates the role of Iraq and the great sacrifices of all Iraqi security forces in fighting this terrorist organization that posed a threat to the entire world. We stress the need to continue all efforts to ensure that the threat from this terrorist organization does not return in any way.

We look forward to strengthening relations between Iraq and the United States, in which both nations seek to advance security assistance and cooperation based on mutual respect, consistent with the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement and the Iraqi Constitution, and foster an enduring bilateral partnership consistent with the Joint Statement between the United States and Iraq issued during the visit of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani to Washington, D.C., on April 15-16, 2024 and the Joint Statement between the United States and Iraq following the second U.S.-Iraq Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue held in Washington, D.C. on July 22-23, 2024.

This historic transition marks one decade since the formation of the Coalition’s military mission in Iraq and Iraq continues to engage with the United States and other members of the Coalition to establish bilateral security relations where appropriate.

In furtherance of the safe and orderly conclusion of the Global Coalition’s military mission, the Government of Iraq reaffirms its commitment consistent with its international obligations, to protect international advisors present in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government.

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The United States and the European Commission hosted Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) Forum members today in New York City on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week and Climate Week NYC to discuss opportunities, priorities, and challenges in responsible mining, processing, and recycling of critical minerals needed for the energy transition.  The meeting was Co-Chaired by Jose W. Fernandez, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, and Maive Rute, European Commission Deputy Director General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship, and SMEs, with participation from ministers and high-level officials from MSP Forum members.  The MSP Forum followed a meeting of the MSP Partners, chaired by the Republic of Korea’s 2nd Vice Foreign Minister Kang Insun.

During today’s event in New York City, the MSP Forum welcomed seven new members – the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, the Philippines, Serbia, Türkiye, and Zambia – and discussed a number of relevant policy issues and specific critical minerals projects and how MSP Partners can assist in advancing them to production.  These seven additional MSP Forum members join Argentina, Greenland, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Namibia, Peru, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, who were announced as Forum members at the inaugural high-level MSP Forum event held virtually in July 2024.

The new MSP Forum members shared their priorities on the development of their critical mineral sectors, including on project development, environmental, labor, social, and governance aspects of mining, and policies related to supporting investments contributing to local value addition.  Participants also discussed a roadmap for the MSP Forum’s two workstreams on project development and policy dialogue.  MSP Forum members will continue to work together to develop individual projects and promote a dialogue on policies that contribute to diversification and resilience of critical minerals supply chains.

The United States and the European Union look forward to hosting MSP Forum members for the next MSP Forum event on the margins of Raw Materials Week in Brussels in December 2024.

End text.

For more information on the MSP, go to https://www.state.gov/minerals-security-partnership/.  To stay up to date, follow Under Secretary Fernandez on X:  @State_E, LinkedIn:  @State-E, and Facebook:  @StateDeptE.  For media inquiries, please contact E_Communications@state.gov.

Today, the partners of the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) held a Principals’ Meeting in New York during the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting focused on accelerating MSP projects, and enhancing cooperation between MSP Partners and MSP Forum Members. Republic of Korea Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul opened the Partners meeting, and Kang Insun, the 2nd Vice Foreign Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, chaired the meeting.

The MSP Partners highlighted the announcement on September 23 of the creation of the MSP Finance Network, during a meeting of MSP Partners and their respective development finance institutions (DFIs) and export credit agencies (ECAs). This new network will further strengthen cooperation and promote information exchange and co-financing among participating institutions to advance diverse, secure, and sustainable supply chains for critical minerals. The private sector entities who also attended the MSP Finance meeting on September 23 collectively represent over $171 billion in funds raised, $34 trillion in assets under management, and $26 trillion in market capitalization. This impressive financial backing along with the billions of dollars available from the MSP public finance agencies underscore the immense potential for impact and collaboration.

The MSP Partners also welcomed the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, the Philippines, Serbia, Türkiye, and Zambia as new members of the MSP Forum in that group’s first in-person meeting, also on September 26. MSP Forum members used this event to discuss opportunities, priorities, and challenges in responsible mining, processing, and recycling of critical minerals, with participation from ministers and high-level officials from MSP Forum members.

The MSP chair appreciated that several achievements have been realized since the previous Principals’ Meeting in March, thanks to unwavering support from MSP Partners. There were 23 MSP projects announced in March, and that number has since increased to 32 projects. Currently, various critical minerals projects are under way around the world, including upstream mining and mineral extraction, processing and recycling and recovery.

During the meeting, MSP partners identified 7 projects as having reached key milestones, emphasizing that accelerating MSP projects is crucial for ensuring a stable global supply chain of critical minerals, which is essential for the development of advanced industries and the clean energy transition.

• Across the 32 MSP projects:
  • 19 projects focus on upstream mining and mineral extraction, 15 on midstream processing, and 3 on recycling and recovery.
  • 10 projects include rare earth elements, 6 graphite, 6 cobalt, 3 nickel, 2 copper, 2 lithium, 1 high-purity aluminum, 2 gallium, 2 germanium, and 1 manganese. The Partners note that some projects produce more than one mineral type.
  • 13 project sites are located in Africa, 8 project sites in the Americas, 6 project sites in the Asia-Pacific region, and 5 project sites in Europe.
• The 7 projects which have reached key milestones since the last meeting in March are:
  • KoBold Metals’ Mingomba Copper Exploration Project (Zambia): At the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, KoBold and ZCCM-IH announced an initial $150 million investment in the Mingomba copper deposit located in Chililabombwe, Zambia into a world-class mine by using artificial intelligence (AI) to direct expedited mineral exploration in Zambia’s Copperbelt Province. In June 2024, KoBold Metals and ZCCM-IH announced an increased investment of more than $2 billion to develop the Mingomba project, which will play a key role to help Zambia increase its annual copper production to 3 million tons and help power the electrification of the global economy during the energy transition.
  • Gécamines-Umicore Germanium Project (DRC): In May of this year a new deal was finalized between STL, a subsidiary of La Générale des Carrières et des Mines (Gécamines) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Belgium’s Umicore, that advances cooperation on germanium offtake and processing. This milestone agreement, significantly increases the global supply of germanium, which is used in semiconductors, optical cables, solar cells, sensors for defense-related technologies, and more. The project also contributes to local economic development and skills training, and the development of recycling and recovery capacity in the DRC.
  • Mahenge Graphite Project (Tanzania): POSCO International, a major Korean trading firm, signed an agreement to purchase shares in Black Rock Mining Ltd. for $40 million to secure a supply of graphite from a Tanzanian mine. This investment brings POSCO Group’s total ownership in Black Rock Mining to 19.9%, and will pave the way for the development of the Mahenge graphite mine in Tanzania. POSCO Group expects to receive 30,000 tons of graphite annually from the deal, starting in 2026, and up to 60,000 tons by 2028.
  • Electra Ontario Cobalt Refinery (Canada): Canadian-based Electra Battery Materials received a U.S. $20 million award in August 2024 from the Defense Production Act Investments (DPAI) office of the U.S. Department of Defense. This award will support the construction and commissioning of North America’s first cobalt sulfate refinery, capable of producing battery grade materials for lithium-ion batteries, at Electra’s facility in Temiskaming Shores, Ontario, Canada. Once fully commissioned, the facility can produce 6,500 tons of cobalt per year, with cobalt feed sourced from Glencore and Eurasian Resources Group mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition to cobalt refining, Electra plans to produce other battery materials at the same refinery complex. In addition, in June 2024, Electra received a U.S. $3.6 (C$5) million award from Natural Resources Canada to advance the next phase of this battery materials recycling project.
  • ESS Inc. (United States): In June 2024, EXIM’s Board of Directors authorized $50 million in financing to ESS Inc. for its Wilsonville, Oregon facility, for the construction of several new long-duration iron flow battery storage production lines. The long-duration batteries are purpose-built for bulk storage by solar and wind renewable power providers. EXIM’s financing package consists of a final commitment to finance two production lines in the immediate term, plus a preliminary commitment to finance several additional production lines as ESS Inc. scales up its production capacity to meet customer demand, enabling the tripling of annual production capacity at their facility, to increase exports to Europe, Australia, and Africa. This authorization represents a contribution to the MSP and the global energy transition.
  • Australian Strategic Materials (ASM – Australia): In March 2024, EXIM issued a non-binding Letter of Interest to ASM to provide potential debt financing of up to $600 million for the construction of the company’s rare earths and critical minerals Dubbo Project in New South Wales, Australia.
  • Queensland Pacific Metals (QPM – Australia): In July 2024, the Australian Government awarded QPM an AUD8 million (USD5.4 million) grant to bolster domestic nickel and cobalt production at QPM’s Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub in Queensland, Australia. The Queensland State Government also announced up to AUD8 million (USD5.4 million) of funding to prepare the Project for investment readiness. Previously, QPM had received approximately AUD1.4 billion (USD900 million) in conditional debt commitments from financing agencies in Australia, Canada, and Germany.

Noting that concrete results are the MSP’s top priority, the Chair proposed to hold deep dive meetings for MSP projects as case studies in the near future.

MSP partners highlighted the MSP Principles for Responsible Critical Mineral Supply Chains and agreed that the implementation of high ESG and labor principles and practices is one of the primary goals pursued by the MSP. MSP projects are required to review and assess ESG performance regularly throughout their entire lifetimes.

The MSP is an action-oriented consultative body seeking the diversification of responsible critical minerals supply chains, beyond a multilateral dialogue. MSP partners promote policy engagement to elevate ESG and labor standards and expand investment opportunities in their mining industries.

MSP partners will continue to work with MSP Forum members to maximize the opportunities for synergies and to facilitate early achievements from MSP projects.

The MSP aims to continue seeking stabilization and diversification of global supply chains of critical minerals, to facilitate the development of advanced industries and the transition to clean energy.

Adrienne Thomas

Rising Author Empowers Women to Embrace Their Journeys and Live Fearlessly in Best-Selling Anthology.

Unstoppable! Volume 4 continues the legacy of the series, featuring women who refused to let hardship define them. The stories within resonate deeply with readers around the world, offering a message of resilience and hope. Adrienne Thomas’s story is no exception. As a motivational speaker, she shares her personal journey of overcoming obstacles and rising above the challenges life has thrown at her.

“I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to contribute to the Unstoppable book series for several reasons,” Adrienne shared. “First and foremost, I was excited about collaborating with other extraordinary women from around the world. I also wanted to set an example for my ten-year-old daughter about the importance of personal growth and striving toward one’s goals. Writing has always been a dream of mine, and I genuinely believe there’s someone out there who needs to hear my story to find the strength to persevere and become unstoppable. If my story touches just one person, I hope it creates a ripple effect of positive impact.”

Adrienne’s story is one of personal triumph. Throughout her chapter in Unstoppable! Volume 4, she chronicles her journey of devastation and eventual victory, providing readers with a message of hope and empowerment. Adrienne encourages women to embrace their individual journeys and find purpose, even when life feels insurmountable.

“I’ve always aspired to be a published author, but I never really considered making it to the best-seller list,” Adrienne reflects. “For me, the importance lies in making a positive impact on the world. Becoming a best-selling author validates that the influence of that impact is even greater than I had dared to imagine.”

Adrienne’s passion lies in inspiring women to lead purposeful lives, filled with fearlessness and self-belief. She aims to encourage women to recognize their own strength, make meaningful changes in their lives, and positively impact those around them.

“My journey is still unfolding,” Adrienne notes. “Currently, I’m focused on teaching, establishing a new business, and enjoying the lifelong dream of raising my daughter in the same small town I grew up in, following my husband’s recent retirement from the military. However, I have ambitious goals for the future. I want to build a community where women feel seen, valued, and safe to share their stories of overcoming and creating the life of their dreams.”

Adrienne’s future plans include creating a space where women can grow and thrive together. Her desire is to provide a platform for women to share their own stories of resilience, offering support, inspiration, and a sense of community.

“I want to inspire women to embrace their authentic selves and make the most of every second,” she says. “It’s about living passionately, loving openly, and realizing that failure is just a detour on the path to discovering inner strength and living a fulfilling life.”

Adrienne’s tip for becoming unstoppable? “Don’t wait. Like an eagle, use the storms to lift you higher. Whether you’re burdened by grief or trauma, battling self-doubt, or just too afraid to take the next step, remember that it’s all part of your story. It’s designed to make you stronger. Take time to heal, know your worth, and run after your dreams. Someone out there is waiting to hear your story, and you are ready, just as you are.”

Unstoppable! Volume 4 - The Powerhouse Edition continues to inspire readers worldwide with its message of strength, courage, and transformation. Adrienne Thomas’s contribution is yet another empowering narrative in this best-selling collection, reminding women everywhere that they too can become truly unstoppable.

For more information about Adrienne Thomas and her upcoming endeavors, follow her on Facebook or reach out by email at andithomas33@gmail.com

Adrienne Thomas
.andithomas33@gmail.com

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Participants discussed strengthening the global response to mpox, increasing financing and coordination for global health security – including via the Pandemic Fund – and implementing a robust FMC agenda in 2025 that reflects the priorities of FMC partner countries and international organizations.

Leadership from the following countries and organizations joined the meeting:  Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, India, Japan, Morocco, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the World Health Organization.

Progress of the Foreign Ministry Channel for Global Health Security

Today’s meeting builds on a series of FMC senior official meetings held in 2024 to focus political will, diplomatic attention, and coordinated action to address critical health security threats.

Previous FMC meetings include a discussion on the global health security architecture hosted by the United States in March; a One Health, climate change, and pandemic influenza session hosted by Australia in June; and an antimicrobial resistance (AMR) session hosted by the United Kingdom in July.  A special session of the FMC was held in August to discuss the global response to the surge of clade I mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa.  During each session, participants expressed enthusiasm for the work of the FMC since its March 14, 2024 launch and have offered suggestions for future FMC sessions in late 2024 and 2025.

Enhancing the Global Mpox Response

Participants reaffirmed the importance of strengthening the global response to the mpox outbreak, following the August 13 Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declaration of a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security and the August 14 World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

WHO, Africa CDC, and countries experiencing a surge in clade I mpox cases have released plans to coordinate action to improve surveillance of the disease, provide clinical support for persons with mpox, and increase public health measures to prevent new infections.  WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya provided an overview of these plans, along with the epidemiology of the outbreak.  FMC partners highlighted contributions and actions consistent with the goals of the WHO and Africa CDC response plans.  Participants supported the sustained national, regional, and international coordination and financing needed to end the outbreak, reduce its severity, and support further capacity strengthening in affected countries.

Participants also welcomed the work that Gavi, the Pandemic Fund, and the Global Fund are doing in response to the mpox outbreak, including the activation of the former’s First Response Fund, which is helping to secure the supply of mpox vaccine for affected countries in Africa.

Strengthening the Global Health Security Architecture and Financing

Participants highlighted the importance of strengthening global health security architecture to address the global health threats of today and tomorrow.  FMC government representatives welcomed the agreement of amendments to International Health Regulations at the World Health Assembly in May 2024.  Participants also expressed a shared desire to conclude successful Pandemic Accord negotiations in a timely manner to further bolster international collaboration in pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.  On the margins of the High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance, FMC participants expressed a shared commitment to efforts to combat the global threat of AMR and further shared goals set during the AMR-focused FMC session hosted by the United Kingdom. 

Participants also discussed efforts to ensure that the mpox outbreak response applies lessons learned and progress made in global health security financing following the COVID-19 pandemic.  This includes ensuring a strong Pandemic Fund that continues to provide and galvanize predictable financing for pandemic prevention and preparedness, even in times of crisis.  Participants welcomed the quick action taken by the Pandemic Fund to allocate $128.9 million for 10 countries to address mpox threats through efforts to strengthen capacities and capabilities in areas of cross-border surveillance and early warning systems; laboratories; and a skilled workforce; and the commitment to develop a mechanism to accelerate support to countries experiencing public health emergencies.  This support is an important contribution to the implementation of the WHO and Africa CDC joint mpox Continental Preparedness and Response plan for Africa. 

Participants look forward to a successful pledging event for the Fund on the margins of the G20 Health and Finance Ministerial, noting that to date, the United States and Germany have pledged a combined $720 million to the Pandemic Fund.  Participants also highlighted the importance of leveraging surge financing mechanisms developed in response to COVID-19 and to continued support for evolving development banks to better support pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.  Participants expressed shared commitment to improving coordination among international partners and regional and country counterparts on mpox and future outbreaks, using lessons learned to inform the operationalization of the Coordinating Financial Mechanism under the amended International Health Regulations.  

Incorporating Lessons from COVID-19 to Prevent the Next Pandemic

Participants emphasized the need for all countries to incorporate lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent, detect, and respond to future health threats.  Participants acknowledged the value of both the COVID-19 Pandemic Prioritized Global Action Plan for Enhanced Engagement (GAP) and the FMC.  The COVID-19 pandemic underscored that foreign ministries and diplomats have an essential role to play in strengthening global health security by mobilizing global political will, resources, and coordination around health threats, taking into account the broader political, economic, and societal contexts in which outbreaks emerge.  Participants highlighted proposals for multiple FMC meetings and areas in the coming year, including sessions focused on:  specific infectious disease threats, including influenza; strengthening global health training for diplomats; coordinating bilateral and multilateral health capacity building efforts in specific geographic regions; and improving strategic planning around global health security.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, good morning, everyone.  Colleagues, thank you so much for being here this morning.  It’s Friday – (laughter) – but I think we sometimes save the best or the – sometimes the most important for last, and this is one of those examples.

COVID-19, other outbreaks of disease – like the mpox outbreak that we’re currently facing – show us why health security is national security.  Diplomacy is one of the essential tools for trying to mobilize political will, to raise awareness, to unlock and unblock obstacles that get in the way of the collaboration necessary to deal with the outbreak of disease and its spread.

This Foreign Ministry Channel for Global Health Security was launched in March as a forum for all of our foreign ministries to work to proactively communicate, to share information, to coordinate efforts, to strengthen global health security.  So, I simply wanted to start by thanking everyone for your partnership in this endeavor, for your recognition that we all have a role to play when it comes to dealing with improving the health of our populations, both in our own countries and around the world.

And with this channel that we’ve established together, I look forward to robust conversations about how we can further collaborate, how we can further use our shared knowledge, insights, resources to combat – and mobilize, as necessary, the international community when it comes to global health, when it comes to prevention, when it comes to responses.  And these partnerships are absolutely critical.  It’s also important that we continue the work of doing work with critical multilateral funds like the Pandemic Fund.

So, simply put, today’s an opportunity, an opportunity to lay more ground for future collaboration.  I think we all know from the COVID experience how essential that is, and I’m grateful for everyone’s participation today.

Thank you.

The Network achieved several critical outcomes.  One key outcome is the development of a database that identifies key characteristics of the semiconductor ecosystem, which will help policymakers understand the geographic distribution of semiconductor manufacturing capacity and the interdependencies between companies and economies.  This analysis builds on the recently released taxonomy for semiconductor data collection, developed by the OECD under the Network’s auspices, and supports the Network’s goals by providing insights into how different factors influence global semiconductor supply chain dynamics.

The U.S. State Department’s leadership underscored its commitment to fostering international collaboration in the semiconductor space, with a focus on ensuring global supply chain security and innovation.  By promoting policies that encourage greater transparency and flexibility, the Department is helping to create a global semiconductor ecosystem in which industry is better able to respond to disruptions and adapt to technological advancements. The next meeting of the Network will take place in Panama City, Panama, in December 2024.

Anthea Horvat

Business Expert Teaches Women how to Overcome Obstacles and Build Successful Enterprises in International Best-Selling Anthology.

Unstoppable! Volume 4 continues to inspire audiences worldwide by sharing stories of women who have risen above their challenges to find strength, purpose, and success. Anthea Horvat’s story is a powerful testament to resilience, determination, and the benefits of persistance.

“I believe it’s important for us to share our stories,” Anthea Horvat explains. “Our stories of how we overcome challenges have the ability to inspire and provide comfort to others. I hope my journey can do the same for someone who may be facing obstacles of their own.”

Anthea’s chapter recounts her remarkable personal and professional journey, from arriving in Australia with just $1,500, no job, and no place to live, to building a thriving business that has impacted thousands of entrepreneurs. Her story reflects the belief that with clarity, commitment, and courage, anything is possible.

“The inspiration for my chapter comes from my experiences of overcoming immense challenges, including cancer,” she shares. “I’ve built my business from the ground up, starting with one client and growing to help thousands of business owners. Hopefully, my story will inspire others to see that they can achieve the same.”

For Anthea, becoming a best-selling author is both exciting and humbling. “It’s wonderful to become a best-selling author, but what’s even more wonderful is the ripple effect that will happen from the stories shared in Unstoppable,” she says. “If my story positively impacts just one person, then I’m happy.”

In her role as a business coach and mentor, Anthea helps service-based business owners scale their companies to seven figures and beyond. Her mission is to help entrepreneurs create profitable, scalable, and sustainable businesses while maintaining a balanced and fulfilling life. Through her Million Dollar Business Mastermind, she provides hands-on coaching and support to business owners looking to elevate their operations and improve their lives.

“Staying in our comfort zones is ultimately not comfortable,” she remarks. “I want readers to feel inspired to step into action, change one thing or many things—it’s their choice.”

Her advice to women looking to become unstoppable is simple but profound: “Start today. Move forward. Take one tiny step toward what you want, and tomorrow take another tiny step. The path to success is made up of thousands of tiny steps.”

Anthea Horvat’s journey of overcoming challenges and building a successful enterprise is a powerful example for anyone seeking to pursue their dreams. Her contribution to Unstoppable! Volume 4 reflects her dedication to helping others reach their full potential, both in business and in life.

For more information about Anthea Horvat and her work as a Business Strategist, Coach, and Mentor, contact her at anthea@antheahorvat.com.au.

Anthea Horvat
.anthea@antheahorvat.com.au

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Despite the occasional headline about electric vehicle (EV) fires, data consistently shows that EVs are significantly less likely to catch fire than gasoline-powered cars. Several studies from around the world have confirmed that the fire risk for EVs is far lower than for vehicles using internal combustion engines (ICEs). This often surprises consumers, as media coverage tends to exaggerate the dangers of EV fires when they do happen.

A study from AutoInsuranceEZ found that gas-powered cars are about ten times more likely to catch fire than electric vehicles. Their data showed that for every 100,000 sales, there were 1,529 fires in gasoline cars, compared to just 25 in electric vehicles. Hybrid cars, which use both gasoline and batteries, had an even higher rate of 3,475 fires per 100,000 sales​(Kbb.com)​(Electrek).

Supporting these findings, data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) revealed that vehicle fires, largely involving gas-powered cars, accounted for 15% of all fires in the U.S. in 2020. This translated to over 215,000 vehicle fires that year, with only a fraction involving EVs​(Electrek). Similarly, a report from Norway’s Directorate for Social Security and Emergency Preparedness found four to five times more fires in petrol and diesel cars compared to electric cars​(Kbb.com)​(InsideHook).

One of the key reasons for this discrepancy is the fundamental nature of the vehicles themselves. Gasoline is highly flammable, and internal combustion engines rely on controlled explosions to function. If something goes wrong, it can lead to a fire. EVs, on the other hand, do not rely on combustion, and while their batteries can ignite under specific conditions—such as severe crashes or manufacturing defects—these incidents are rare and usually well-contained​(Kbb.com)​(CleanTechnica).

Some skepticism about EV safety persists, partly because EV fires, when they do occur, can be more difficult to extinguish due to the nature of lithium-ion battery fires. These fires can burn hotter and longer than gasoline fires, but such events remain uncommon. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), no EV has ever caught fire during their crash tests, further reinforcing the safety record of electric cars​(CleanTechnica)​(InsideHook).

Public perception is also skewed by the way media covers these incidents. EV fires, although rare, tend to make headlines, while the far more common fires in gasoline vehicles receive little attention. As electric vehicles become more prevalent, it’s important for consumers to understand that the overall risk of fire in these vehicles is much lower than in traditional gas-powered cars​(Kbb.com).

When it comes to media coverage of vehicle fires, electric vehicles (EVs) tend to dominate headlines far more than gasoline-powered cars. However, the reality is that gasoline cars are significantly more prone to catching fire. In 2020 alone, there were over 200,000 gas vehicle fires in the U.S., while there were only 52 fires involving electric cars​(Electrek)​(electrive.com).

Despite these figures, gas car fires rarely make the news, while EV fires often grab attention due to their novelty. Electric cars represent a relatively new technology, and any incident involving them tends to be viewed as a significant event. This leads to a disproportionate number of media stories about EV fires compared to the actual frequency of these incidents. For instance, according to a report by AutoInsuranceEZ, gas-powered cars are about 60 times more likely to catch fire than electric vehicles, yet the media tends to focus more on the latter​(Electrek).

Part of the reason is psychological—gas car fires are seen as routine, but because electric vehicles are new, their fires are viewed as more unusual and, therefore, more newsworthy​ (

Electrek)​(electrive.com). This discrepancy in media attention creates the false impression that EVs are more dangerous, even though they are statistically much safer when it comes to fire risks.

Some use cases still exist where EV’s are not the best solution, but this fact-based argument should remove the last psychological barriers many have against switching to an electric vehicle even though doing so is [usually] in their best interest.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, good afternoon, everyone.  And to all of our partners from across governments, financial institutions, from regions around the globe, welcome.  Thank you for being here this afternoon.

Since 2022, the United States and other G7 members have been working together to finance infrastructure projects that support economic growth all around the world.  We’ve been bringing together governments, business, financial institutions to pool our resources, to pool our expertise.

And the goal, the objective, is to build quality, sustainable infrastructure – from roads to clean energy to fiber optic cables.

We’re doing this with the highest standards of transparency, labor and environmental protections, in partnership with communities, to make sure that we’re being responsive to their needs.

And just over the last two years, the United States has mobilized some $60 billion to support projects around the world, from South America to Southeast Asia to Africa.

The Lobito Corridor – connecting Angola, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo – is one of our biggest projects.

The ultimate goal is infrastructure connecting the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean.

The coalition that we’ve built includes three African countries, two of our G7 partners, and the Africa Finance Corporation and African Development Bank.

We look forward to welcoming Italy, which has already made significant investments on the continent through its own Mattei Plan.

So far, the United States and our partners have committed over $4 billion to Lobito Corridor projects.

Together we’re expanding access to clean energy, the internet, healthcare, and we’re upgrading and building railways, roads, bridges.

And we’re already seeing results.

It used to be that it took up to 45 days to get shipments to port by truck.  Now, just a fraction of that time by train.

Today, multiple international shipments are running every week – including to the United States – bringing, for example, copper, helping to fuel the clean energy transition.

Regional shipments will soon include agricultural products to strengthen food supply chains.

In January, I had a chance to visit Angola.  I saw the benefits of this development firsthand.

I heard from CEOs about investments they’re making in the corridor, like developing solar grids to bring clean, affordable energy to more than a million people.

Just moments ago, several members of the group announced new steps forward to build a railway connecting Zambia and the Port of Lobito, including: signed agreements between Angola, Zambia, and the Africa Finance Corporation to continue developing the project; the U.S. Trade and Development Agency providing more than 2 million in grants for environmental and social impact assessments to uphold standards, building on recently completed feasibility studies.

Today, Tanzania is also joining conversations about the Lobito Corridor for the first time – something we very much welcome.

This afternoon, we’ll have a chance to discuss how we can expand the Lobito Corridor and also lay the groundwork for the convening of leaders in Angola, led by President Biden and President Lourenço.

So I’m very eager to have this conversation, to get a chance to hear from our colleagues.  This is an incredibly positive endeavor, one that’s already showing results.  But as I had a chance to see for myself, the possibilities are extraordinary.  And the challenge before us is to continue the work to actually realize them.

With that, thank you very much and I’ll hand it over to you.

The United States remains steadfast in our commitment to supporting Turkmenistan’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. We are proud of our collaboration in reducing methane emissions, advancing sustainable labor and agricultural practices, strengthening security across the region, promoting human rights, and supporting educational and cultural exchanges. We look forward to the people of our countries deepening their friendship in years to come.

My sincere congratulations as you celebrate your Independence Day.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer today in New York.  The Secretary discussed the importance of reaching an agreement on the 21 day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border proposed by the United States, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Qatar and a diplomatic settlement that will allow civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes.  He underscored that further escalation of the conflict will only make that objective more difficult.

The Secretary also discussed ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza that would secure the release of the hostages, alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, and set the conditions for an end to the war, and underscored that all parties must make the difficult decisions necessary to reach an agreement.  He further discussed steps Israel needs to take to improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.  Secretary Blinken reiterated the United States’ ironclad commitment to Israel’s security.

I would now like to offer the floor to the Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, for his opening remarks.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Brian, thank you very much.  And good morning, everyone.  It’s very good to be with you this morning.  And to my friend and colleague, Foreign Minister Mondino, thank you for joining us in convening this meeting and for your leadership on this issue.

On July 28th, more than 12 million Venezuelans defied a campaign of harassment, threats, violence to vote in their country’s presidential election.  If we have a single objective today, it’s to ensure that the will and the votes of the Venezuelan people are actually respected, that they can determine their own future. 

Nicolas Maduro is doing everything in his power to deny them that right, to strengthen his own grip on power.  His regime arbitrarily barred the consensus opposition candidate and then prevented her chosen successor from running. 

And after Venezuelans turned out to vote in historic numbers, the regime refused to release detailed electoral tallies.  It tampered with election results; it falsely declared Maduro the winner; it cracked down brutally on peaceful protesters, political opponents; it unjustly issued a warrant for the arrest of the opposition candidate, Edmundo González. 

These repressive actions have been enabled by years of efforts by the Maduro regime to systematically eliminate and eradicate the independence of Venezuela’s institutions, including its judiciary. 

The world knows about Maduro’s abuses because of the thorough and impartial documentation of international NGOs, multilateral and regional organizations, and brave local journalists, human rights defenders, poll workers, citizens – organizations like the Carter Center, which determined that the election did not meet international standards of electoral integrity and that they could not verify the claim that Maduro won; like the UN Panel of Experts, which concluded that the National Electoral Council lacked basic transparency and integrity measures; and like the Venezuelan human rights groups that have documented arbitrary arrests of more than 2,000 Venezuelans and the killing of dozens of peaceful protesters since the election.

We come here united in the commitment to defend the human rights of the Venezuelan people, and committed to bring about an inclusive, Venezuelan-led effort to restore the nation’s democratic future.  That means insisting that Maduro engage in a direct dialogue with Venezuela’s united democratic opposition that leads to a peaceful return to democracy.  The United States and its partners stand fully ready to support this process.

Our ability to stay united in this effort is crucial.  That’s the lesson of the Barbados Agreement, which created the conditions for a competitive election on July 28th.  For all of its challenges, the election showed the Venezuelan people – excuse me – allowed the Venezuelan people to express their will at the ballot box for the first time in many years.

The regime may try to obscure the results, but the Venezuelan people have spoken.  Now, our job is to ensure their voices are heard.

That’s what we’ve been pressing for through regional and international efforts.  Weeks after the election, members of the Organization of American States adopted by consensus a resolution insisting the regime respect the human rights of the Venezuelan people, and calling for the protection, the preservation, and the impartial review of election results. 

On September 10th, more than 40 countries, including the United States, adopted a UN Human Rights Council statement condemning the regime’s widespread abuses and its erosion of the rule of law, and calling for the regime to end its repression. 

Two days later, over 50 countries – from Africa, from Latin America, from Europe, from the Indo-Pacific – joined the European Union in endorsing a statement that called on the regime to stop violating the rights of Venezuela’s citizens and to pursue an inclusive dialogue to restore democratic norms.

Sustaining this collective pressure in the months leading up to the January presidential inauguration is crucial. 

We must continue to call on the Maduro regime to stop its repression of peaceful protestors, stop its repression of political opponents, immediately and unconditionally release all those who’ve been arbitrarily detained – including children.

We must press for the regime to allow for the return of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN-established Independent Fact-Finding Mission to Venezuela.

We must use all tools at our disposal to hold accountable the individuals who bear the highest responsibility for the grave human rights abuses being committed against the Venezuelan people – as the United States has done and will continue to do. 

We must boost aid for the more than 7.7 million displaced Venezuelans, and for the countries who continue to show remarkable generosity in housing them.

We must demand that Venezuela provide full protection to diplomatic facilities and personnel, and to people seeking asylum in those facilities.

And we cannot be satisfied only with joint statements.  We have to take joint action.  That’s the only way to change Maduro’s calculus and his behavior.

On July 28, voters were far from the only Venezuelans who showed remarkable courage.  For months leading up to election day, ordinary citizens trained to serve as testigos – witnesses who would observe whether people were allowed to exercise their right to vote – acted.

There were more than 30,000 polling places in Venezuela, and on July 28th, these witnesses from the opposition were at virtually every single one of them.  They arrived before polls opened.  They stayed past when they were closed, until they saw the ballots being handed over to election officials – defenders of democracy, armed only with their eyes and their voice.

It’s no small part because of those volunteers that we know the will of the overwhelming majority of Venezuelans: to elect Edmundo González.

There are so many people in Venezuela who have taken profound risks to reclaim their democracy.  Surely, we – the dozens of nations in this room – can summon a fraction of their bravery to stand with them, as they fight for the right to shape their own future. 

ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS:  I now pass the floor to Her Excellency Diana Mondino, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Argentina.

FOREIGN MINISTER MONDINO:  Thank you all for being here.  Thank you for bringing us together to discuss this very, very sorrow issue.

We all know what’s happening.  I think we do.  There are winds, authoritarian winds, blowing in our continent, and let’s hope it does not become a hurricane.  The things that are going on in Venezuela can become a most serious problem.

The destabilization system that Venezuela has imposed on other Latin American countries is huge.  I’ve just heard 7.8 million people have left Venezuela.  Most of them are coming into other Latin American countries.  And not always can they be put together, put to work in the countries that host them.  It is not easy to absorb those – that incredible number of people.  It is not easy to fight any potential xenophobia that might arise, and which we have never had in Latin America.

The problem is Venezuela under Maduro does not need Venezuelans.  They couldn’t care less.  They have oil; they have corruption.  They may have other things, and they don’t need people.  They want to expel people.  They don’t care about their own people.

So we have to be very careful, and the case of Venezuela should be analyzed with the utmost seriousness.  It is not only an election that did not work.  The consequences on many, many countries – some of them present here – and its outcome will be an example that we will hear for many years if we do not act now.

We all know that we defend democracy.  We all know that we defend freedom.  We all know that there are certain things that should not be allowed.  But then it happens.  And when it happens, we do not have any kind of tools, particularly from all the different countries that we do respect democracy, to act with them.

I can tell you what Argentina has done to help the Venezuelans that already are in Argentina, but that’s not much that we can do.  We have approved a special regime for migratory regularization for the people that have left Venezuela.  And some of them have been living in Argentina for 10 years now.  Their children left Venezuela being babies; they do not have any kind of documents.  They cannot become part of the – we are trying to have them become part of the formal labor market, but it is very difficult because they don’t have the paperwork from their original country.

We are preparing also a list of officers and persons linked to the Venezuelan regime that will be banned for entering our country.  You could probably do the same.  And, well, maybe they have beautiful beaches in Venezuela, they may not even need to leave Venezuela.  Or there may be other rogue countries that will take them or their families or their money or their operations.  How do we go without that?

So I don’t know how to change from words to action, because I’m not really sure what actions should be taken.  Maybe it’s something that we could discuss.  But in the face of intensification of political repression – we’ve mentioned dead people; we’ve mentioned imprisoned people.  Everybody who knows of Venezuela knows that everybody is having actually serious problems in having access to basic services.

On our side, we have urged the International Criminal Court to request a pretrial – a pretrial chamber to issue – eventually, if they think it’s correct thing to do – to issue arrest warrants on Nicolás Maduro and other regime leaders.  And that’s in the framework of an ongoing investigation that has been going on for at least two years now.  And we have followed a request after a, may I say, courageous ruling from our own federal justice which ordered, under the principle of universal jurisdiction, the immediate arrest for crimes against humanity for dictator Maduro, Diosdado Cabello, and more than 30 other agents of state repression. 

May I say that in the last two years, we have been taking witnesses to come and explain what has happened to them.  This judge found that the heads of the regime are – were guilty of organizing a systematic plan of forced disappearance of persons, torture, homicide, political persecution.  So we have – and Argentinian justice has requested Interpol to be notified of this decision in order to request their international arrest through the red alert system.  We hope that the criminals of this plan cannot longer cover up their bloody plans.

Of course, there are many, many other issues going on in the world.  We have wars in various areas.  We have countries which have their own problems.  But this is – there’s a very big difference.  This is a country that has problems inflicted by its own government.  It’s not a natural disaster as the fires we’re seeing in Ecuador.  It’s not a war as we’ve seen in other regions of the world.  It’s something defined and decided by the government.  So this is something that we must – we must find a way of at – at the very minimum to have – to have a light on this.

We have, I mean, other measures from the diplomatic perspective.  We have solicited the inclusion of a democratic close – clause, I’m sorry – in the roadmap of the Brasilia Consensus.  We have signed a letter addressed to the presidency urging to address the Venezuelan issue.  Nothing has happened.  We have to take a stand through different press releases.  Okay.  We subscribe to several declarations.  That’s that we’re going to do.  We fully agree with that.  But it – apparently, Maduro doesn’t read, doesn’t read the declarations at least.  So that’s something that we have to take in control.

Well, as I said at the beginning, the authoritarian wind’s blowing.  I sincerely hope that someday, with commitment from every of us here present and the strong will of the Venezuelan people – they are the ones who are suffering – hopefully, those winds become a breeze of hope.  Let’s pray for that.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY NICHOLS:  I now ask that the members of the press retire, and we’ll moved to our closed session.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, head of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, today in New York on the sidelines of the United National General Assembly. The Secretary and the Chief Advisor affirmed their shared vision of deepening the United States-Bangladesh partnership. The Secretary underscored U.S. support and assistance for the Interim Government as it guides the country towards economic stability and highlighted the importance of reforms to ensure continued foreign direct investment. He also indicated U.S. support for free and fair elections, which will chart an inclusive, democratic, and equitable future for all Bangladeshis. Secretary Blinken and Chief Advisor Yunus discussed the importance of building strong institutions to fight corruption, uphold media freedom, respect internationally recognized labor rights, and protect human rights for all in Bangladesh, including Rohingya refugees and members of minority communities.

Thirty-one countries Thirty-three countries plus the European Union and Organization of American States gathered on the margins of the UN General Assembly to discuss our grave concerns about the urgent situation in Venezuela and reiterate our support for respecting democratic principles and upholding human rights there.

We applaud the Venezuelan people for their participation in the July 28 presidential election despite significant challenges. Over 12 million people went to the polls and exercised their right to vote. Their will, as expressed at the ballot box, must be respected. Yet nearly two months have passed since the election, and calls for electoral transparency from both Venezuelans and the international community remain unanswered. International election observers have documented their serious concerns about the transparency and integrity of the electoral process, in particular the refusal of the National Electoral Commission to release detailed and independently verifiable results from polling stations, as required.

We remain gravely concerned by the widespread and ongoing repression as well as reported human rights abuses and violations following the election. These abuses include arbitrary arrests and detentions (including of children), deaths, denials of fair trial guarantees, and intimidation tactics against the democratic opposition and other members of civil society.  In the context of violent repression against opposition members, a politically motivated arrest warrant issued on September 3 for presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, who according to publicly available electoral records won the most votes in the July 28 election, forced him to depart the country.

We call for the immediate release of those arbitrarily detained without respect for fair trial guarantees. It is critical that Venezuelans be allowed to express their political opinions peacefully, including through the exercise of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression, without fear of reprisal. We call for an end to the use of excessive force, political violence, and harassment against the opposition and civil society.

We also call for the immediate return of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to Venezuela and the necessary conditions for it to fully carry out its mandate. In addition, we call on Venezuela to uphold and comply with its commitments under International Law, particularly as a party to the Caracas Convention on Diplomatic Asylum of 1954 by affording safe passage to the six asylum seekers currently residing in the official residence of the Republic of Argentina and allowing them to leave Venezuelan territory.

Now is the time for Venezuelan political leaders to begin constructive and inclusive discussions on a transition with guarantees for both sides to resolve the country’s political impasse and restore democratic institutions peacefully in accordance with Venezuelan law, as well as the will of the people as expressed through their votes on July 28.  We stand with the millions of Venezuelans who continue to risk their lives and well-being to demand a more democratic, prosperous, and secure future for themselves and their country.