U.S. Department of State Weekly Digest Bulletin

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U.S. Department of State
Kuwait National Day

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02/25/2024 12:02 AM EST

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

I extend congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the Kuwaiti people on Kuwait’s February 25 National Day and February 26 Liberation Day.

We are grateful for our strategic partnership and deep friendship with the State of Kuwait. The United States looks forward to deepening our cooperation under the leadership of the new Emir.

Time after time, the United States has stood shoulder to shoulder with Kuwait. We look forward to increasing people to people, security, commercial, and investment ties with Kuwait in the years to come.

Kuwait National Day

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02/25/2024 12:02 AM EST

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

I extend congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the Kuwaiti people on Kuwait’s February 25 National Day and February 26 Liberation Day.

We are grateful for our strategic partnership and deep friendship with the State of Kuwait. The United States looks forward to deepening our cooperation under the leadership of the new Emir.

Time after time, the United States has stood shoulder to shoulder with Kuwait. We look forward to increasing people to people, security, commercial, and investment ties with Kuwait in the years to come.

Estonia National Day

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02/24/2024 12:01 AM EST

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

On behalf of the United States, I extend my warmest congratulations to the people of Estonia as they celebrate their National Day.

Estonia’s unwavering commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law continues to inspire us all. As we mark this significant occasion, we commend Estonia for its leadership in fostering innovation, economic prosperity, and security on the regional and global stage. The enduring friendship between the United States and Estonia is rooted in shared values and a commitment to freedom and democracy. The United States is proud to work hand-in-hand with Estonia to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank, counter Russia’s aggression, and steadfastly support Ukraine.

On this special day, we celebrate Estonia’s rich history, vibrant culture, and the resilience of its people. I look forward to many decades of continued partnership and friendship as Allies that will benefit our citizens and deepen our bilateral relationship. May the coming years bring continued prosperity, peace, and success to Estonia and its citizens.

Congratulations on this happy occasion.

Estonia National Day

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02/24/2024 12:01 AM EST

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

On behalf of the United States, I extend my warmest congratulations to the people of Estonia as they celebrate their National Day.

Estonia’s unwavering commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law continues to inspire us all. As we mark this significant occasion, we commend Estonia for its leadership in fostering innovation, economic prosperity, and security on the regional and global stage. The enduring friendship between the United States and Estonia is rooted in shared values and a commitment to freedom and democracy. The United States is proud to work hand-in-hand with Estonia to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank, counter Russia’s aggression, and steadfastly support Ukraine.

On this special day, we celebrate Estonia’s rich history, vibrant culture, and the resilience of its people. I look forward to many decades of continued partnership and friendship as Allies that will benefit our citizens and deepen our bilateral relationship. May the coming years bring continued prosperity, peace, and success to Estonia and its citizens.

Congratulations on this happy occasion.

Estonia National Day

You are subscribed to Europe and Eurasia for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.

02/24/2024 12:01 AM EST

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

On behalf of the United States, I extend my warmest congratulations to the people of Estonia as they celebrate their National Day.

Estonia’s unwavering commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law continues to inspire us all. As we mark this significant occasion, we commend Estonia for its leadership in fostering innovation, economic prosperity, and security on the regional and global stage. The enduring friendship between the United States and Estonia is rooted in shared values and a commitment to freedom and democracy. The United States is proud to work hand-in-hand with Estonia to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank, counter Russia’s aggression, and steadfastly support Ukraine.

On this special day, we celebrate Estonia’s rich history, vibrant culture, and the resilience of its people. I look forward to many decades of continued partnership and friendship as Allies that will benefit our citizens and deepen our bilateral relationship. May the coming years bring continued prosperity, peace, and success to Estonia and its citizens.

Congratulations on this happy occasion.

Special Presidential Envoy Kerry Travels to the United Kingdom

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02/25/2024 10:59 AM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will travel to London, United Kingdom, between February 25-27. Special Envoy Kerry’s engagements in London will include meetings with UK parliamentarians and public communications on international climate goals in order to advance U.S. objectives on climate and clean energy.

For media inquiries, please contact ClimateComms@state.gov.

Under Secretary Jenkins Travels to Geneva

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02/25/2024 11:05 AM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ambassador Bonnie D. Jenkins will travel to Geneva, Switzerland on February 26, to lead the U.S. delegation to the Conference on Disarmament (CD) High-Level Segment. The Under Secretary will deliver the U.S. National Statement to the CD and hold bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts on issues related to arms control, disarmament, and international security.

Under Secretary Jenkins Travels to Geneva

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02/25/2024 11:05 AM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ambassador Bonnie D. Jenkins will travel to Geneva, Switzerland on February 26, to lead the U.S. delegation to the Conference on Disarmament (CD) High-Level Segment. The Under Secretary will deliver the U.S. National Statement to the CD and hold bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts on issues related to arms control, disarmament, and international security.

Special Presidential Envoy Kerry Travels to the United Kingdom

You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.

02/25/2024 10:59 AM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will travel to London, United Kingdom, between February 25-27. Special Envoy Kerry’s engagements in London will include meetings with UK parliamentarians and public communications on international climate goals in order to advance U.S. objectives on climate and clean energy.

For media inquiries, please contact ClimateComms@state.gov.

Under Secretary Jenkins Travels to Geneva

You are subscribed to Arms Control and International Security for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.

02/25/2024 11:05 AM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ambassador Bonnie D. Jenkins will travel to Geneva, Switzerland on February 26, to lead the U.S. delegation to the Conference on Disarmament (CD) High-Level Segment. The Under Secretary will deliver the U.S. National Statement to the CD and hold bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts on issues related to arms control, disarmament, and international security.

Condemning Sham Parliamentary and Local Elections in Belarus

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02/25/2024 12:07 PM EST

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

The United States condemns the Lukashenka regime’s sham parliamentary and local elections that concluded today in Belarus.  The elections were held in a climate of fear under which no electoral processes could be called democratic.  The regime continues to hold more than 1,400 political prisoners.  All independent political figures have either been detained or exiled.  All independent political parties were denied registration.  Belarusians abroad could vote only if they returned to Minsk, where they would have likely faced reprisals.  These abuses have effectively frozen genuine political activities and discourse inside Belarus.  The regime prevented the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe from observing the elections, further limiting the transparency that is essential to free and fair elections.

The United States recognizes the strength, resilience, and courage of Belarus’s civil society and democratic movement, which demand a voice in determining their country’s future.  The United States again calls on the Lukashenka regime to end its crackdown, release all political prisoners, and open dialogue with its political opponents.  The Belarusian people deserve better.

Condemning Sham Parliamentary and Local Elections in Belarus

You are subscribed to Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.

02/25/2024 12:07 PM EST

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

The United States condemns the Lukashenka regime’s sham parliamentary and local elections that concluded today in Belarus.  The elections were held in a climate of fear under which no electoral processes could be called democratic.  The regime continues to hold more than 1,400 political prisoners.  All independent political figures have either been detained or exiled.  All independent political parties were denied registration.  Belarusians abroad could vote only if they returned to Minsk, where they would have likely faced reprisals.  These abuses have effectively frozen genuine political activities and discourse inside Belarus.  The regime prevented the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe from observing the elections, further limiting the transparency that is essential to free and fair elections.

The United States recognizes the strength, resilience, and courage of Belarus’s civil society and democratic movement, which demand a voice in determining their country’s future.  The United States again calls on the Lukashenka regime to end its crackdown, release all political prisoners, and open dialogue with its political opponents.  The Belarusian people deserve better.

Condemning Sham Parliamentary and Local Elections in Belarus

You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.

02/25/2024 12:07 PM EST

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

The United States condemns the Lukashenka regime’s sham parliamentary and local elections that concluded today in Belarus.  The elections were held in a climate of fear under which no electoral processes could be called democratic.  The regime continues to hold more than 1,400 political prisoners.  All independent political figures have either been detained or exiled.  All independent political parties were denied registration.  Belarusians abroad could vote only if they returned to Minsk, where they would have likely faced reprisals.  These abuses have effectively frozen genuine political activities and discourse inside Belarus.  The regime prevented the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe from observing the elections, further limiting the transparency that is essential to free and fair elections.

The United States recognizes the strength, resilience, and courage of Belarus’s civil society and democratic movement, which demand a voice in determining their country’s future.  The United States again calls on the Lukashenka regime to end its crackdown, release all political prisoners, and open dialogue with its political opponents.  The Belarusian people deserve better.

Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Raquel Krahenbuhl of TV Globo

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02/25/2024 06:37 PM EST

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

JW Marriott Hotel

QUESTION:  Secretary Blinken, thank you so much for the interview.

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

QUESTION:  Why don’t I start asking about a very important topic for both of our countries?  Democracy was one of the main topics between your meeting with President Lula.  And what do you think that the two countries can learn with each other in this process after the problems we’ve both had, the experiences?  And how do you think they can help each other, learn with each other, specifically, like, if you take into consideration, for example, disinformation?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, two things.  First, I was really grateful to President Lula for all the time that he spent and for the richness of the conversation.  And for me, representing President Biden, so much of this visit was about reaffirming the strong common agenda that the United States and Brazil have.  And what does that really tell us?  It tells us that in the – on the issues that matter most to people in both of our countries, whether it’s making sure that we’re dealing with the climate crisis, that we have a good energy transition, that we’re dealing with food insecurity and hunger, that we’re helping to lift people up with economic opportunity, that we’re protecting the rights of workers and labor, all of these things are so important to our people.

But they’re also the way that democracies demonstrate that they can deliver results.  The best way to protect and defend democracy is to demonstrate that we produce results for the people, and this is what the United States and Brazil are committed to doing together.  And the vision that President Biden and President Lula have on most of the critical issues of our time is very much the same.

Now, there are specific problems that you mentioned, like disinformation, misinformation, and this is something that we’re working on both in the United States but also with partners around the world.  What can we do effectively to combat it, to push back against it?  And this is also the subject of conversations between us and Brazil.

QUESTION:  Few days before you met with President Lula, he made a comment – and I’m going to quote him – “What’s happening…with the Palestinian people hasn’t happened at any other moment in history.”  And then he said, “Actually, it has happened” – sorry – “when Hitler decided to kill…Jews.”  You are a Jew.  Your stepfather was a survivor of the Holocaust or – Holocaust.  And I heard that you mentioned that to President Lula.  What do you personally feel about these comments, when your stepfather was so involved in trying to protect the memory of the Holocaust?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, look, first, as I said, almost the entirety of our conversation was focused on the shared agenda that the United States and Brazil have in trying to meet the problems that we have to meet.

QUESTION:  Yeah, but about that —

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  So – but we did talk about that as well.  And look, we have a real disagreement on that.  And friends can have real, profound disagreements on particular issues and continue to work on the many other things that join them together.  For us, as I said, it’s very clear that there’s no comparison whatsoever.  But I also know that President Lula is motivated by the suffering of people, and he wants to see it end.  So do we.  We have – we also have that in common.

We want to see the conflict in Gaza end as soon as possible.  We want to make sure that what happened on October 7th that was so unimaginably horrific never happens again.  We want to make sure that the suffering of Palestinians doesn’t happen.  So that means ending the conflict in Gaza and also finding a path to a better future – to a durable peace, durable security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

QUESTION:  Did you share your personal experience with the president of Brazil?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  I did.  I did because, look, one of the things that we also have in common and that I so admire President Lula for is that he knows that the single – in some ways, the single biggest challenge we face, maybe the most potent poison in the common well that we have, is dehumanization, the inability to see the humanity in someone else.  When that happens, your heart hardens, and bad things become possible, good things become impossible.  I know that this – that President Lula is motivated by that, and I thought by sharing my own story, it’s also a reminder of the humanity that’s at stake.

QUESTION:  You said there is a genocide happening in Xinjiang; also last year declared genocide in Burma.  What is – what would be the definition of genocide?  What is different than what’s —

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, look, there are legal definitions of genocide, and that’s a long conversation.  But if there’s a clear intent to destroy or eliminate a particular group of people, that’s usually at its heart.  The point I was making yesterday was this:  We have to be concerned, all of us, about people who are suffering everywhere, and we also have to be concerned about any people that is being ethnically cleansed or is the victim of genocide.  We can’t have selective outrage, and we also can’t have double standards.  That applies to the United States as well as to countries around the world.

So we have to be focused on the suffering of the Israeli victims of October 7th.  Now, deep concerns about Palestinian men, women, and children who are caught in the crossfire of Hamas’s making.  We also have to have a concern for the Ukrainians who are on the receiving end of Russian aggression for the last two years.  But also if we’re going to do that, what about Rohingya?  What about Uyghurs?  What about Sudanese?  What about Tigrayans?  You can’t simply focus yourself on one particular problem.  You have to be open to doing whatever you can to try to resolve all of them.

QUESTION:  One of the main topics during the G20 was also the need of a reform of the global —

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Yes.

QUESTION:  — governance.  And yesterday Brazil linked the paralyzation of the UN Security Council to the death of civilians.  What do you think about that specific comparison, the analysis that the foreign minister of Brazil made?  And would the U.S. support Brazil on having a seat in this – in the international Security Council as you take into consideration Lula’s, for example, disagreement with the U.S. on conflict and this (inaudible)?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Look, we share with Brazil the need to reform and to bring up to date all of the international institutions to make sure that they’re actually reflective of today’s world, not yesterday’s.  Most of these institutions were created 80 years ago.  They don’t reflect current realities.  So the United Nations Security Council, it needs to be more representative of geographic diversity and the fact that countries today are in a different place than they were 80 years ago.  That’s why we support the expansion of the Security Council permanent and non-permanent seats to include from Latin America, to include from Africa.

Now, the specifics of who, all of that has to get worked out and it also involves countries in each different region.  But President Biden was very clear before the United Nations General Assembly last year that the United States not only supports this, but we’re working to achieve it.  And one of the things I shared with the G20 members now is that we want to use the rest of this year to find ways to practically advance that objective of actually having a Security Council that’s more reflective of the world today.

QUESTION:  In the Global South, in the world of today – let’s talk about the Global South because – where many countries are not – including Brazil – are not aligned with everything in the U.S. position.  So how much do you – does it – you think that this can threaten the U.S. stand or leadership in the world?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Actually, I have to tell you I think we’re aligned on the majority of issues.  Let me give you an example.

QUESTION:  But sometimes aligned with Russia or – Russia during the war on Ukraine.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, look, of course there are certain differences, but first on the heart of the G20 agenda during Brazil’s presidency, the United States is very much supportive of what Brazil is trying to achieve.  If we’re looking at how to deal effectively with climate change and the energy transition, that’s what we want to do as well.  And we’re not only saying we want to do it; we’re taking active measures to do it.  When we’re talking about dealing with food insecurity, the United States is a leader in that effort.  We’ve invested $17.5 billion under President Biden’s administration to deal with food insecurity.  And we’re working in partnership with Brazil, for example, to bring new technologies, including artificial intelligence, to ways of having seeds that are stronger and more resilient, soil that’s better, so that countries can grow more and grow more efficiently and produce for themselves.

When it comes to protecting the rights of workers, labor, President Biden and President Lula are, as we would say, joined at the hip.  We have a partnership on this.  Brazil and the United States together, including through the G20, are leading this effort.  And when it comes to the reform of the international institutions, including the Security Council, including the international financial institutions to make sure that countries have greater access to capital, to concessional lending, to getting rid of the debts that are burdening them, we are very much not only in the same place; we’re happy to be leading that effort along with Brazil and other countries.

Now, there are places that, of course, we have differences, but we work through them.  And one of the things that’s very clear from these meetings is that these issues of peace and security, we have to work on them, including as the G20, because if we don’t, if you’re not able to resolve these issues, everything else you’re trying to achieve becomes that much more difficult if not impossible.

QUESTION:  Does your visit here – your first visit to Brazil as Secretary of State mean that President Biden is coming next?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, I know that he would —

QUESTION:  Look at the beautiful place – why he hasn’t been here yet?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  I can tell you this:  I will – when I go back to Washington and report to the President, I’ll only reaffirm what he already knows from his visits here.  It’s a wonderful country, a wonderful place to be, a wonderful partner to have.  And so I’m sure he will look forward to that.

QUESTION:  Right.  You love music?  Maybe next time I can take you for some samba.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  You’re on.  Thank you.

QUESTION:  Great.  Thank you very much, Secretary Blinken.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thank you.

QUESTION:  Thank you.  Thank you.

Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Raquel Krahenbuhl of TV Globo

You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.

02/25/2024 06:37 PM EST

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

JW Marriott Hotel

QUESTION:  Secretary Blinken, thank you so much for the interview.

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

QUESTION:  Why don’t I start asking about a very important topic for both of our countries?  Democracy was one of the main topics between your meeting with President Lula.  And what do you think that the two countries can learn with each other in this process after the problems we’ve both had, the experiences?  And how do you think they can help each other, learn with each other, specifically, like, if you take into consideration, for example, disinformation?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, two things.  First, I was really grateful to President Lula for all the time that he spent and for the richness of the conversation.  And for me, representing President Biden, so much of this visit was about reaffirming the strong common agenda that the United States and Brazil have.  And what does that really tell us?  It tells us that in the – on the issues that matter most to people in both of our countries, whether it’s making sure that we’re dealing with the climate crisis, that we have a good energy transition, that we’re dealing with food insecurity and hunger, that we’re helping to lift people up with economic opportunity, that we’re protecting the rights of workers and labor, all of these things are so important to our people.

But they’re also the way that democracies demonstrate that they can deliver results.  The best way to protect and defend democracy is to demonstrate that we produce results for the people, and this is what the United States and Brazil are committed to doing together.  And the vision that President Biden and President Lula have on most of the critical issues of our time is very much the same.

Now, there are specific problems that you mentioned, like disinformation, misinformation, and this is something that we’re working on both in the United States but also with partners around the world.  What can we do effectively to combat it, to push back against it?  And this is also the subject of conversations between us and Brazil.

QUESTION:  Few days before you met with President Lula, he made a comment – and I’m going to quote him – “What’s happening…with the Palestinian people hasn’t happened at any other moment in history.”  And then he said, “Actually, it has happened” – sorry – “when Hitler decided to kill…Jews.”  You are a Jew.  Your stepfather was a survivor of the Holocaust or – Holocaust.  And I heard that you mentioned that to President Lula.  What do you personally feel about these comments, when your stepfather was so involved in trying to protect the memory of the Holocaust?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, look, first, as I said, almost the entirety of our conversation was focused on the shared agenda that the United States and Brazil have in trying to meet the problems that we have to meet.

QUESTION:  Yeah, but about that —

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  So – but we did talk about that as well.  And look, we have a real disagreement on that.  And friends can have real, profound disagreements on particular issues and continue to work on the many other things that join them together.  For us, as I said, it’s very clear that there’s no comparison whatsoever.  But I also know that President Lula is motivated by the suffering of people, and he wants to see it end.  So do we.  We have – we also have that in common.

We want to see the conflict in Gaza end as soon as possible.  We want to make sure that what happened on October 7th that was so unimaginably horrific never happens again.  We want to make sure that the suffering of Palestinians doesn’t happen.  So that means ending the conflict in Gaza and also finding a path to a better future – to a durable peace, durable security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

QUESTION:  Did you share your personal experience with the president of Brazil?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  I did.  I did because, look, one of the things that we also have in common and that I so admire President Lula for is that he knows that the single – in some ways, the single biggest challenge we face, maybe the most potent poison in the common well that we have, is dehumanization, the inability to see the humanity in someone else.  When that happens, your heart hardens, and bad things become possible, good things become impossible.  I know that this – that President Lula is motivated by that, and I thought by sharing my own story, it’s also a reminder of the humanity that’s at stake.

QUESTION:  You said there is a genocide happening in Xinjiang; also last year declared genocide in Burma.  What is – what would be the definition of genocide?  What is different than what’s —

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, look, there are legal definitions of genocide, and that’s a long conversation.  But if there’s a clear intent to destroy or eliminate a particular group of people, that’s usually at its heart.  The point I was making yesterday was this:  We have to be concerned, all of us, about people who are suffering everywhere, and we also have to be concerned about any people that is being ethnically cleansed or is the victim of genocide.  We can’t have selective outrage, and we also can’t have double standards.  That applies to the United States as well as to countries around the world.

So we have to be focused on the suffering of the Israeli victims of October 7th.  Now, deep concerns about Palestinian men, women, and children who are caught in the crossfire of Hamas’s making.  We also have to have a concern for the Ukrainians who are on the receiving end of Russian aggression for the last two years.  But also if we’re going to do that, what about Rohingya?  What about Uyghurs?  What about Sudanese?  What about Tigrayans?  You can’t simply focus yourself on one particular problem.  You have to be open to doing whatever you can to try to resolve all of them.

QUESTION:  One of the main topics during the G20 was also the need of a reform of the global —

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Yes.

QUESTION:  — governance.  And yesterday Brazil linked the paralyzation of the UN Security Council to the death of civilians.  What do you think about that specific comparison, the analysis that the foreign minister of Brazil made?  And would the U.S. support Brazil on having a seat in this – in the international Security Council as you take into consideration Lula’s, for example, disagreement with the U.S. on conflict and this (inaudible)?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Look, we share with Brazil the need to reform and to bring up to date all of the international institutions to make sure that they’re actually reflective of today’s world, not yesterday’s.  Most of these institutions were created 80 years ago.  They don’t reflect current realities.  So the United Nations Security Council, it needs to be more representative of geographic diversity and the fact that countries today are in a different place than they were 80 years ago.  That’s why we support the expansion of the Security Council permanent and non-permanent seats to include from Latin America, to include from Africa.

Now, the specifics of who, all of that has to get worked out and it also involves countries in each different region.  But President Biden was very clear before the United Nations General Assembly last year that the United States not only supports this, but we’re working to achieve it.  And one of the things I shared with the G20 members now is that we want to use the rest of this year to find ways to practically advance that objective of actually having a Security Council that’s more reflective of the world today.

QUESTION:  In the Global South, in the world of today – let’s talk about the Global South because – where many countries are not – including Brazil – are not aligned with everything in the U.S. position.  So how much do you – does it – you think that this can threaten the U.S. stand or leadership in the world?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Actually, I have to tell you I think we’re aligned on the majority of issues.  Let me give you an example.

QUESTION:  But sometimes aligned with Russia or – Russia during the war on Ukraine.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, look, of course there are certain differences, but first on the heart of the G20 agenda during Brazil’s presidency, the United States is very much supportive of what Brazil is trying to achieve.  If we’re looking at how to deal effectively with climate change and the energy transition, that’s what we want to do as well.  And we’re not only saying we want to do it; we’re taking active measures to do it.  When we’re talking about dealing with food insecurity, the United States is a leader in that effort.  We’ve invested $17.5 billion under President Biden’s administration to deal with food insecurity.  And we’re working in partnership with Brazil, for example, to bring new technologies, including artificial intelligence, to ways of having seeds that are stronger and more resilient, soil that’s better, so that countries can grow more and grow more efficiently and produce for themselves.

When it comes to protecting the rights of workers, labor, President Biden and President Lula are, as we would say, joined at the hip.  We have a partnership on this.  Brazil and the United States together, including through the G20, are leading this effort.  And when it comes to the reform of the international institutions, including the Security Council, including the international financial institutions to make sure that countries have greater access to capital, to concessional lending, to getting rid of the debts that are burdening them, we are very much not only in the same place; we’re happy to be leading that effort along with Brazil and other countries.

Now, there are places that, of course, we have differences, but we work through them.  And one of the things that’s very clear from these meetings is that these issues of peace and security, we have to work on them, including as the G20, because if we don’t, if you’re not able to resolve these issues, everything else you’re trying to achieve becomes that much more difficult if not impossible.

QUESTION:  Does your visit here – your first visit to Brazil as Secretary of State mean that President Biden is coming next?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, I know that he would —

QUESTION:  Look at the beautiful place – why he hasn’t been here yet?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  I can tell you this:  I will – when I go back to Washington and report to the President, I’ll only reaffirm what he already knows from his visits here.  It’s a wonderful country, a wonderful place to be, a wonderful partner to have.  And so I’m sure he will look forward to that.

QUESTION:  Right.  You love music?  Maybe next time I can take you for some samba.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  You’re on.  Thank you.

QUESTION:  Great.  Thank you very much, Secretary Blinken.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thank you.

QUESTION:  Thank you.  Thank you.

Public Schedule – February 26, 2024

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02/25/2024 09:45 PM EST

Office of the Spokesperson

                                   ***THE DAILY PUBLIC SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***

SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN 

11:00 a.m. Secretary Blinken meets with Iraqi Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani at the Department of State.

(POOLED CAMERA SPRAY AT TOP)

4:00 p.m. Secretary Blinken meets with Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski at the Department of State.

(POOLED CAMERA SPRAY AT TOP)

DEPUTY SECRETARY KURT M. CAMPBELL 

Deputy Secretary Campbell attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.

DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES RICHARD R. VERMA 

Deputy Secretary Verma attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.

UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS VICTORIA J. NULAND 

Under Secretary Nuland attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State.

UNDER SECRETARY FOR ARMS CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY BONNIE D. JENKINS 

Under Secretary Jenkins is on travel to Switzerland on February 26, 2024.

UNDER SECRETARY FOR CIVILIAN SECURITY, DEMOCRACY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS UZRA ZEYA 

11:45 a.m. Under Secretary Zeya meets with Iraqi Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani at the Department of State.

(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS DANIEL KRITENBRINK 

Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink is on travel to Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Brunei from February 23-March 4, 2024.

ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR OCEANS AND INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SCIENTIFIC AFFAIRS JENNIFER R. LITTLEJOHN

Acting Assistant Secretary Littlejohn is on travel to Oman, Ghana, and Kenya from February 16-29, 2024.

BRIEFING SCHEDULE 

1:15 p.m. Department Press Briefing with Spokesperson Matthew Miller.
(OPEN PRESS COVERAGE)

 The Department Press Briefing will be streamed live on the 

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