This Week at State: September 1, 2017
By DipNote Bloggers on September 1, 2017
Did you miss key foreign policy developments this week? We’ve got you covered. Each week, DipNote recaps the latest U.S. Department of State highlights spanning a wide range of global issues, events, and initiatives in one blog post.
Here are the highlights from This Week at State:
Secretary Tillerson Extends Thoughts and Sympathies to Those Affected by Hurricane Harvey
Before his meeting with the German Foreign Minister on August 29, Secretary Tillerson made a statement on the situation in Texas and the impact of Hurricane Harvey.
Secretary Tillerson speaks on #Harvey and the situation in #Texas this morning before a meeting with the German Foreign Minister pic.twitter.com/xaJiF1plA4
— Department of State (@StateDept) August 29, 2017
On August 30, Secretary Tillerson thanked the Government of Mexico for its offer of assistance to the State of Texas and to FEMA.
Secretary Tillerson greets Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations @LVidegaray and thanks @gobmx for its offer of assistance to #Texas pic.twitter.com/4IBFXGg0rI
— Department of State (@StateDept) August 30, 2017
For more information on the U.S. response to Hurricane Harvey and the resources available to those who want to help or those affected by this disaster, please check out this story from August 29.
Department of State Announces Efforts To Achieve Parity in Diplomatic Missions in the United States and Russia
On August 31, following the United States’ implementation of the reduction in staff at the U.S. Mission to Russia, Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert announced the United States is requiring the Russian Government to close its Consulate General in San Francisco, a chancery annex in Washington, D.C., and a consular annex in New York City by September 2.
In spirit of parity, we require #Russia to close its consulate in SF, chancery annex in DC, and consular annex in NYC by Sep. 2. pic.twitter.com/8YeFncDO4l
— Department of State (@StateDept) August 31, 2017
The statement added:
The United States hopes that, having moved toward the Russian Federation’s desire for parity, we can avoid further retaliatory actions by both sides and move forward to achieve the stated goal of both of our presidents: improved relations between our two countries and increased cooperation on areas of mutual concern.
– Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert
United States Continues to Pressure North Korea to Abandon its Nuclear Weapons Program
In an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Ambassador Nikki Haley emphasized the unanimous denunciation of North Korea’s recent missile launch over Japan, calling it “an outrageous act against a UN Member State.” She called on North Korea to stop any future missile launches and abandon its nuclear program.
.@nikkihaley: The world is united against #NorthKorea- there is no doubt about that. @USUN pic.twitter.com/N2REzn3Pdn
— Department of State (@StateDept) August 30, 2017
In a readout of Secretary Tillerson’s phone calls with the Foreign Ministers of Japan and the Republic of Korea, Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert confirmed the leaders agreed North Korea’s missile launch was an escalation of provocations, and the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea would continue to coordinate efforts to increase pressure on North Korea.
At the Conference on Disarmament – Group of 21 meeting in Switzerland, Ambassador Robert Wood reiterated the “clear global condemnation and indictment of North Korea for its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons activities.” He further emphasized the United States and the international community will continue to speak out against North Korea’s dangerous and provocative activities.
.@USAmbCD comments on #DPRK during the Conference on Disarmament plenary session in Geneva, Switzerland. pic.twitter.com/6rnua3krWM
— Department of State (@StateDept) August 30, 2017
Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison Underscores U.S. Commitment to NATO
In an op-ed published in The New York Times on August 30 and an appearance on MSNBC on August 31, United States Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison emphasized the United States’ commitment to “America’s most crucial security alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).”
.@USAmbNATO @nytimes Op-Ed: Congress and @POTUS Administration united behind strength and unity of NATO https://t.co/mDjKpMsoCV #WeAreNATO pic.twitter.com/cjgmp7y5VI
— US Mission to NATO (@USNATO) August 30, 2017
.@USAmbNATO Kay Bailey Hutchison on @CNBC : U.S. speaking with one voice in support of #NATO @USNATO @StateDept https://t.co/M9IaFXFaQP
— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) August 31, 2017
For more information about the U.S.-NATO relationship, check out this story from August 31.
United States Condemns Criminalization of Dissent in Venezuela
On August 30, the United States condemned the call by Venezuela’s illegitimate Constituent Assembly for trials of the political opposition, including members of the democratically-elected legislature, on charges of treason and alleged involvement in Venezuela’s economic crisis. In a statement, Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert emphasized this injustice “embodies yet another rupture in Venezuela’s constitutional order and defies the fact that in democracies, ideas and opinions are not crimes.”
The people of #Venezuela deserve democracy and a government that respects their rights – we stand with them. @StateDept pic.twitter.com/TgfH1nbNNU
— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) August 30, 2017
Follow the State Department on Twitter and Facebook for additional information and updates.
Editor’s Note: This entry is also published in the U.S. Department of State’s publication on Medium.com