Specific Issues

• CyberSecurity
• Foreign Assistance Dashboard
• G8 Summits
• Haiti Earthquake 2010
• Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (USAID Factsheet March 2011)
• Piracy (Naval)
• Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR)
• Secretary of State John Kerry (State.gov)
• Water Security, (U.N. Roundtable)

Foreign Policy News

11 February 2013 State Department Contributes an Initial $171 Million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (State.gov)   This year’s initial contribution funded through the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, will support UNHCR efforts worldwide. This funding includes support for refugees returning to countries such as Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo; local integration and resettlement; and protection and life-saving assistance. U.S. funding supports the provision of water, shelter, food, healthcare, and education to refugees, internally displaced persons, and other persons under UNHCR’s care and protection in countries such as Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, Georgia, Colombia, South Sudan, and Kenya.   

07 February 2013 Kerry Says He Will Keep America's Promise of Democracy  After taking the ceremonial oath of office in Washington, Kerry said as secretary of state, he will support democracy in “quiet corners of the globe” as well as in tumultuous places such as Tahrir Square in Cairo and South Sudan.

07 February 2013 CIA Nominee Brennan at Senate Confirmation Hearing 

07 February 2013 Carter Sees DOD Strategy at Work on Europe, Middle East Trip  Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter saw critical elements of the new defense strategy at work in European and Middle East nations and in a bilateral meeting with Indian defense officials during a six-day international trip.   Carter met with defense leaders in Paris, at the 49th Munich Security Conference in Germany, and in Turkey and Jordan.

06 February 2013 Remarks by Secretary of State John Kerry at the Ceremonial Swearing-In Ceremony 

04 February 2013 Secretary Kerry’s Welcome Remarks to State Dept. Employees  "I want to begin by thanking my predecessor, Secretary Clinton, and I want to thank her entire team. "

04 February 2013 Partners Essential in Strategic Transition, DOD's Carter Says  Speaking as part of an expert panel at the 49th Annual Munich Security Conference, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter explored for an audience of international foreign and defense ministers and security policy officials the tenets of a defense strategy for the 21st century.

31 January 2013 Clinton Announces $86.5 Million in Public-Private Partnerships  On her last day as secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton announced four new or expanded public-private initiatives valued at up to $86.5 million. Since 2009, the U.S. Department of State has worked with more than 1,100 partners and mobilized more than $650 million in public and private resources to support key foreign policy objectives

30 January 2013 John Kerry: The Next Secretary of State  On January 29, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously approved Kerry as the next secretary of state, and a few hours later the full Senate voted overwhelmingly to confirm him for the job.  At his confirmation hearing, Kerry demonstrated broad knowledge of foreign policy issues gleaned from serving on the foreign relations committee since 1984.

30 January 2013 Secretary Clinton's Remarks at Final Town Hall Meeting With Department of State Personnel

29 January 2013 Clinton Focuses Global Dialogue on Democracy, Women's Rights  Hillary Rodham Clinton says that in her four years as U.S. secretary of state, she and President Obama have tried to promote a world where more nations take greater responsibility for shaping their futures. She explained that foreign policy strategy January 29 as she held satellite meetings with young adults in six important regional cities around the world.

29 January 2013 President Obama on Kerry's Confirmation as Secretary of State   "I am pleased that the Senate has confirmed John Kerry as our next Secretary of State with overwhelming bipartisan support.  ... John has earned the respect of leaders around the world and the confidence of Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, and I am confident he will make an extraordinary Secretary of State."

25 January 2013 Ambassador Rice on International Holocaust Commemoration 

24 January 2013 Kerry Offers View of U.S. Role in More Interconnected World  The United States needs to assert a new role in the world to meet the challenge of a young generation seeking greater opportunities and their right to participate as individuals in their governance, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at his nomination hearing to be the next U.S. secretary of state.
  • Senator Kerry at Senate Confirmation Hearing

14 January 2013 Ten Things You Should Know About the State Department  What do the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) do for the American people? With just over one percent of the entire federal budget, we have a huge impact on how Americans live and how the rest of the world engages America.

11 January 2013 State Dept. on U.S. Investments in Haiti's Rebuilding Efforts  In early 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made Haiti a foreign policy priority and committed to working to change the way we partnered with Haiti.  For some time the U.S. pursued two tracks of engagement and has ensured that they complement one another: the first to address immediate humanitarian and emergency aid needs; and the second to continue to pursue a strategy to promote long-term sustainable development in Haiti.

09 January 2013 USAID, Haiti Develop Areas Beyond Port-au-Prince  Three years after a catastrophic earthquake struck Haiti, the U.S. Agency for International Development and Haiti’s government continue to develop areas outside the country’s crowded capital of Port-au-Prince.

02 January 2013 Data Show Peace Is Profitable, Organization Says  The Institute for Economics and Peace’s annual Global Peace Index measures peace in 158 countries using 23 indicators, including political terror, internal conflicts, crime, incarceration rates, relations with neighbors, military expenditures and weapons exports. The index is able to show what the most peaceful countries and the most war-torn countries have in common.

2012

29 December 2012 U.S. Mission to United Nations Fact Sheet on U.N. Budget Issues 

21 December 2012 Obama Says John Kerry Is "Perfect Choice" for Secretary of State  President Obama has announced he is nominating Massachusetts Senator John Kerry to be the next secretary of state. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Kerry will serve as America’s top diplomat during the Obama administration’s second term.
• Obama on Nomination of John Kerry as Secretary of State

17 December 2012 Disease Report Adds New Urgency to Clean Cookstove Campaign  A campaign to introduce cleaner-burning cooking methods to billions of homes has gained a new level of urgency. A worldwide assessment of disease, incapacity and death finds that the number of people sickened by household air pollution is double that projected by earlier estimates, from 2 million to approximately 4 million worldwide.

13 December 2012 Panetta Outlines U.S. Military's Transformation  Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said the U.S. military is transforming into a smaller but more flexible and technologically advanced force as it transitions from years of continuous operation in Iraq and Afghanistan and looks ahead to troop reductions and smaller budgets.

13 December 2012 Global Trends Report Predicts Vast Changes by 2030  The National Intelligence Council has released Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds.    The council, an advisory arm for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, releases a global trends report once every four years after the U.S. presidential election on factors such as globalization, demography and the environment. The purpose is to help policymakers in their strategic planning. The report draws from a multitude of sources, including government officials, businesses, universities and think tanks in nearly 20 countries, and is available to the public worldwide.

06 December 2012 State's Rose on Strengthening Security in Space   Remarks by Deputy Assistant Secretary Frank Rose, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, at the ASEAN Regional Forum Space Security Workshop.

04 December 2012 USAID Integrates Humanitarian, Development Aid for Resilience  The U.S. Agency for International Development has changed its approach to helping communities that experience recurrent crises by integrating its humanitarian assistance with development aid, the agency announced.

30 November 2012 Clinton Urges "Principled American Leadership" for Changing World    U.S. global leadership and the country's diplomatic and trade relations need to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world while continuing to respond to urgent and unexpected threats, Secretary of State Clinton told a forum on global transformational trends.

30 November 2012 Secretary Clinton Hails 50 Years of Art as "Tool of Diplomacy"   or half a century, visitors to U.S. embassies and consulates around the world have enjoyed works by American artists that transcend boundaries of geography, culture and language, thanks to the U.S. Department of State’s Art in Embassies program.

29 November 2012 Secretary Clinton's Remarks at the Foreign Policy Group's "Transformational Trends 2013" Forum 

20 November 2012 Obama Urges Asia-Pacific to Look to Future with Shared Interests   President Obama has urged countries in the Asia-Pacific region to move forward into the 21st century with a sense of shared interests and the courage to set aside differences.

19 November 2012 Economics Now at Core of U.S. Diplomacy   The United States is updating its diplomacy and putting economics at its core, according to Secretary of State Clinton.  Said Secretary Clinton: “This connection between economic power and global influence explains why the United States is placing economics at the heart of our own foreign policy. I call it economic statecraft.”

19 November 2012 White House Hosts International Entrepreneurs   In advance of the upcoming Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Dubai December 11–13, the White House convened a who’s who of self-made businesspeople for a Celebration of Global Entrepreneurship.

18 November 2012 State Dept. Briefing on Gaza, Clinton Economic Statecraft Speech   Background Briefing with a Senior State Department Official

17 November 2012 Secretary Clinton: Delivering on the Promise of Economic Statecraft   Remarks by  Secretary of State Clinton at Singapore Management University, Singapore.

16 November 2012 State Dept. Fact Sheet on Energy Diplomacy in the 21st Century 

15 November 2012 White House Security Adviser on Policy Toward Asia, Obama Trip

07 November 2012 Governor Mitt Romney's Concession Speech

02 November 2012 New Research Seeks Solutions to Pollution from Open Cook Fires  Cooking on open fires and its impact on air quality and human health are the target of a three-year study launched by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The results could point to the best means for a transition to cleaner cooking methods.

24 October 2012 Obama Proclamation on United Nations Day 2012

24 October 2012 Ambassador Rice on United Nations Day

23 October 2012 Clinton Urges More Trade with "Open-for-Business" Haiti “Haiti is truly open for business, and we want your help,” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said during a visit to an industrial park in northern Haiti.

23 October 2012 Justice Official at World Bribery and Corruption Forum in London   Remarks by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer at IBC Legal's World Bribery & Corruption Compliance Forum.

22 October 2012 Updated Fast Facts from the Office of the Haiti Special Coordinator (state.gov):
 Funding — Shelter and Housing — Cholera
 Economic Security — Education — Energy
 Food Security —  Global Health — Rubble
 Shelter and Housing

18 October 2012 Secretary Clinton : Energy Diplomacy in the 21st Century 

17 October 2012 Ambassador Rice at U.N. Debate on Peace and Justice 

09 October 2012 Panetta Calls for More Security Cooperation in Western Hemisphere  Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has called for a “new era” of security cooperation among the nations of the Western Hemisphere to deal with the challenges of the 21st century.  With regard to peacekeeping, Panetta said countries in the Western Hemisphere have taken on an impressive leadership role by engaging, addressing and improving United Nations peacekeeping.

01 October 2012 Clinton on U.N. Resolution on Freedoms of Association, Assembly 

26 September 2012 U.S. Official Cites Need to Promote Democracy Worldwide Speaking in New York at the fifth meeting of the Community of Democracies (CD) Governing Council on September 25, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, Roberta S. Jacobson, hailed the rise of pro-democracy movements while also acknowledging the difficulties that often accompany transitions to democratic rule.
• State’s Jacobson at Community of Democracies Governing Council

26 September 2012  State Dept. on Anniversary of Open Government Partnership  The State Department releases a fact sheet covering progress on the first anniversary of the Open Government Partnership.

25 September 2012 State Dept. on Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves' Year-Two Progress Report   In honor of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves’ second anniversary, the U.S. is pleased to announce that total investment in support of the Alliance and clean cookstoves has reached up to $114 million. This investment represents a nearly $10 million increase over the past year.

25 September 2012 Clinton at U.N. Roundtable on Water Security   "You know better than any that water management and resource issues are both a moral imperative and a strategic investment, and I want to thank everyone who has participated in this, because whether you’re talking about economic development or improving global health, whether you focus on promoting food security or building peace or coping with climate change or providing sustainable energy, access to clean water is critical."
• Secretary Clinton Calls for Cooperation on Shared Waters

25 September 2012 President Obama's Address at 67th U.N. General Assembly, New York

21 September 2012 U.S. Seeks Greater Engagement at 67th U.N. General Assembly  For U.S. officials, the opening of the 67th United Nations General Assembly this week presents an important opportunity for President Obama to meet with other heads of state and address the international community as a whole, and it provides a prime forum for diplomatic discussions on the world’s most pressing issues.

20 September 2012 Secretary Clinton Hosts Global Leaders for Infrastructure Talks  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton hosted the Global Infrastructure Conference in Washington, a one-day high-level gathering bringing together international government and business leaders to develop sustainable solutions for meeting the world’s fast-growing infrastructure needs.
• Secretary Clinton's Remarks at the Global Infrastructure Conference

18 September 2012 State's Brimmer on U.N., U.S. Multilateral Priorities   

27 July 2012 Fact Sheet: Advancing Israel's Security and Supporting Peace
  • Obama at Signing of U.S.-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act

16 July 2012 Clinton in Jerusalem on Her Trip to Israel  Remarks at press availability; comments on Egypt, Iran, U.S.- Israeli relations, Syria and Russia.

11 July 2012 U.S. Helps Protect Western Hemisphere from Drug Smugglers  In two separate actions, U.S. Navy and Coast Guard personnel recently stopped suspected drug-smuggling vessels in Caribbean waters and in the Pacific Ocean, seizing drug shipments worth a combined $19 million, according to the U.S. Southern Command.

11 July 2012  Secretary Clinton on World Population Day  "This year as we mark World Population Day, leaders from around the globe are meeting in London for the Family Planning Summit hosted by the Government of the United Kingdom and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. They are working to find new ways to support the rights of women and young people to decide whether, when, and how many children to have."

03 July 2012 Missile Defense Crucial in U.S. International Security  Missile defense is a crucial element in the U.S. international security strategy, supporting deterrence and diplomacy, a senior U.S. diplomat said July 3 at an international conference in Paris.
 • State's Rose on Missile Defense and European Security

Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development

15-22 June 2012

15-22 June 2012  Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development

The Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  Rio+ 20 is an international conference where world leaders, along with thousands of participants from governments, the private sector and NGO community will come together to discuss important youth, technology, and sustainable development initiatives. 

Their goal is to shape how we can work together to reduce poverty, advance social issues, and ensure environmental protection on an ever more crowded planet.
We will be live streaming webchats with experts from government, civil society and the private sector during the conference which can be accessed from http://conx.state.gov/event/rio20/

22 June 2012 Development Conference Ends with Pledge to Future Generations  The key to achieving sustainable economic growth while preserving environmental resources will be new ideas, pragmatism and optimism about “a more prosperous future,” said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in a speech at Rio+20, as it concluded in Rio de Janeiro.

21 June 2012 Rio Talks Achieve Step Forward, U.S. Negotiator Says  The U.S. negotiator involved in drafting a legacy document for the U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development expressed measured satisfaction with the end product that will go to top national representatives for a vote by conference end June 22.

20 June 2012 Rio+20: NASA Satellite Data Support Sustainable Development  Forest fires in Guatemala, snow pack in the Himalayas, changes in ground cover in Africa — their potential impact on populations, water supplies and farmlands is better understood when seen from a satellite. U.S. agencies are collecting this data and giving it to decisionmakers in other countries so they’ll be better informed about how to protect their lands and their people.

20 June 2012 U.S. Envoy for Climate Change Stern at Rio+20 

16 June 2012  State Dept. Officials on Rio+20 Sustainable Development Conference  Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Dr. Kerri-Ann Jones.

Foreign Policy News

18 June 2012 U.S. Admiral Strongly Urges Approval of Law of the Sea Convention   Accession to the long-standing United Nations Law of the Sea Convention will have a positive impact on U.S. operations across the maritime domain, said the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

15 June 2012 G20 Summit Opens June 18 with Focus on European Debt Crisis The European financial crisis will be a key topic when the leaders of 20 large economies gather in Mexico said U.S. treasury secretary Geithner. 

15 June 2012  Obama Announces "More Fair and More Just" Immigration System  The United States will immediately stop deporting certain young immigrants who were brought to the country as children, President Obama announced, a change that he said will make the U.S. immigration system “more efficient, more fair and more just.”
•  Remarks by the President on Immigration

11 June 2012 Clinton at Women in Public Service Institute  Remarks by Secretary Clinton at the Opening of the Inaugural Women inPublic Service Institute, Wellesley College, Massachusetts.

04 June 2012 Homeland Security Head Touts Partnerships to Fight Travel Threats  Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano, in May 31 remarks to the Migration Policy Institute’s Transatlantic Council on Migration, underscored the Department of Homeland Security's commitment to combating transnational threats while facilitating legitimate trade and travel.

31 May 2012 Republicans, Democrats Unite to Oppose Internet Rules  A proposal to increase Internet regulation by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) or some other arm of the U.N. system is bringing unanimity among the various power centers in the U.S. government. Republicans, Democrats, the Obama administration, the industry and the community of nonprofit groups devoted to the Internet all oppose change in the current governance structure that is fundamentally based in the private sector.

26 May 2012 U.S. Official at U.N. on Role of Mediation in Conflict Resolution   Remarks by Ambassador James Pardew on Mediation and the Role of Member States, U.N. General Assembly.

23 May 2012 Obama Administration Urges Senate to Approve Oceans Treaty   The top-ranking foreign policy officials in the U.S. government went to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee attempting to end a debate that began in the 1980s — whether the United States should join 160 other nations to become a party to the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• Clinton at Senate Hearing on Law of the Sea Convention

21 May 2012 International and Homeland Security "Inextricably Linked"  “International security and homeland security are inextricably linked,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. “We will continue to work with our international partners to strengthen and secure the global transportation systems upon which our nations' economies and communities rely.”  Napolitano traveled to Munich, Germany, to join U.S. Attorney General Holder and her international counterparts at the G6+1 Conference of Home Affairs Ministers to discuss efforts to combat terrorism and international piracy, and ensure a more safe, secure and resilient global supply chain.

17 May 2012 White House Briefing on G8, NATO Summits, Other Issues 

15 May 2012 State's Barton Says More Nimble Response Needed in Crises   The head of the State Department’s new Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Rick Barton, says efforts to get people to stop fighting and build peace will be done differently in the future.  Barton said the new bureau will work to break down traditional institutional barriers between groups and coordinate their activities so that they no longer act in isolation.

09 May 2012 Secretary of Defense Panetta at Law of the Sea Symposium 

06 May 2012 Secretary Clinton at Town Hall with Bangladeshi Youth Secretary of State Clinton with Ms. Saha and Mr. Ahmed at a Townterview with Bangladeshi Youth,  International School Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

01 May 2012 Obama Drug Strategy Emphasizes Health, Prevention Issues  The Obama administration is presenting a new “21st-century approach to drug policy,” based on the view that the 30-year-old “war on drugs” fails to recognize the complexity of the problem.  With a review of these facts, said Office of National Drug Control Director Policy Gil Kerlikowske, the Obama administration saw a need for a different approach to drug policy.

26 April 2012 Secretary Clinton on U.S. Diplomacy  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks on diplomacy at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars gala and receives the Public Service Award in Washington.

25 April 2012 Ambassador Rice at U.N. Debate on Global Security Threats UN Security Council Open Debate on Threats to International Security: Securing Borders Against Illicit Flows.

23 April 2012 Clinton in Conversation on "America and the World" Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited the Maxwell School of Syracuse University and engaged in a policy conversation.

17 April 2012 U.S. Illegal Drug Use Down Substantially from 1970s  The Obama administration is working to reduce the demand for illegal drugs inside the United States through public health and safety approaches, as well as cooperating with other countries to reduce drug supplies.
• White House Fact Sheet on U.S. Drug Policy
• Executive Summary of 2012 U.S. Drug Control Strategy Report

16 April 2012 Energy Dept. Makes More Funds Available for Clean Cookstoves  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is making up to $2.5 million available this year for applied research on clean cookstoves for use in developing countries.  The Energy Department, along with other U.S. federal agencies, is a founding partner of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, a public-private partnership to advance cookstove technologies that improve indoor air quality, reduce carbon emissions and deliver important benefits for people’s health and the economies of developing nations around the world. 

12 April 2012 Clinton: Group of Eight Nations Discuss Syria, Iran, North Korea   Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says foreign ministers representing the Group of Eight (G8) advanced economies have discussed a “range of issues that are of pressing concern” for the international community during talks in Washington.

11 April 2012 Secretary Clinton at G8 Plenary Session, Washington D.C.

10 April 2012 Ambassador Morningstar on U.S. Eurasian Energy Policy  Remarks at The Economist's Investment Energy Summit; U.S. overall policy with respect to Eurasia; the Southern Corridor and the Eastern Mediterranean.

04 April 2012 Secretary Clinton on Support for Burma's Democratic Reforms Sec. Clinton:" As we have done over the last several months, the United States will stand with the reformers and the democrats, both inside the government and in the larger civil society, as they work together for that more hopeful future that is the right of every single person."

03 April 2012 USDA's Aid Programs Will Feed Nearly 10 Million  International food assistance in fiscal year 2012 will benefit more than 9.7 million people worldwide under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food for Progress and McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition programs.  Under the programs, USDA purchases U.S. commodities such as soybeans and rice and donates them to government agencies and private voluntary organizations in targeted countries.

03 April 2012 Remarks by Sec Clinton on George Marshall and Smart Power  at the Virginia Military Institute

23 March 2012 State Department on Lord's Resistance Army  The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has been active since 1986, making it one of Africa’s oldest, most violent, and persistent armed groups. The LRA was formed in northern Uganda to fight against the Government of Uganda, and operated there from 1986 to 2006.

19 March 2012 USAID, Islamic Conference to Cooperate on Humanitarian Aid  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) agreed on to strengthen cooperation on humanitarian issues and disaster response. In a ceremony at the White House, USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah and OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu signed a memorandum of understanding to mark the partnership milestone. USAID said it shares a deep commitment to humanitarian principles with OIC and, working together, the two will provide better, smarter relief to millions of people in need.

08 March 2012 USAID's Shah on Elevating Development in U.S. Foreign Policy  Remarks by Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator at the Council on Foreign Relations, New York.

06 March 2012 Obama Seeks $7.9 Billion for Global Health in 2013  The Obama administration is asking Congress for $7.9 billion to fund global health programs in fiscal year 2013. It also is requesting $1 billion to help farmers in 20 countries targeted by the Feed the Future initiative to grow more food. 

06 March 2012 Holder: U.S. National Security Is Based on Values and Laws  While the nation faces many security threats from extremists outside its borders and within them, the United States will respond to threats based on the rule of law enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and its values, Attorney General Eric Holder says.  Holder said calls from some in Washington to use military tribunals instead of the federal courts ignore the reality of the convictions that have been obtained and the ability to punish those who attempt to do the United States harm.

06 March 2012 U.S. Makes First Contribution to Emergency Migration Fund  The United States has contributed $2.5 million to the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) new Migration Emergency Funding Mechanism (MEFM).  The new emergency fund was established to bridge the gap between when an emergency occurs and when donor funding is received. The aim is to enable earlier assessment of situations and cut the time needed to provide the initial assistance.

01 March 2012 Space Sustainability Through International Cooperation Remarks by Frank A. Rose, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State.

01 March 2012 Countries Moving to Cleaner Cookstoves The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves aims to help 100 million homes adopt clean and efficient stoves and fuels by 2020 to cut premature deaths linked to the respiratory problems resulting from smoke and soot inhalation.

29 February 2012  Clinton, Congress Begin Debate on Foreign Affairs Budget  Secretary of State  Clinton is making all the stops in the U.S. Capitol February 28–29 to win congressional support for a foreign affairs budget of more than $50 billion for the fiscal year that begins October 1.

29 February 2012 Clinton’s Remarks at House Hearing on State Department Budget  The State Department and USAID budget we discuss today is a proven investment in our national and economic security, but it is something more.  It is a down payment on American leadership.

28 February 2012 Clinton's Remarks to Senate Appropriations Committee Secretary Clinton said "American leadership is not just respected, it is required, and it takes more than just resolve and a lot of hours in the plane. It takes resources."

28 February 2012 Clinton’s Remarks Before Senate Foreign Relations Committee Secretary Clinton addressed national security & foreign policy priorities.

27 February 2012 The Global Peace Operations Initiative Remarks by Assistant Secretary of State Andrew J. Shapiro
Assistant Secretary

15 February  2012 Treasury on World Bank President’s Decision Not to Seek 2nd Term  Bob Zoellick has been a remarkably effective leader of the World Bank at a critically important time in the world economy. Under his leadership, the Bank has made vital contributions to the global response to the financial crisis, improving food security, and strengthening post conflict and transition countries. Under Bob’s leadership, the Bank has become a more effective, accountable, and transparent institution.

14 February 2012 Panetta Presents $614 Billion Defense Budget Request to Congress Defense Secretary Leon Panetta presented U.S. lawmakers with the Pentagon’s $614 billion budget request for the year starting October 1, a significant drop from last year’s request, representing cuts across the department intended to help reduce the U.S. deficit.

14 February 2012 Obama Seeks $51.6 Billion for Fiscal Year 2013 Foreign Operations  President Obama has proposed $51.6 billion in spending for foreign operations in fiscal year 2013, which begins October 1, 2012.   The proposed amount submitted to Congress February 13 is up 1.6 percent from the amount Congress approved for fiscal year 2012 and would fund the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development and other international programs. The proposal must be approved or modified by the Senate and House of Representatives before going to the president for signature or veto.
 • State Dept Resource Management - International Affairs Budget

13 February 2012  Fact Sheet: Overview of Obama’s FY2013 Budget for State and USAID   Making up just 1 percent of the U.S. Government’s overall budget, the Department of State/USAID budget totals $51.6 billion. The request provides the most cost-efficient way to ensure diplomats and development experts have the resources necessary to address complex threats to our national security and promote our economic renewal.
 • Obama Budget to Cut Deficit, Support Economic Recovery

04 February 2012 Remarks by Clinton, Panetta at Euro-Atlantic Security Session  Secretary of State Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta at the Euro-Atlantic Security Community Initiative and Keynote Session Q&.

31 January 2012 U.S. Intelligence Gives Congress a Roundup of World Threats   The U.S. intelligence community scored some significant victories in 2011, notably the capture of Osama Bin Laden and other highly placed al-Qaida operatives, but a threat assessment delivered to a U.S. Senate committee January 31 indicated that the job will not be getting easier in 2012.

29 January 2012 State’s Rose on Space Security — A U.S. Perspective  "Based on the U.S. National Space Policy and other Presidential guidance, as well as our obligations under international law, we in the United States associate “space security” with the pursuit of those activities that ensure the sustainability, stability, safety, and free access to, and use of, outer space in support of the vital interests of all nations"

29 January 2012 U.S. Admiral’s Briefing on Asia-Pacific Military Issues  Admiral Willard, U.S. Pacific Command commander, delivers an Asia-Pacific military overview briefing.

27 January 2012 State Department Daily Press Briefing, January 27  State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland briefs the press on a range of global topics in Washington.

20 January 2012  Obama Administration Details U.S. Agenda for U.N. Reforms  President Obama has announced a comprehensive agenda for building a modern, more efficient and more capable United Nations through steps that include increased fiscal responsibility, accountability and effectiveness.

18 January 2011  Remarks at the 13th Annual Award for Corporate Excellence    Secretary of State Clinton, Benjamin Franklin Room , Washington, D.C.

11 January 2011  “New Traction” in Place for Haiti’s Quake Recovery   As Haitians and the international community mark the second anniversary of the earthquake and reflect on the cholera epidemic and hurricane that brought even more tragedy to their people, very recent and tangible developments are pointing toward a better future.

09 January 2012 Defense Department on 21st-Century Defense Priorities  This strategic guidance document describes the projected security environment and the key military missions for which the Department of Defense (DoD) will prepare.

05 January 2012 Obama Announces New Defense Strategy   President Obama announced a new defense strategy that emphasizes U.S. strategic interests for a fast-changing world after a decade of war.  The new strategy reflects both a shift in global strategic thinking and the realities of a more austere national budget climate that is mandated by the U.S. Congress.

04 January 2012 State’s Campbell Visits China, South Korea, Japan  Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell is visiting China, South Korea and Japan for five days of talks with leaders on a broad range of issues, including the recent political changes in North Korea and Burma.

03 January 2012 Statement on Contribution to U.N. Agency for Palestinian Refugees  The United States is pleased to announce an initial 2012 contribution of $55 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).   As UNRWA’s largest bilateral donor, the United States recognizes the critical role the Agency plays in assisting Palestinian refugees and maintaining regional stability and calls upon other donors to enhance their support for UNRWA.

2011

28 December 2011 Updated Information on U.S. Government assistance in Haiti :

• Facts on U.S. Government’s Work in Haiti: Rubble
• Facts on U.S. Government’s Work in Haiti: Economic Security
• Facts on U.S. Government’s Work in Haiti: Funding
• Facts on U.S. Government’s Work in Haiti: Governance, Rule of Law
• Facts on U.S. Government’s Work in Haiti: Food Security
• Facts on U.S. Government’s Work in Haiti: Health
• Facts on U.S. Government’s Work in Haiti: Shelter
• Facts on U.S. Government’s Work in Haiti: Cholera
• Facts on U.S. Government’s Work in Haiti: Caracol Industrial Park
• Facts on U.S. Government’s Work in Haiti: Education
• Facts on U.S. Government’s Work in Haiti: Energy

17 December 2011 Secretary Clinton on Flooding in the Philippines  "On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I want to send my deepest condolences for the devastation and loss of life caused by flooding from Tropical Storm Washi in southern Philippines."

15 December 2011 State Department Initiative to Prepare Women for Public Service U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton launched the Women in Public Service Project – a new initiative to increase the number of women in public service at the local, national, and international levels.

15 December 2011 State Department Fact Sheet on Women in Public Service Project

13 December 2011 Internet Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy  Webchat transcript with Daniel Baer, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Democracy, Rights, and Labor.

05 December 2011 Biden: Entrepreneurship Requires Free Speech, Free Thinking Innovation and new industries require governments to guarantee the right of their people to “think different,” Biden says.

02 December 2011 Clinton, Aung San Suu Kyi Outline Needed Reforms in Burma Calling Clinton’s visit a “historical moment,” Suu Kyi said international engagement will be critical to ensuring Burma stays on the path toward democracy.

02 December 2011 Remarks by Secretary Clinton and Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma

30 November 2011 Clinton in South Korea at Forum on Aid Effectiveness    Secretary Clinton's Keynote at the Opening Session of the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness.

29 November 2011 State Dept. Fact Sheet: Aid Forum’s Special Session on Gender

29 November 2011 Vienna Convention Obliges Iran to Protect Diplomats  Iran is obligated under the Vienna Convention to protect the security and safety of foreign diplomats, U.S. officials said in response to the storming of two British diplomatic sites in Tehran. Press reports from earlier in the day described Iranian protesters throwing petrol bombs, smashing windows, looting and burning an embassy vehicle after breaking into two British embassy compounds in Tehran.

28 November 2011 Clinton Attending Global Summit on Aid Programs  The 21st century has created a new dynamic in development assistance, and 2,000 delegates from around the world will forge an agreement on new principles and objectives to guide international aid in this new era.   U.S. Secretary of State Clinton will attend the meeting in Busan, South Korea, demonstrating the Obama administration’s policy that investing in the social development of poor nations is an important element of U.S. foreign policy.

23 November 2011 Ambassador DeLaurentis at U.N. Debate on New Threats to Security  Remarks by Ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis, U.S. Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs to the U.N., Before the UN Security Council Open Debate on New Threats to Security.

22 November 2011 State Dept. on Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations   Today, the U.S. Department of State established a new Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) to focus on conflict prevention, crisis response, and stabilization activities. The bureau will subsume the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS).

14 November 2011 Obama: Asia-Pacific Will Shape U.S. Economic Future  President Obama concluded the 2011 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation  (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in Hawaii, saying that it was a chance to lead the Pacific Rim economies toward a seamless regional economy with more trade, more exports and more jobs.

13 November 2011 Obama Says Asia-Pacific Region Is Engine for Growth  President Obama told business executives from across the Asia-Pacific region that the United States sees the region “as an extraordinary engine for growth.”  Obama  said that the economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum represent nearly half of the world’s trade and half of the world’s output of goods and services. He met with business leaders at the APEC CEO Business Summit before the main meeting of the leaders from the 21 APEC economies on November 13.

10 November 2011 Clinton Outlines U.S. Policy in East Asia, Pacific  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says there is a need for a more dynamic and durable relationship across the Asia-Pacific region that features a mature security and economic architecture on a scale that today’s challenges demand.  It must feature a structure that promotes prosperity and universal values, effectively resolves differences among nations, fosters trust and accountability and encourages cooperation, Clinton said in a speech at the East-West Center in Honolulu.

09 November 2011 Obama to Emphasize U.S. Role Across the Pacific Rim   President Obama hosts the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Hawaii with the aim of generating opportunities for prosperity and job creation by expanding regional trade and investment, cultivating small and medium-sized businesses and fostering innovation. Obama chose to host the 21-member forum in his birthplace of Honolulu to highlight America’s position as a Pacific nation, senior White House advisers say.

07 November 2011 Secretary Clinton Keynote at the National Democratic Institute's 2011 Democracy Awards Dinner   Secretary Clinton delivers the keynote address at the National Democratic Institute’s 2011 Democracy Awards Dinner,  Washington, D.C. .

01 November 2011 Vice President Biden’s Speech to London Conference on Cyberspace

28 October 2011 U.S. Officials Support Businesswomen Worldwide  Ambassador Melanne Verveer takes her mission for global women’s rights to Paris, where an international team will discuss how empowering female business owners can improve economies around the world.  At the same Paris event, the U.S. Agency for International Development is set to announce a $10 million grant to launch and evaluate pilot programs to foster female-run businesses.

27 October 2011 The Democratic Wave in the Arab World: Transatlantic Perspectives   Remarks by Assistant Secretary Philip Gordon, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, at the the EU Washington Forum, Washington, DC.

24 October 2011 Proclamation by President Obama on United Nations Day

17 October 2011 Ambassador Rice on International Day for Eradication of Poverty  "On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we recognize that a cruel injustice has been done whenever a child is limited not by ability but by lack of food or water; whenever a woman loses her life simply for giving birth; whenever a precious daughter or son succumbs to a disease that is preventable."

12 October 2011 Secretary Clinton on American Global Leadership  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says securing and sustaining American global leadership is the organizing principle behind everything she does, because American global leadership holds the key not only to U.S. prosperity and security, but to an increasingly interconnected and complex world.

11 October 2011 Secretary Clinton on America’s Pacific Century  The future of politics will be decided in Asia, not Afghanistan or Iraq, and the United States will be right at the center of the action. ... One of the most important tasks of American statecraft over the next decade will therefore be to lock in a substantially increased investment — diplomatic, economic, strategic, and otherwise — in the Asia-Pacific region.

30 September 2011 Remarks by Secretary Clinton at the Kumpuris Distinguished Lecture Series

28 September 2011 Saving Lives, Securing Interests: Reflections on Humanitarian Response and U.S. Foreign Policy Remarks by
Assistant Secretary of State, Eric P. Schwartz.

27 September 2011 The Essential Role of U.S. Security Assistance In Addressing Today's Challenges and Building New Partnerships Remarks by Andrew J. Shapiro Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.

27 September 2011 Is There a Future for the U.S.-India Partnership?  Remarks by Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns.

21 September 2011 Obama Urges Leaders to Seek Lasting Peace in Imperfect World  Saying that pursuing peace in an imperfect world is their greatest responsibility, President Obama called on world leaders at the United Nations to recommit to seeking a lasting peace — for nations and for individuals — that is built on a sense of justice and opportunity, of dignity and freedom.

20 September 2011 Obama Helps Launch Open Government Partnership   President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton took part in the formal launch of the Open Government Partnership in New York, which brings together heads of state and senior officials from 46 nations committed to increasing openness and accountability in their own governments and around the world.
 • White House Fact Sheet : Open Government Partnership 

19 September 2011 Secretary Clinton's Remarks on Women's Political Participation at UN Women Event 

16 September 2011 USAID Works for Global Health and Social Good at U.N. Assembly  The U.N. General Assembly convenes a special session on noncommunicable diseases September 19–20, and the U.S. Agency for International Development  will be there as a global leader in efforts to improve health, health services and health systems in developing countries.  While international efforts in the health arena in the past have focused largely on infectious diseases, this special session is called in recognition of the fact that noncommunicable diseases, often caused by poor lifestyle choices, are the leading cause of death worldwide.

16 September 2011 Secretary Clinton's Remarks at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Women and the Economy Summit  "Now as this summit comes to a close, we will adopt a declaration for the first time in APEC’s history that will affirm this organization’s and each member economy’s commitment to improving women’s access to capital and markets, to building women’s capacities and skills, and to supporting the rise of women leaders in both the public and private sectors."

15 September 2011 State’s Brimmer: U.S. Goals for U.N. General Assembly  Remarks by Assistant Secretary for International Organizations Affairs Esther Brimmer On The United Nations General Assembly, Washington, D.C.

11 September 2011 Remarks by the President at the September 11th 10th Anniversary Commemoration

11 September 2011 Secretary Clinton's Remarks at Voices of September 11th Luncheon

11 September 2011 Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of 9/11  Ambassador Susman's Remarks at the September 11th Memorial Garden.
 • Photos are on Flickr.

07 September 2011 Assistant Secretary Brimmer on U.S. Priorities at United Nations  Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Esther Brimmer speaks at the U.S. Institute of Peace on sustaining America’s global leadership and addresses the U.S. goals and priorities for the United Nations.

26 August 2011 Ten Things About State, USAID  Thomas R. Nides serves as Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.

16 August 2011 Clinton: Enforcement of Universal Rights Should Be Shared  The United States wants to encourage other nations to enforce “a universal set of values and interests” such as freedom, human rights and democracy, says Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

28 July 2011 Saving Lives at Birth Remarks By Secretary Clinton at USAID's Saving Lives at Birth Development Exchange Awards Ceremony "77 Inventions That Could Save Moms and Babies"

25 July 2011 U.S. Launches New Strategy to Combat Transnational Crime The Obama administration’s new Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime aims to diminish the “size, scope and influence of transnational organized crime and its impact on U.S. and international security and governance,” says John Brennan, the president’s assistant for counterterrorism and homeland security.

14 July 2011 International Cyber Diplomacy: Promoting Openness, Security and Prosperity in a Networked World (factsheet)

15 July 2011 A New Idea for U.S. Aid: Political Reform for Foreign Assistance   U.S. government executives, crafting a new model for the nation’s development policy, see genuine progress hardly a year into the project.   “We have to reprioritize economic growth and good governance as the core aspirational goals of our development, trade and engagement policies,” said Dr. Raj Shah, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Advancing human rights and freedoms and sustaining economic growth are other top goals of the new foreign assistance approach.

15 July 2011 Promises We Keep Online: Internet Freedom in the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe OSCE Region     Statement before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) by Deputy Assistant Secretary Daniel Baer, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

14 July 2011 Secretary Clinton’s Interview with Kim Ghattas of BBC 

12 July 2011 Foreign Aid Supports U.S. Economic Growth, Clinton Says  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is advocating that U.S. development assistance should receive equal stature in U.S. foreign policy with defense and diplomacy, and she asked the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition to support her in nudging policymakers in that direction.

07 July 2011 USAID, Scientists Join in Search for Global Development Answers   The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) are undertaking a new venture to build partnerships with developing world institutions at the same time they pursue their respective missions to provide foreign assistance and to support science and research in the United States.

06 July 2011 Technology Opens Doors for Women, Clinton Says  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is celebrating her department’s TechWomen exchange program, which uses technology to open doors that are otherwise closed to women in the Middle East and North Africa.  TechWomen, funded by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is a public-private partnership that pairs women from top technology companies in California’s Silicon Valley with women emerging as leaders in technical fields across the Middle East and North Africa for a professional mentorship and exchange program.

30 June 2011 U.S. Welcomes Overall Democratic Progress in Western Hemisphere  Much of the Western Hemisphere has experienced positive political change and achieved greater freedoms over the past 10 years that have led to greater opportunities in the region, but a senior State Department official says the United States still needs to continue its support for democratization and civil society groups in Latin America and the Caribbean.

15 June 2011 Senior State Department Officials on Internet Freedom Programs

13 June 2011 U.S., Other Donors Make Big Investments in a Healthy Future  Donor nations and organizations committed $4.3 billion to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), which will enable the consortium to reach more than 250 million of the world’s poorest children with serums to protect them from life-threatening diseases. GAVI estimates that these funds and the efforts of the alliance partners will prevent more than 4 million premature deaths from disease by 2015.

13 June 2011 U.S. Pledges Multi-Year Contribution to Reduce Immunization Cost; Save More Children's Lives  Speaking in London today, Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, released this  statement to announce an increased U.S. commitment to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI).
 • VIDEO : U.S. commitment to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization

07 June 2011 Obama Supports Second Term for U.N.'s Ban Ki-moon  President Obama supports U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s bid for a second term as head of the world’s largest international organization, said the White House.  At a June 6 press conference, Ban formally announced he was seeking a second five-year term.

06 June 2011 U.S. Maintains Enduring, Consistent Commitment to Asia  Even in times of change and competing global demands, the United States will maintain its enduring and consistent commitment to Asia and its security, Defense Secretary Robert Gates says.   “Under President Obama that engagement has not only been sustained, it has been broadened and enhanced in a variety of ways,” Gates said at the 10th annual Shangri-La Dialogue June 4 in Singapore

24 May 2011 During European Trip, Arab Spring is on the Agenda  The setting for President Obama’s trip this week is Europe, but a major topic on the agenda will be North Africa and the Middle East. The goal is a more democratic, more prosperous region. The president set the stage by delivering a major policy speech on the Middle East on May 19 in which he applauded movements for political and economic self-determination and pledged financial support for new governments in Tunisia and Egypt.

19 May 2011 Remarks by the President on the Middle East and North Africa  Speaking at the U.S. State Department in Washington DC, President Obama lays out his vision for a new chapter in American diplomacy as calls for reform and democracy spread across the Middle East and North Africa.
 • Secretary Clinton's Introductory Remarks for President Obama's Speech
 • FACT SHEET: "A Moment of Opportunity" in the Middle East and North Africa

17 May 2011 Secretary Clinton to Travel to London and Paris  Secretary of State Clinton will accompany President Obama to London on May 24 for the first part of his state visit to the United Kingdom.  This trip is a sign of the strength of the special relationship between our two countries, and of the United States’ enduring commitment to our allies and partners in Europe.  Secretary Clinton will also meet with Foreign Secretary Hague while in London.

16 May 2011 U.S. Seeks Global Consensus for Open, Secure Cyberspace The Obama administration has unveiled an international strategy for cyberspace, outlining how it intends to promote an open and secure Internet that is available and interoperable around the world.
 • Secretary Clinton on U.S. International Strategy for Cyberspace
 • International Strategy for Cyberspace (30-page/2.3Mb PDF)

13 May 2011 President Obama, Secretary Clinton on the Resignation of Middle East Envoy Mitchell

13 May 2011 Central Asia Should Heed Lessons of Mideast Unrest, Blake Says Despite economic and societal differences with countries in the Middle East, Central Asian governments should “heed the lessons of the Arab Spring” by embracing political reforms and offering more freedoms to their citizens in the interest of their countries’ long-term stability, says Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake.

13 May 2011 U.S. Signs Arctic Search-and-Rescue Agreement   Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has joined representatives of the seven other Arctic Council member states to sign a search-and-rescue agreement, the council’s first legally binding deal. The Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic “coordinates life-saving international maritime and aeronautical coverage and response among the Arctic states across an area of about 13 million square miles."

11 May 2011 Obama: Immigration Reform Will Strengthen U.S. Security, Economy  President Obama says the ultimate solution for fixing an immigration system that penalizes immigrants and citizens alike is comprehensive reform that strengthens the nation’s security, economy and global competitiveness.

11 May 2011 Speech by President Obama on Immigration and Border Security 

04 May 2011 Statement by the Press Secretary on the President’s Meeting with the Prince of Wales

04 May 2011  Remarks by the Vice President at the Atlantic Council's 50th Anniversary Dinner

02 May 2011 Obama Calls Death of bin Laden an Act of Justice  President Obama says the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden allows the world to tell the families of bin Laden’s victims: “Justice has been done.”   U.S. forces killed bin Laden in a firefight, part of a raid on his compound in Pakistan early on May 2, Pakistani time. In announcing the death, Obama called bin Laden “a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.”

02 May 2011 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the Killing of Osama bin Laden

01 May 2011 Remarks by the President on Osama Bin Laden

29 April 2011 Statement by the Press Secretary on the Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton

27 April 2011 Under Secretary of State McHale at the Exchange 2.0 Summit 

20 April 2011 "Conversations on Diplomacy" Moderated by Charlie Rose   Remarks by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Former Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger.

20 April  2011 Obama, U.S. Leaders Meet to Tackle Immigration Reform  President Obama met with a broad group of elected officials and leaders in law enforcement, business and religious groups at a White House conference on immigration reform.  The president convened experts from across the domestic political spectrum to hear their ideas on how best to tackle immigration reform to meet anticipated economic and security needs.

20 April 2011 Remarks by the President at a Facebook Town Hall   Facebook Headquarters, Palo Alto, California.

15 April 2011 International Momentum Builds to Improve Disaster Preparedness  Images of Japan’s earthquake destruction remained fresh in the global memory five weeks after an earthquake and tsunami, as Asian leaders and global donors came together advance disaster preparedness and risk reduction at local, national and international levels.

12 April 2011 Secretary Clinton's Remarks at the U.S.-Islamic World Forum   Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered remarks at a gala dinner celebrating the U.S.-Islamic World Forum hosted by the Brookings Institution and the State of Qatar, at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, DC.

12 April 2011 Remarks by Secretary Clinton at the 10th Annual Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards  

12 April 2011 USAID Fact Sheet on Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, April 8

07 April 2011 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's Meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon   The Secretary expressed great appreciation for the dedication and sacrifice of the brave men and women of the UN who have, in recent days, endured several tragedies. They also discussed the current crisis in Libya and the importance of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1973.
 •  Investing in U.N. Critical to U.S., International Security

06 April 2011 At Hearing, U.S. Cites Positive Outlook in Ties to South Asia U.S. officials are offering an encouraging picture of South Asia as a region of democratic governments, strong growth and generally improving ties to the United States.

04 April 2011 Strengthening Stability in Space Remarks by Frank A. Rose, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR),  Space Security Conference 2011: Building on the Past, Stepping Towards the Future

31 March 2011 Readout of Vice President Biden's Meeting with British Deputy Prime Minister Nicholas Glegg

30 March 2011 The U.S. Role in Our Changing World: Navigating the Globe's Transnational Challenges   Remarks by Esther Brimmer, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, at the World Affairs Council/University of Washington School of Law in Seattle, Washington.

29 March 2011 The Prague Agenda: The Road Ahead  Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Tom Donilon, National Security Advisor to the President, at Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference, Washington DC.

22 March 2011 U.S. Says Haiti’s Election Improves on November 2010 Vote  The Obama administration says initial assessments of Haiti’s second round of presidential and parliamentary elections suggest that the March 20 vote was largely peaceful and free from some of the irregularities that occurred during the first round.

21 March 2011 Threat of Major Nuclear Accident in Japan Subsides  International experts provide hope that Japan is inching away from the brink of a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, severely damaged by the earthquake and resulting tsunami that pounded the nation’s northeast coast March 11.

17 March 2011 U.S. Radiation-Detection Experts and Supplies Sent to Help Japan  The Obama administration has sent equipment and expertise to help Japanese authorities as they work to contain the emergency at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant.

17 March  2011 An Explanation of Vote on UN Security Council Resolution 1973     Remarks by Ambassador Susan Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, in an Explanation of Vote on UN Security Council Resolution 1973 of March 17, 2011.

16 March 2011 Japan Quake Magnitude Boosted to 9  The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has followed Japanese scientists in upgrading the wallop of the massive earthquake that struck northeast Japan on March 11.   The temblor, which the Japanese have dubbed the Tohoku quake, ranked a magnitude 9, not the 8.9 originally reported.
 • USAID Fact Sheet on Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (14 March 2011)

16 March 2011 Secretary Clinton's Interview With Kim Ghattas of BBC

15 March 2011 "Green" Growth, Stronger Integration Top APEC Agenda  Preliminary meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum concluded March 12, setting an ambitious agenda for enhanced partnership in 2011.

15 March 2011 Secretary Clinton's Remarks at the Reception Marking the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps

14 March 2011 For Globetrotting Presidents, Air Force One Provides Perfect Ride   It is unquestionably the most exclusive ride in the world: the gleaming, blue-and-white jumbo jet that answers to the call signal Air Force One. It’s an American icon, as recognizable as the Statue of Liberty or the Grand Canyon — the airplane that will take President Obama on his second journey to Latin America March 19.

14 March 2011 U.S. Nuclear Experts Help Japanese in Reactor Accidents   Nuclear experts are on the relief team that the U.S. Agency for International Development sent to Japan after the March 11 earthquake, which triggered accidents at two nuclear power plants in the disaster area.   he nuclear reactors are designed to shut down automatically in an earthquake. But things went wrong in the powerful shake-up that rattled northeastern Japan. At the Fukushima Daiichi and Fukushima Daini facilities, the cooling systems meant to dissipate the intense heat of the reactor core failed. Explosions occurred at the Daiichi facility, though their cause is not clear.
 • USAID Fact Sheet on Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

14 March 2011 First US-Russia Joint Open Skies Observation Flight  Today, the United States and the Russian Federation will begin the first ever joint U.S.-Russian Observation flight under the Treaty on Open Skies. On March 14-18, this historic joint mission will be conducted over the territory of Sweden on a Russian aircraft with a team of Russian, American and Swedish personnel.

13 March 2011 Resignation of Philip J Crowley as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs  Press Statement from the U.S. Department of State.

13 March 2011 USAID Fact Sheet on Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

10 March 2011 - Statement on the FY 2012 Budget Secretary Clinton's statement before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.

09 March 2011 - Remarks by Secretary Clinton on Launch of a Global Partnership on Maternal and Child Health.  "I believe this partnership will spark revolutionary advances that can dramatically reduce maternal and newborn deaths around the world."

02 March 2011 Secretary Clinton's Opening Remarks Before the Senate Appropriations Committee on State and Foreign Operations   "The FY 2012 budget we discuss today will allow us to keep pressing ahead. It is a lean budget for lean times"
 • FY2012 State and USAID Budget Request

01 March 2011 Secretary Clinton's Opening Remarks Before the House Foreign Affairs Committee

22 February 2011 Secretary Clinton on the Earthquake in Christchurch
 • U.S. Disaster Assistance Team Headed to New Zealand
 • See also the State Dept Daily Press Brief for 22 February 2011
 • Statement by the President on the Earthquake in New Zealand

16 February 2011 Rising Food Prices Pushing Millions into Poverty, World Bank Says  Global food prices have risen 29 percent from a year ago, driven by a combination of weather shocks and food export bans, and these higher prices are forcing millions more people into extreme poverty, World Bank President Robert Zoellick says.   A combination of weather shocks in various wheat-producing nations followed by export bans in some nations has curbed supplies of wheat and caused prices for the grain to more than double from the lows of June 2010 to January of this year, Zoellick said.


16 February 2011 U.S. Health Initiative to Focus on Poor, Rural Areas Worldwide  President Obama’s Global Health Initiative will turn its focus to community-based approaches and health care solutions for the poorest, most rural areas around the world, says Dr. Rajiv Shah, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

16 February 2011 U.S. Western Hemisphere Policy “Informed,” “Optimistic”  President Obama's Western Hemisphere policy is “informed, engaged, dynamic, collaborative and optimistic,” says Arturo Valenzuela, U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.  Valenzuela testified on U.S. policy toward Latin America to the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee February 15.

15 February 2011 Internet Freedom Essential to Peace, Prosperity, Clinton Says  An open, secure Internet that is accessible to all is crucial to peace and economic prosperity, says Secretary of State Hillary  Clinton.   “We are convinced that an open Internet fosters long-term peace, progress and prosperity,” Clinton said in a speech delivered February 15 at George Washington University in Washington. An Internet that can be blocked and censored, she said, “can cut off opportunities for peace and progress and discourage innovation and entrepreneurship.”
 • Secretary Clinton: Internet Rights and Wrongs
 • Factsheet on Internet Freedom

14 February 2011 Clinton Says Iranian Aspirations Similar to Those of Egyptians  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the Obama administration’s support for the aspirations of the Egyptian people is also true for Iran, and that the protests under way in Iran are “a testament to the courage of the Iranian people.”

14 February 2011 U.S. to Contribute $125 Million in Refugee Aid  The United States will contribute $125 million toward the 2011 budget of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, according to the Department of State.  The department announced the contribution in a press release February 11 and said the funding will go toward supporting UNHCR efforts worldwide.

08 February 2011 New Strategy Calls for Redefined Leadership   The first revision in seven years of the National Military Strategy calls for redefining leadership in a changing world.  The document released today is the first revision since 2004 of the ways and means that the military will advance U.S. national interests. It builds on the 2010 National Security Strategy and the objectives in the latest Quadrennial Defense Review.  “Our military power is most effective when employed in support and in concert with other elements of power as part of whole-of-nation approaches to foreign policy,” Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote in the strategy. “This strategy is designed to meet the expectations of the American people that their military reflect the best of this great nation at home and abroad.”
 • 2011 National Military Strategy (PDF)

17 December 2010 The First Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR): Leading Through Civilian Power

 • Download the QDDR Factsheet (PDF - 290Kb)
 • Executive Summary (PDF - 2.4Mb)

You can also download the full report in two versions thus:
 • Full report in high-resolution (PDF - 17.6MB)
 • Full report in low-resolution for faster download (PDF -4Mb)

17 December 2010 Secretary Clinton's Remarks at Town Hall Meeting on the First Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, "Leading Through Civilian Power"

for better coordination of the U.S. response to crises, conflicts and natural disasters around the world.

09 December 2010 The Deplorable Wikileaks Disclosures  This op-ed by Ambassador Susman appeared in The Guardian newspaper on Friday, 10 December.

07 December 2010 WikiLeaks and Other Global Events  Briefing with Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Public Affairs Philip Crowley at the New York Foreign Press Center.

02 December 2010 Restoring America's Leadership of the Democratic World Remarks by Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg

01 December 2010 U.S. Government Mitigation Efforts in Light of the Recent Unlawful Disclosure of Classified Information White House Fact Sheet

28 November 2010 Statement by the White House Press Secretary on Wikileaks

13 November 2010  Secretary Clinton welcomes the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest.

09 November 2010  Indonesia: Follow-Up To The President’s Cairo Speech  In Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, the vision the President articulated in his June 2009 speech in Cairo is flourishing.  There continues to be significant progress in the areas of science and technology, entrepreneurship, education and exchanges, regional democracy promotion, and interfaith dialogue.  The burgeoning U.S. Comprehensive Partnership with Indonesia embodies how the United States is implementing the President’s vision for a New Beginning.

28 September  2010 Remarks in a Roundtable Discussion on the Administration's New Global Development Policy    Remarks by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner, USAID Administrator Raj Shah, and Millennium Challenge Corporation CEO Daniel Yohannes in Washington, DC at the Annual US Global Leadership Coalition Conference.
 • The Department of State's Role in Supporting the Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development

23 September 2010 Remarks by President Obama to the United Nations General Assembly The President spoke of the challenges facing America, the world, and particularly Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

23 September 2010 - Secretary Clinton’s Remarks at U.N. Summit on Peacekeeping Sec. Clinton says that it is no longer enough to just provide peacekeepers; that must be accompanied by effective mediation, peacemaking and peace-building... Fact Sheet

16 September 2010 The U.S. at the UN and Beyond: A World of Transnational Challenges Assistant Secretary Brimmer previews some key U.S. priorities at the upcoming UN General Assembly.

10 September 2010 Secretary Clinton's Remarks for Eid-ul-Fitr  Clinton "We want to build bridges, not only bridges toward peace in the Middle East, but bridges of understanding." 

09 September 2010  Statement by the President on the Occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr

16 August 2010 Global Health Initiative In her remarks Secretary Clinton said that "Global funding for development assistance for health is a nonpartisan issue...from the heart of America."

06 August 2010 The U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative
 •  Q&A: Civil nuclear cooperation with India on the Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT)

29 July 2010 Women in Public Policy  Remarks by Erin Harbaugh, Public Diplomacy Advisor, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.

19 July 2010 Secretary Clinton's response to U.S. Senators on the Release of Abdelbasset al-Megrahi

15 July 2010 Briefing on Secretary Clinton's Upcoming Travel   Secretary Hillary Clinton will travel to the Republic of Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan from July 19^th through the 23^rd of July.

20 June 2010 Secretary Clinton Phone Call with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov  Secretary Clinton spoke by telephone with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. They discussed preparations for the upcoming June 24 summit between President Obama and President Medvedev.

27 May 2010 President Obama Releases New National Security Strategy:
• National Security Strategy [PDF]

26 May 2010 Securing the Homeland by Renewing American Strength, Resilience and Values  Remarks by Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John Brennan.

09 May 2010 Secretary Clinton's Interview with Scott Pelley of CBS 60 Minutes

30 March 2010 Secretary Clinton's Remarks With G-8 Foreign Ministers After Their Ministerial Meetings in Quebec, Canada

18 February 2010 Rebuilding Haiti May Cost $14 Billion, Study Shows  A preliminary study by Inter-American Development Bank economists indicates that it could cost as much as $14 billion to rebuild Haiti’s homes, schools, roads and other structures damaged by a devastating earthquake in January. The preliminary report is based on complex comparisons with nearly 2,000 other natural disasters around the world between 1970 and 2008; it factored in the number of dead and missing in Haiti — believed to be between 200,000 and 250,000 people.

14 February 2010 Secretary Clinton's remarks at the U.S.-Islamic World Forum
 •  Question & Answer session

10 February 2010 Rome Meeting to Mobilize Support for Haiti’s Agricultural Sector   Haitian Agriculture Minister Joanas Gue will convene a high-level international meeting at U.N. World Food Programme headquarters in Rome February 12 to coordinate support for Haiti’s agricultural sector. Cheryl Mills, counselor to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, will represent the United States at the meeting, where Haiti’s medium and long-term agricultural development will be discussed in terms of the country’s overall redevelopment plan.

09 February 2010 Former President Clinton's Role in Haiti  "The United States is pleased that the UN Secretary-General has asked former President Clinton to take on an expanded role as UN Special Envoy for Haiti. We understand that President Clinton will assume a leadership role in coordinating international aid efforts from emergency response to recovery and reconstruction in Haiti. "

04 February 2010 Mobile Phone Donations Break Records for Haiti Earthquake Relief   After the devastating earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, millions of Americans grabbed their mobiles, but instead of calling friends or family they hit a number that automatically donated $10 to the American Red Cross, resulting in an unprecedented $31 million raised for Haitian relief through mobile phone technology. “To raise $31 million dollars, $10 at a time, with mobile phones is overwhelming and nothing short of amazing,” says Roger Lowe, senior vice president for communications at American Red Cross headquarters in Washington.

 02 February 2010 Haitian Relief Shifting to Longer-Term Sustainability Projects  Nearly three weeks after the January 12 earthquake hit Haiti, U.S. officials say the relief effort is shifting from search and rescue toward sustainability and economic recovery, ahead of an international donors conference that is expected to be held in March at the United Nations.

29 January 2010 Secretary of State's Speech on European Security  In a speech today at the Ecole Militaire in Paris, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton emphasized that the United States and Europe are essential partners in meeting today’s global challenges, and stressed that we are eager to strengthen cooperation with a Europe that is strong and unified.
 • Factsheet on the Secretarys Speech on European Security

28 January 2010 Secretary Clinton's Interview With Jill Dougherty of CNN

28 January 2010 State Department Daily Press Briefing  Includes announcement of appointments of Staffan de Mistura as new UN representative for Afghanistan and Ambassador Sedwill as NATO special representative for international coordination for Afghanistan (2nd paragraph of transcript).

28 January 2010 Statement on the Violence in Jos, Nigeria

27 January 2010 Secretary Clinton Remarks With British Foreign Secretary David Miliband And Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Abdullah al-Qirbi

26 January 2010 Secretary Clinton's Interview With Michele Kelemen of NPR

26 January 2010 Techies Put Their Laptops to Work for Haiti   One of the newest applications for iPhones in the Apple Store is a free Creole-to-English and English-to-Creole translator called the Tradui aimed at a niche market: the thousands of relief workers on the front lines of the massive relief effort in Haiti. The app was built by one of the volunteer squads of technology wizards who turned out for a “CrisisCamp Haiti” in Washington held days after a massive earthquake devastated the Haitian capital.

26 January 2010 Haiti Receives 10-Year Commitment from International Community  Countries and international organizations that will pledge money to help Haiti recover from the January 12 earthquake have agreed to hold a donors conference in New York in March and have declared a 10-year commitment to the country.  The needs in Haiti are immense, and the Haitian people are continuing to suffer despite the massive aid and relief effort that mobilized as a result of the disaster, they say.

26 January 2010 Clinton to Attend Yemen Security Conference in London   Supporting Yemen as it faces security challenges posed by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula is a significant part of the U.S. strategy with Yemen’s leaders, but there are also efforts to help with economic, governance and social issues, says the State Department’s senior counterterrorism official.

25 January 2010 Secretary Clinton to travel to London and Paris from 26-29 January 2010

In London, Secretary Clinton will attend a ministerial meeting on Yemen on January 27 and the International Conference on Afghanistan on January 28. The goal of the Yemen meeting is to consolidate international support for Yemen, coordinate assistance efforts, and reach agreement on assisting Yemen in its political and economic reform efforts. The objective of the London Conference on Afghanistan is to demonstrate the international community’s support for Afghanistan’s future and the agenda outlined by President Karzai in his November 19 inauguration speech. The meetings will focus on the implementation of our strategy in support of Afghanistan’s security, governance and development, and improved international civilian coordination.
The Secretary will end her trip in Paris, where she will give a speech on European security, in addition to meeting with President Sarkozy and Foreign Minister Kouchner to discuss the international Haiti relief effort, developments in Iran, Yemen, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and an array of other issues of mutual concern.

25 January 2010 London Conference to Discuss Rehabilitation of Taliban Fighters  Ahead of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s attendance at the January 28 International Conference on Afghanistan in London, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke says 2010 will be a “year of heavy implementation” of the Obama administration’s strategy in Afghanistan, and the conference will include support for Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s plans to reintegrate Taliban fighters into the country.

24 January 2010 State, Defense Officials Brief on Efforts in Haiti

24 January 2010 Puerto Rico’s “Barge of Hope” Sails to Haiti with Relief Supplies  When the powerful earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, Puerto Rico responded with an outpouring of sympathy and aid by collecting approximately 6 million pounds (2.7 million kilos) of food and medicine, plus electric generators, tarps and other goods. But shipping such a vast amount of relief supplies presented a formidable problem, with Haiti’s airport severely congested and its seaport heavily damaged. The solution: a massive barge, made available by Pan American Grain, one of the largest food-processing companies in the Caribbean.

21 January 2010 Secretary of State Clinton on Internet Freedom  Free flow of information strengthens societies, secretary says.

21 January 2010 IMF, World Bank Planning for Haiti’s Reconstruction  The International Monetary Fund pledged an interest-free loan of $100 million in initial emergency funds to the Haitian government that can be used for essential services and to finance urgent imports, Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said.

20 January 2010 U.S. Government Haiti Earthquake Disaster Response Update

20 January 2010 USNS Comfort Begins Treating Haiti Earthquake Patients  The U.S. Navy’s 1,000-bed hospital ship Comfort arrived off the Haitian shore and began receiving patients from the January 12 earthquake even before it dropped anchor in Port-au-Prince harbor. Creole speakers have joined the ship to facilitate communication between the medical personnel and their patients.

20 January 2010 Port Repairs Begin to Expand Haitian Relief Operations  The U.S. Military Sealift Command salvage-and-rescue ship USNS Grasp with heavy-lift cranes and an Army engineer diving team is in Haiti to remove debris and rubble that has jammed the small Port-au-Prince harbor and the Cap-Haitien port since an earthquake struck the country eight days ago.

19 January 2010 Restoring Essential Health Care in Haiti Still a Challenge  As the relief effort widens in Haiti, international health experts are trying to determine how many hospitals and health clinics are able to treat patients and provide essential services, and to identify those that cannot and what their needs are, a U.S. Agency for International Development report says.

19 January 2010 American Forces Help Expand Aid Efforts Beyond Port-au-Prince  American military personnel are reaching beyond the vicinity of Haitian capital Port-au-Prince and are opening new ports of entry into the country to increase the flow and distribution of relief assistance. In addition, the U.S. Navy hospital ship Comfort will be off the coast of Haiti January 20 and will begin to ease the pressure on international field hospitals by taking over the care of some of the more severely wounded patients.

19 January 2010 Haitian Police, U.N. Providing Security for Relief Efforts  The Obama administration welcomed the decision by the United Nations Security Council to increase troops and police for the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), which is the main force providing security in the country following the January 12 earthquake.

18 January 2010 White House Press Briefing on the U.S. Government Response to the Haiti Earthquake

18 January 2010 U.S. Government Haiti Earthquake Disaster Response Update  On January 12, a massive earthquake struck the nation of Haiti, causing catastrophic damage inside and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince.  President Obama has promised the people of Haiti that "you will not be forsaken, you will not be forgotten." The United States Government has mobilized resources and manpower to aid in the relief effort.  Below please find some key facts and examples of government actions to date.  All numbers below are accurate as of noon, Monday, January 18.

18 January 2010 U.S., International Community Conquering Problems to Help Haiti  Tons of food, water and medical supplies are reaching the survivors of last week’s earthquake in Haiti and U.S. military personnel are on the ground to speed the distribution of aid and maintain security.

15 January 2010 Secretary Clinton Announces Launch of State.Gov Person Finder Tool for Those Missing in Haiti  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced today the launch of a new tool on www.state.gov, the “Person Finder,” to allow people to find and share information on missing loved ones in Haiti. The tool can be found at http://www.state.gov/haitiquake.

14 January 2010 State Department Briefing On the Situation in Haiti (update from State.gov)

14 January 2010 Secretary Clinton’s media interviews on Haiti (from State.Gov) :
 •  With Brian Kilmeade, Gretchen Carlson and Steve Doocy of FOX and Friends
 •  With Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC’s Morning Joe

14 January 2010 Air Bridge Opened at Port-au-Prince Airport for Relief Efforts  An air bridge into Haiti was opened by a U.S. Air Force ground control team that worked around the clock to restore electric power and the control tower at the airport in Port-au-Prince as relief supplies, military troops and aid workers began pouring into the country from around the world.

13 January 2010 USAID Fact Sheet: U.S. Response Efforts to Developments in Haiti  Outlines key developments, U.S. disaster relief and food assistance.

13 January 2010 U.S. Search-and-Rescue Teams Are Arriving in Haiti  The U.S. Agency for International Development has dispatched a disaster assessment team along with a U.S. military assessment team to determine the scope of the humanitarian crisis affecting the Haitian people in the aftermath of one of the region’s most violent earthquakes in a century.
 • State Department Press Briefing on the Situation in Haiti
 •  Secretary Clinton Remarks on The Situation in Haiti

13 January 2010 Why Was Haiti Earthquake So Devastating?  More than 3 million people in Haiti are estimated to have been affected by the earthquake that struck January 12. Registering at magnitude 7.0, it is the most violent earthquake to hit that island nation in a century. Deaths, injuries and damage are yet to be tallied. According to experts, magnitude 7 earthquakes - considered "severe" by seismologists - occur around the world 12 to 15 times each year. What made the Haiti earthquake especially devastating?

08 January 2010 Remarks by Secretary Clinton on the 15th Anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development

08 January 2010 New USAID Chief Sees U.S. Forging Deeper Partnerships Overseas  The U.S. Agency for International Development has sworn in a new administrator, Dr. Rajiv Shah, at a ceremony January 7 in Washington. In an exclusive interview with Voice of America, Shah talked about the Obama administration’s plans to deepen its partnerships overseas and listen more to the countries the agency serves.

2009

07 December 2009 Building a New Architecture of Global Cooperation  Remarks by Secretary Clinton: “[W]e need to be committed to using American leadership to build a new architecture of global cooperation. And fundamental to that idea is that the 21st century not only presents many shared challenges, but also demands shared responsibility.“

07 December 2009 Remarks by President Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan  The leaders discussed U.S.-Turkey relations, Afghanistan, NATO, Iran and Iraq.

18 November 2009 Corruption Continues to Hobble Social, Economic Progress   Corruption continues to hobble social and economic progress in most countries, according to the latest report by Transparency International, a nonpartisan, civil society organization which monitors corruption from some 90 offices around the world. The majority of the 180 countries included in the 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) score below 5 on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 10 (perceived to have low levels of corruption). CPI rankings measure perceptions of public-sector corruption based on surveys of experts and businesspersons based both in the country and abroad. The rankings focus on the abuse of public power for private benefit.

06 November 2009 Helsinki Treaty Spurred Fall of Berlin Wall, End of Communism  When 35 European nations, including the United States and the Soviet Union, signed the Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe on August 1, 1975, it set in motion events that would topple the Berlin Wall and leave a lasting imprint on international relations.

07 October 2009 Guinea Violence a "Vile Violation" of Human Rights, Clinton Says  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said an international investigation is needed into the killings and rapes by Guinean security forces against peaceful protesters and bystanders at a stadium in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, saying "there should be no impunity" for the perpetrators.

06 October 2009 Secretary Clinton's Remarks With Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on American Power and Persuasion

05 October 2009 Countries Hit by East Asian Disasters Receive U.S. Assistance  The United States has been part of international relief efforts in the East Asia-Pacific region after separate natural disasters struck Indonesia, the Philippines, Samoa and neighboring islands within a period of less than one week.

02 October 2009 Remarks by Secretary Clinton, OIC Secretary-General Ihsanoglu  Officials discuss bilateral relations in Washington.

02 October 2009 Seeking a New Generation of Cyberdefenders  Though they tend to be young and eager, skilled cybersecurity experts are small in number. There simply are not enough of them to meet projected long-term global public and private sector requirements.

02 October 2009 United States Working to Bridge Gaps in U.N. Human Rights Council  The first session of U.S. participation in the United Nations Human Rights Council has been "a terrific learning experience," and although the United States will not always agree with the body’s opinion, "it’s important that we’re in there defending the values we hold dear," says Esther Brimmer, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for international organization affairs.

30 September 2009 United States Sending Assessment Teams to Tsunami-Stricken Areas  The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency is sending two disaster assessment teams to American Samoa, along with a team from the U.S. Coast Guard, to assess the impact of an earthquake, the ensuing tsunami and extensive flooding, the White House says.

30 September 2009 Clinton Hails U.N. Resolution to Protect Women Against Violence  Says violence against women is criminal, not cultural.

23 September 2009 Obama Challenges United Nations to “New Era of Engagement”  The interests of the world’s peoples are shared, more than at any point in human history, and the international community must embrace “a new era of engagement” to confront pressing challenges such as nuclear proliferation, climate change and economic crisis, President Obama told the United Nations General Assembly.
 • Remarks by the President to the United Nations General Assembly

18 September 2009 Clinton Outlines U.S. Agenda for U.N. General Assembly   The United States will promote an agenda at the opening of the 64th session of the U.N. General Assembly focused heavily on building international partnerships, promoting nuclear nonproliferation, resolving issues in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan and forging economic development initiatives.
 •  Remarks by Secretary Clinton

11 September 2009 Nonproliferation, Climate Change Top U.S. Issues for U.N. Meeting  The Obama administration is considering global issues such as climate change and food security to be immediate security challenges, along with more traditional security topics like nonproliferation and arms control, as the U.S. delegation prepares for the 64th United Nations General Assembly, opening September 19 in New York.

27 August 2009 Grants from Millennium Challenge Corporation Spur Development  When Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton identified lack of good governance as a major obstacle to development during her recent trip to Africa, she also highlighted a global solution in use throughout the continent and South America, Asia and Europe: the compacts of the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

19 August 2009 U.S. Marks World Humanitarian Day, Announces Additional Aid   U.S. officials marked the first World Humanitarian Day by announcing an additional $160 million to support global aid work and calling for governments and parties in conflict areas around the world to pay attention to the safety of humanitarian workers.

14 August 2009 United States “Ready to Lead Once More” at United Nations  The Obama administration recognizes that the well-being and security of Americans is “inextricably linked” to that of people everywhere in the world, and it is making “rather dramatic changes” toward multilateralism in its approach to the United Nations, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice says.

11 August 2009 Obama, Clinton Condemn Sentencing of Burma"s Aung San Suu Kyi  The decision by Burma"s ruling military to convict and sentence Nobel Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to 18 additional months of house arrest is "unjust" and violates universal human rights principles, said President Obama, who calls for the veteran democracy leader and other Burmese political prisoners to be set free.

06 August 2009 Obama Aide on a New Approach to Safeguarding Americans  Remarks by assistant to the president for homeland security.

26 July 2009 Secretary's Remarks: Interview With David Gregory of Meet the Press

21 July 2009 United States Seeks Deeper Relations with India  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton pledged a new era of strengthened relations with India and announced the launch of a strategic dialogue between the two countries.

20 July 2009 U.S.-India Joint Statement Following Clinton's New Delhi Meetings  Diplomats committed to building enhanced India-U.S. strategic partnership.

18 July 2009 Secretary Clinton’s Interview with Frankly Speaking  In Mumbai, secretary discusses relations with India and Pakistan.

17 July 2009 North American Leaders to Meet August 9–10  The leaders of Canada, Mexico and the United States will meet in August to discuss security, economic and trade policies, health issues and regional challenges like the political crisis in Honduras, said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

15 July 2009 Secretary Clinton's Foreign Policy Address at the Council on Foreign Relations
 • Question & Answer session

15 July 2009 Clinton Tells Iran's Leaders Now Is the Time for Engagement  Iran’s leadership should respond to President Obama’s offer of engagement over its nuclear activities, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says, adding that the opportunity "will not remain open indefinitely."

14 July 2009 State Department's Todd Leventhal Discusses Conspiracy Theories  Todd Leventhal, disinformation and conspiracy theory specialist with the U.S. State Department, answered questions in a July 14 CO.NX webchat on conspiracy theories.

10 July 2009 Special Press Briefing on Diplomacy and Development Strategy

18 June 2009 Department of State's Office of the Historian Announces New Website: www.history.state.gov

13 June 2009 Secretary Clinton's Remarks at the 100th Anniversary of the Boundary Waters Treaty

11 June 2009 Public Diplomacy: A National Security Imperative  Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale spoke at the Center for a New American Security’s third annual conference, "Striking a Balance: A New American Security".

11 June 2009 Obama's Cairo Speech Resonates with Africans, State's Carson Says  There was widespread interest across sub-Saharan Africa in President Obama's speech June 4 from Cairo to Muslims worldwide because many of the speech themes resonated directly with Africans who look forward to participating in a "new dialogue" with the United States, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson said June 5.

10 June 2009 White House Document on Advancing the Role of Women  Series of documents central to Obama administration’s agenda.

05 June 2009 Many Muslims Saw Hope, Change in Obama's Cairo Speech  "The speech gave me hope that change can happen, especially by collaboration and by seeing common ground and interest," 19-year-old Ingy Hassieb said. The Egyptian college student reflected on the words he had heard when the new American president, Barack Obama, came to Cairo with the call to initiate "a new beginning between the United States and Muslims."

04 June 2009 A New Beginning  President Obama's speech in Cairo, Egypt as prepared for delivery.
 • Fact Sheet: The U.S. and Muslim communities around the world (PDF, 64KB)

03 June 2009 State's McHale to Spearhead U.S. Global Public Engagement  Judith McHale, President Obama's selection to spearhead the government's public outreach to global audiences, says the United States needs to engage the people of the world in new and innovative ways.

26 May 2009 White House Document on Delivering on Change: Foreign Policy  This series describes issues central to Obama administration's agenda.

20 May 2009 Clinton's Opening Remarks at Senate Hearing on Foreign Operations  Testifies before Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing May 20

19 May 2009 Remarks by Secretary Clinton at the Global Press Conference   Highlights U.S. humanitarian aid to Pakistan, foreign policy goals.

18 May 2009 Remarks by Secretary Clinton At Barnard College Commencement Ceremony

13 May 2009 Taking Diplomatic Action Against Piracy  U.S. outlines anti-piracy efforts to combat piracy worldwide.

13 May 2009 U.S. Seeking Improved Relations with Western Hemisphere Nations  President Obama wants the United States to build a new cooperative approach to relations with other Western Hemisphere nations that is supported by the twin pillars of democratic governance and inclusive prosperity, says Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg.

12 May 2009 State Department Official Encourages Dialogue with Muslim World  President Obama and his administration are fully committed to pursuing "a deep and positive dialogue with Muslims around the world based on mutual respect and in support of our mutual interests," according to a key State Department official.

08 May 2009 Commercial Fleet Owners Ask U.S. Congress for Solutions on Piracy  Piracy in waters off the coast of Somalia has increased so much in 2008 and 2009 that some elements of the U.S. commercial shipping industry are now saying they want armed protection on vessels.

08 May 2009 U.S. Announces $27.5 Million for Pakistan, Afghanistan Food Aid  USDA provides international assistance through Food for Progress Program.

05 May 2009 Obama Seeks Close Coordination with Afghan, Pakistani Leaders  The presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan are arriving for meetings with President Obama and other senior U.S. officials to try to develop closer trilateral coordination against terrorism and to address the impact of the global economic crisis in their countries.

05 May 2009 Pakistan’s Security Seen as Vital to U.S. National Security  The hallmarks of U.S. engagement with Pakistan must be constancy and consistency to assure a strong partnership in the fight against Taliban extremists, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke says.

04 May 2009 Young Mariners Get Up-Close Lesson in Thwarting Pirates  In the 100 years the Massachusetts Maritime Academy has taught mariners to crew merchant ships, not once had pirates hijacked a U.S.-flagged vessel.

30 April 2009 Clinton's Remarks at Senate Hearing on War Supplemental Request  Clinton, Gates testify on aligning departments' missions, overall goals.

29 April 2009 Key to Obama Foreign Policy Is Expanded Global Engagement  President Obama set three major foreign policy goals when his administration began 100 days go: re-establish America’s standing in the world; create dialogue with friends, partners and adversaries based on mutual respect; and work together in building partnerships.

22 April 2009 Clinton Discusses Wide-Ranging U.S. Diplomatic Agenda The United States is pursuing a wide-ranging diplomatic agenda that is based on strengthening alliances, cultivating partnerships with key regional powers and building constructive relationships with China and Russia, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says.

21 April 2009 Clinton, Libyan Minister Qadhafi on Bilateral Relations  U.S., Libya have opportunities to deepen, broaden cooperation, says Clinton.

16 April 2009 Remarks by Defense Secretary Gates at Army War College  Says international navies, shipping firms must partner to thwart pirates.

19 April 2009 Obama Praises Constructive Talks at Summit of the Americas  President Obama said the U.S. entered the fifth Summit of the Americas in equal partnership with the nations of the Western Hemisphere based on mutual respect, common interests and shared values, and leaves after three days of constructive talks with what he called a good first step.

17 April 2009 Middle East Special Envoy Mitchell's Visit to Israel  Mitchell meets with Israeli officials, works toward a comprehensive peace.

16 April 2009 Call for End to Hostilities in Sri Lanka  United States urges government to help Tamil citizens in safe zone.

15 April 2009 Secretary Clinton's Announcement of Counter-Piracy Initiatives  “This week, the State Department is taking four immediate steps as we move forward with a broader counter-piracy strategy. But let me underscore this point: The United States does not make concessions or ransom payments to pirates.”

14 April 2009 Obama Administration Seeks Greater Involvement with U.N.  The Obama administration is "deeply committed to international human rights issues and to the United States being an active player in advancing universal standards," said Esther Brimmer, President Obama's newly appointed assistant secretary for the State Department’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs.

13 April 2009 Obama to Allow More Travel, Money Transfers to Cuba  The U.S. will allow Cuban Americans unlimited travel and money transfers to family in Cuba, the White House says. Cuban Americans may also send clothes, personal hygiene items, seeds, fishing gear and other personal necessities to family members in Cuba.
 • Promoting Democracy and Human Rights in Cuba

08 April 2009 Press Statement Following E3+3 Political Director's Meeting in London  The Political Directors of China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union met in London today following the important discussions between our leaders in recent days.

30 March 2009 United States Official Development Assistance Increases Worldwide  United States Official Development Assistance (ODA) increased substantially across social and economic sectors worldwide in 2008 based on preliminary U.S. data provided to the OECD this week.

24 March 2009 United States Seeks Multilateral Diplomacy with World Community  The perception that the U.S. has not been engaging the world community and has been pursuing foreign affairs unilaterally is erroneous, and even more so with the Obama administration, a senior U.S. diplomat says.

24 March 2009 Statement by Secretary Clinton on World Tuberculosis Day 2009

16 March 2009 New Guantánamo Detainee Policy Rooted in International Law  The Obama administration has issued new standards for holding terrorism suspects at the Guantánamo Bay detention center that are rooted in international law and mark the White House’s latest step toward final closure of the facility by early 2010.

08 March 2009 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on International Women's Day 2009

05 March 2009 Sudan's Bashir Should Be Held Accountable, Says Clinton  After an international court issued an arrest warrant for Sudan President Omar al-Bashir for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called for calm and reiterated America’s commitment to peace, justice and security for Africa's largest country.

26 February 2009 Fiscal 2010 Budget Seeks More Spending for Diplomacy, Assistance   President Obama is calling for a nearly 10 percent increase for spending on diplomacy and foreign assistance in 2010, putting the United States on a path toward greatly increasing its spending in those areas, according to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

23 February 2009 Clinton: Enhancing Relations with Governments and People  A significant part of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s four-nation trip to East Asia was connecting with people in ways they had not experienced in recent years.

20 February 2009 Biden Says Accurate Intelligence Essential for Policymaking  The Obama administration will need timely, credible and accurate intelligence from the nation's 16-agency intelligence community if it is to carry out its goals and objectives over the next four years, Vice President Biden says.

20 February 2009 Clinton Names Special Representative for North Korea Policy  Veteran American diplomat Stephen Bosworth, the current dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, has been named special representative for North Korea policy and will oversee the Six-Party Talks on halting North Korea's nuclear development program.

07 February 2009 Biden Lays Out U.S. Foreign Policy Goals, Approaches  Vice President Biden says the United States will be guided in its foreign relations by the principle that there is no conflict between its security and its ideals — each reinforces the other

04 February 2009 Special Representative Departs for Afghanistan, Pakistan  The new U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, is making his first visit to the region to begin consultations, a State Department spokesman says. Holbrooke is going to the region without a specific agenda.

28 January 2009 JCS Chairman Mike Mullen Briefs on U.S. National Security Strategy Update

27 January 2009 Secretary Clinton's Remarks with Reporters on U.S. Foreign Policy  Clinton answered a range of questions on Middle East, Iran, Afghanistan.

26 January 2009 American Envoy Pledges Renewed Commitment to United Nations  The U.S. is committed to helping strengthen the United Nations so it can meet a host of emerging challenges, says America's new ambassador to the international body, Susan Rice.

23 January 2009 U.S. Foreign Policy Shifts with Lightning-like Speed  With near lightning speed, President Obama has altered the course of U.S. foreign policy less than 48 hours after taking office by making clear that the country's goals and objectives will be consistent with American values and the rule of law.

22 January 2009 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Calls for Robust Diplomacy  Hours after being sworn in as the 67th secretary of state, Hillary Clinton arrived for her first day on the job, telling a crowd of State Department employees gathered to welcome her that she will work with "joy and responsibility, commitment and collaboration."