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The U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce the new U.S. Department of State Chief Economist, Dr. Chad P. Bown, who will serve as the Secretary of State's most senior advisor on economics. In this role, Dr. Bown will lead the Office of the Chief Economist (OCE), working to strengthen the Department's ability to conduct economic analysis on high-priority issues, and to advance U.S. interests on foreign policy issues which have an economic dimension. Dr. Bown will also lead OCE in building economic capacity and understanding within the Department of State, and in connecting the Department to domestic and international stakeholders in the community of professional economists.
Dr. Bown's extensive academic and research experience, coupled with his leadership in writing and public communication in the field of economics, make him uniquely qualified for this task. Dr. Bown served as a Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics since 2016 and as a lead economist at the World Bank, advising governments on international trade policy. He was a tenured professor of economics at Brandeis University for twelve years and served on the White House's Council of Economic Advisers from 2010-2011. Dr. Bown has collaborated with leading institutions including the World Bank to increase transparency around trade policies and trade barriers and has published extensively in leading economic journals.
Dr. Bown's appointment demonstrates Secretary Blinken's commitment to the State Department's modernization agenda, ensuring economic data and analysis is infused into the work of the Department at all levels. The appointment also highlights the importance of increasing the Department's ability to analyze and understand how economics influences virtually every major foreign policy challenge. In this role, Dr. Bown will lead efforts by OCE's team of professional economists to build on key economic workstreams within the Department to advance U.S. foreign policy interests.
For further information or media inquiries, please communicate with E_Communications@state.gov.
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Secretary Antony J. Blinken with Julian Pecquet of Jeune Afrique
Interview
January 24, 2024
Via Translation
QUESTION: Four countries in four days. Thank you, Mr. Secretary of State, for taking the time to talk to us during your visit. Let's start with Nigeria. Despite its economic dynamism and President Tinubu's promise to double the GDP within eight years, the country is ranked as the fifth most violent country in the world by the ACLED group, which you must be aware of. How does the Biden administration propose to help the country improve its security situation and achieve its economic potential?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: You know, there's an approach, a partnership that needs to be comprehensive. Obviously, there is support through programs to strengthen Nigerians' capacity to address security challenges, whether it's in terms of intelligence, equipment, or training. All of that is very important. We're trying to do this in greater depth, but at the same time, there needs to be an approach that takes everything into account. For example - and by the way, we were, for example, in Cte d'Ivoire just before coming to Nigeria, and we saw that an approach that takes into account the needs of the community, that tries to create a more positive relationship between security forces and the community in question, also has a very important impact on controlling extremism, terrorism, and crime efficiently. So that is important.
And it's also necessary to try to address the root causes that essentially take choices away from people, which leads them to choose crime, terrorism, extremism. Hence everything we do not only in terms of aid and assistance but especially in terms of investments, creating economic partnerships, establishing economic infrastructure that can create opportunities not only in major cities but throughout the country.
All of this is a process. It takes time, it doesn't happen immediately, but it starts with a comprehensive vision of how to tackle the problems - yes, at the security level, but also in a more expansive, comprehensive way.
QUESTION: You talked about the need to engage with the putschist regimes in the Sahel, including in Niger. With Mali and Burkina Faso, this country has formed a defensive pact, as you are well aware, the Alliance of Sahel States. Is this potentially a legitimate regional grouping, or is it too close to Russia? And more generally, how do you avoid a new fragmentation of Africa that could resemble the Cold War with its blocs?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Obviously, we are very concerned about the developments we have seen in Mali, in Burkina Faso, and more recently in Niger. There is a timeline for a return to civilian governance for the first two, which is very important to us, and which I believe is crucial for the countries in the region as well. So, that's what we want to see. In Niger - by the way, I was in Niger with President Bazoum before the coup, a month before, a few weeks before, and already it was a positive example of what we could do together to address both security and economic challenges, and others as well. In this regard, the role of ECOWAS is mainly to try to convince the putschists to return to constitutional order within a very clear and limited timeframe. I believe that's essential.
There was a meeting with President Tinubu as the chairman of ECOWAS late last year, precisely to try to establish this process. And for us, the United States, if Niger returns to the path of constitutional order and democracy, obviously, we are ready to lift sanctions. We are ready to reinstate the programs we shared against terrorism, for security. It all depends on the concrete steps the putschists take. I have some hope that it can move in a better direction, but I don't see the evolution towards a new order or a new configuration of states.
We have seen something else in Mali, in Burkina Faso. When they, and others, call on external forces like Wagner, for example, to try to address the security problem, what do we see? We see that the problems become even more serious, more difficult - violence, extremism, terrorism in the states that have requested the help of Wagner. It's increasing, not decreasing. And obviously, the exploitation of resources, the exploitation of people. We see that too. So it's not the answer, and we know it. It's not just because we say it; we know it from experience in these countries. The answer is a return to constitutional order, to democracy, but also to governments that listen and respond to the needs of the people.
None of this is easy. The problems, the challenges are very significant. But we have now seen what happens when we make the other choice, and it doesn't go well, on the contrary, the situation only worsens, especially for the people in question.
QUESTION: You are now traveling to Angola at the end of your trip. The country remains ravaged by corruption. Why is President Lourenco considered a more acceptable, and above all more reliable partner, compared to his predecessor Dos Santos? And what is the current state of American relations with, after all, a former Cold War adversary?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Actually, let me tell you this: What we see with President Lourenco is someone who is actually fighting against corruption. And we see that he has followed a very important path that both recognizes corruption as a poison for development and for creating opportunities, and takes very concrete steps to combat it. At the same time, it is also necessary to create, I think, a more open system in order to truly address corruption. For example, civil society has a very important role to play. For that, there needs to be even more space for civil society, for the media, who also have a critical role to play in countering corruption, in shedding light on it, and in combating it. But we see a very positive development in Angola, especially in this fight against corruption.
And we also have partnerships with Angola, with Zambia, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the very, very important Lobito Corridor infrastructure project which will bring a transportation and digital communication system to the people in these three countries and throughout the African continent, supporting a very important economic revolution.
Something that has been lacking in Africa and that is now emerging is having an internal market which would be as important, if not more important, than the external market. The fact that African countries historically have more trade and investment with countries outside of Africa than among themselves is a missed opportunity. Now, with a growing free-trade system in Africa, especially with the necessary infrastructure for it to work, we see a future where economic growth has much more significant possibilities. And especially the connections we make between countries, with Angola playing a very important role in this corridor, I believe it holds a lot of promises for the future.
Something else with Angola: President Lourenco has been playing a very important role in trying to manage crises through diplomacy, especially what is happening in eastern Congo and Rwanda, where the process established by Angola is very important to try to find a diplomatic way forward and not through war. So all this to tell you that he is becoming an increasingly important partner. President Lourenco came to the White House and met with President Biden last year, and President Biden asked me to follow up. That's why we are visiting Angola.
QUESTION: Very well, thank you very much, Mr. Secretary.
Secretary Antony J. Blinken with Dr. John Momoh of Channels TV
Interview
January 24, 2024
QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for joining us —
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good to be with you. Thank you.
QUESTION: — in spite of your very busy schedule. As an opener, how were you able to sit for the match in Ivory Coast?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, first, I'm a lifelong football fan. So it was incredibly exciting to be there, and also just to see the remarkable job that our friends in the Ivory Coast did in bringing everyone together for the Cup of Nations. But I was sitting with some friends and colleagues from the Ivory Coast, and it was a bit of a tough match for the Elephants, so I was being very sympathetic to that.
But mostly I just felt the excitement in the stadium, the excitement of the game, and the excitement of people coming together throughout the continent and well beyond. There were a lot of Americans who traveled to the Ivory Coast to see the tournament. It's just a reminder of how powerful sports is in connecting people - connecting people across geography, across language, across culture. That's really what was so exciting about it.
QUESTION: That was good. After the first goal, I'm sure you thought, Ah, they will equalize. But they never did.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, yeah. And then when that goal - when the Ivory Coast goal was disallowed for offsides, I think it deflated them a little bit. But look, young players, incredibly talented.
QUESTION: Absolutely.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: They'll be back, and there are so many other great teams involved. Of course, Nigeria.
QUESTION: Good. That's history now, but welcome to Nigeria.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you.
QUESTION: Your schedule here to Africa is hectic, very tightly packed, and this is the second time within ten months that you're here. I told you just a minute ago that I'll soon start calling you brother.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: That would be honor. Thank you.
QUESTION: And anyway, you come in here twice within ten months on the heels of other senior-level U.S. Government officials.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: That's right.
QUESTION: And Mr. President, the President Biden, said we're all in on Africa at the last summit. And he promised to come. Doesn't this visit foreshadow the fact that the commitment by the President, since it was unfulfilled, is putting Africa lower on the priorities list of U.S.-African foreign policy?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: I would say I think it's just the opposite. As you mention, of course, the President very much wants to come to Africa. Beyond that, though, as you mention, I think we've had 17 cabinet-level or department-level officials come since the Africa Leaders Summit. And one of the things President Biden was so intent on is - we had three great days in Washington with the Africa Leaders Summit, but he wants to make sure that the 362 days that follow those three days to make up the year we're focused and engaged here.
And there's a simple reason for it. For the United States, we see Africa as a continent that's shaped our past, it is our shaping our present, and it will for sure shape our future. When we have one in four people on this planet soon to be coming from Africa. And when we have with Nigeria in particular the continent's largest country, its largest economy, its largest democracy, there's a natural partnership. That's why I'm back, to follow up on the commitments that were made at the Africa Leaders Summit by the President and to strengthen and deepen the partnership that we already have.
QUESTION: How does the State Department plan to strengthen diplomatic relations with Nigeria in the context of increasing global competition for influence in Africa?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, first there is - there are tremendous needs and opportunities that no one country is going to be able to meet by itself. We make very significant investments - often, for example, through the United Nations, as well as through other programs - in health security, the PEPFAR program, which has been one of the greatest things that we've done, and it's had a big impact here in on Nigeria, for food security, working on combatting climate change, given the impacts that it has. We're investing in infrastructure, and we see that, for example, in something the President has established, the Lobito Corridor that will join up Zambia, the DRC, and Angola in creating physical and digital infrastructure.
But here's the biggest difference-maker, I think. The United States also - and maybe uniquely - invests in knowledge, in transferring knowledge, in sharing techniques, in sharing understanding, so that countries that we're partnered with can then do it themselves and aren't dependent or reliant on us or anyone else. So it's that investment in knowledge that I think is one of the most powerful things we do.
Here in Lagos, we just opened our 25th American Corner in Nigeria, the most of any country in Africa. And this is a place where people can come not only to connect to the United States, but also to learn, to develop skills - whether it's English language skills or technology skills - to build their knowledge.
QUESTION: So this is laudable investments and projects for Africa. But did the U.S. wait to see China and Russia taking the bull by the horns and coming in for us before it served as a wakeup call?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, this is not about - for us, it's not about China, Russia, or any other country. It really is about the partnerships that we see as offering tremendous opportunity, not just for our African partners, but for us. Look, the reality is none of the problems that we're trying to solve for the American people can we solve alone. None of the challenges that we have to face for the American people can we effectively meet alone. We need to be doing this in partnership.
I saw just here in Lagos some young Nigerian entrepreneurs, innovators, who are finding answers to problems that we also have in the United States. The more you're able to connect people together in that way, the better it's going to be for all of us.
So we're not here - we're not engaged here because of any other country; we're engaged here because of the opportunity that we see to strengthen partnerships and to actually meet our common challenges. And it's a natural for us, in part because of history. But again, when we think of the future, what we think and what we see and what we feel is Africa. And that's why the President, President Biden, has made sure that we're focused, even with everything else going on in the world.
QUESTION: Shifting gear now, let's ask you to speak to us about U.S.-Nigeria security collaborations, especially in combatting terrorism and regional instability, which are affecting economic and development efforts in Nigeria.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: I think the challenge there is acute, and we can't minimize it. But we're also determined to proceed in partnership with Nigeria in meeting that challenge. Now, it has to be - and I believe it is - a comprehensive approach. Of course, there's the hard security part of this. And so things that we're doing in terms of building capacity in Nigeria among the security forces, the military, equipment, technology, intelligence, information sharing - all of those kinds of things are very important.
But also important is taking a comprehensive approach if you're really going to be effective, for example, in dealing with extremism or terrorism. The relationship between security forces and the communities that they are supposed to be protecting is critically important. Making sure that the forces are there looking out for the people, not enabling or doing bad things to the people - that's hugely important.
Making sure that we're also looking at some of the root causes that may be pushing people or driving people to take up crime or to engage in extremism or terrorism. That's very important too, and that means finding ways to create more opportunity for people throughout the country, so that they can have and believe in a future, that they can put bread on the table for their families. Because if you can't do that, if you can't put bread on the table for your kids, you'll probably be willing to do anything in order to accomplish it.
It's a long way of saying we have to have - and we do have - a comprehensive approach to this, in partnership with the government and in partnership with local communities as well. But the more Nigeria succeeds in developing its economy, pursuing innovation, connecting people, and meeting some of the very serious challenges when it comes to health, when it comes to climate, when it comes to energy, when it comes to food security - those ultimately are the best ways to create the conditions in which extremism, criminality, terrorism doesn't grow.
QUESTION: Let's talk about trade and development issues. First, let's turn our searchlight on energy and environmental policies. Given Nigeria's status as the major oil supplier to the U.S., how is the U.S. engaging with Nigeria on energy diversification and climate change mitigation?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, we feel a real responsibility to be a strong partner on the transition to a renewable-based energy economy, because historically we developed in such a way that we did things in our own development that we're now asking other countries not to do because of the impact on the environment. So we have a responsibility to help, to help lead the way.
That goes to some of the financing that we're putting into enabling countries to build greater resilience and to adapt. It comes with the technology and innovation that we helped develop and we're sharing to make sure that countries can take advantage of technology to move away from fossil fuels.
It also comes with an understanding that this is a transition; it won't happen overnight. But there has to be a clear plan and clear support from us and for other countries that have developed their economies in previous years to make sure that we're doing this together. That's the nature of what we're trying to do with Nigeria.
QUESTION: Two more quick questions, because I know you've got to go. You spoke about the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Yes.
QUESTION: Could you expatiate on that?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, look, one of the things - I think there are a couple of things that are very important. Of course, we want to see trade and investment strengthened between the United States and Africa. And actually, just since the Africa Leaders Summit, we've seen a significant jump in two-way trade and investment, a 60 percent increase just in that period of time. And partly that goes to the work our own government is doing with the tools that we have to support our private sector in doing more within Africa. At the same time, there are things that countries here can do to create the strongest possible investment environment.
But there's another aspect to this. I think within Africa itself making sure that the environment exists - and this what the Free Trade Area in Africa itself is doing - so that African countries are trading with and investing in each other. You have a very unusual situation historically, where up until now African countries have done more trade and had more investment outside of Africa than they have within Africa. That should and it is changing because that's really missing tremendous opportunities.
But it also requires connecting countries in Africa. That's why we're also taking a regional approach. I mentioned the Lobito Corridor before that will physically as well as digitally join Zambia, the DRC, and Angola. That connectivity is the way you get more trade and investment flowing among Africans and within Africa, as well as maximizing opportunities to bring trade and investment from other countries to Africa.
QUESTION: Finally, Mr. Secretary, what will be your greatest takeaway yet from your trip to Nigeria?
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Oh, look, it's, in a way, the same takeaway I've had on multiple trips here. It's the vibrancy, the energy, the innovativeness of this young population. And that's why when I say for us Africa is the future, you can see the future is now. It's actually happening right now. And it's especially happening with young people here.
The - some of the innovators that I met today here in Lagos, who, as I said, are finding creative solutions to problems that are shared around the world - that's what's so incredibly exciting about the partnerships that we're building in Africa. We can see a future where African solutions, African voices are critical and central to everything that's going on around the world. We want to be part of that.
QUESTION: Very well. Secretary Blinken, thank you very much, indeed, for joining us. And best wishes on your onward trip.
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Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StatePraia, Cabo Verde
SECRETARY BLINKEN: It's wonderful to be here in Cabo Verde and the port of Praia. We start this trip to Africa here in Cabo Verde because it is quite literally a gateway to Africa for countries around the world, including for the United States. And a big part of that gateway is this port. One of the things I'm very proud of is the fact that, thanks to the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the United States was able to invest significantly in modernizing and upgrading this port so that its capacity was dramatically expanded in terms of the number of ships that it could bring in, the efficiency of the port also dramatically increased so that ships could be processed much more quickly, the storage capacity around the port also built up, and all of that has created an incredibly vibrant place and a much stronger gateway to Africa for us and for so many other countries.
We also see that in the fact that this expansion project has produced jobs right here in Cabo Verde. And we're also seeing Cabo Verde become increasingly a destination for tourism, for cruise ships, all of that thanks to work that was done in large part through the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Cabo Verde is the only country in the world to have completed two Millennium Challenge Corporation compacts, and now it's embarking on a third, but a third that will really focus on regional connectivity and on integration and strengthening ties economically among countries in West Africa.
So we couldn't be more pleased and more proud for this partnership with Cabo Verde, and it seems like a very fitting place to start this trip to Africa that'll take us now to Cte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and on to Angola. And it's further evidence of the fact that, as President Biden said, the United States is all in with Africa. We see Africa as an essential, critical, central part of our future. The partnerships between the United States and Africa were a big focus of the work that we did at the Africa Leaders Summit in Washington and, most important, the work that we continue to do ever since that summit in following through on the commitments and the agreements that were made there. This trip is a big part of that, and it really does focus on President Biden's commitment and conviction that the United States and Africa are joined in partnership for the future. So thanks very much and glad to be able to bring you to the port.
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Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Mexican Foreign Secretary Alicia Brcena before Their Meeting
Remarks
January 19, 2024
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good afternoon. It is wonderful to welcome Foreign Secretary Brcena, my friend Alicia, here. All of the Mexican delegation - Rosa, all of you - thank you for being here. I have to say we're really grateful to have such a close partner in Mexico, and that's borne out every single day in the work we're doing together in so many different areas.
This particular meeting follows a very productive session in Mexico just after Christmas on December 27th, and I think we've made great progress just in the space of the three weeks since that meeting, and we look forward to reviewing that today as well as looking at additional steps that we can take together to advance the goal that we both share of reducing the unprecedented irregular migration surge.
Also since our last meeting, I think a very significant development in President Arvalo being inaugurated in Guatemala. This opens an important new area for cooperation on migration between our three countries, and we will continue to work together more broadly to develop regional solutions to the historic challenge that we face.
But in all of this, our partnership, our work together, could not be more valuable, more important, and we deeply appreciate it. So, Alicia, welcome and over to you.
FOREIGN SECRETARY BRCENA: (Via interpreter) Good afternoon to all of you. First of all, I just want to thank Secretary Blinken, his generosity of receiving us today here at the Department of State. It's always a pleasure to be with Antony Blinken. Thank you so much. And here I am - I have - I am very well accompanied here with the Secretary of Defense General Sandoval, Secretaria Rodrguez, of our Admiral Raphael Ojeda, Arturo Medina that comes in representation of the Ministry of Governance, and of course, el Embajador Moctezuma, and of course, all our friends that are here with me.
Obviously, it is a very important meeting - very, very important meeting - because it's a follow-up meeting to the one that we had on December 27th. It's a meeting where we were able to confirm once again the cordial relationship between our countries. And this is not only regarding human mobility, which is the issue that we will address today, but other issues - security, economy, trade.
We have a very, very dynamic relationship, and I think that what we were able is to establish mechanisms between the two of us. And there is a U.S. poem - poet, Robert Frost - The Road Not Taken. That's the book that he wrote, right? And I think that we are here because the U.S. and Mexico have, como dice Robert Frost, we have two ways and we have to choose one - two roads. And I think that we are choosing together the one that we have not really walked together too much, which is the first trade partner of the U.S. We have a very dynamic situation in social, and we have $863 billion a year, and this is $2 million a minute. Imagine. This is very important.
So we have a great agreement. We have 3,000 miles that join us, and of course, Alejandro Mayorkas knows this very well. But we bring a message from Manuel Lpez Obrador. First, his best regards because we, as Mexico, we have the intent to help to support in this big battle that we are facing, which is the high human mobility. And this is not something that we see in our region; the whole world faces something like this.
So this is why we want to take that road, the road less traveled. But this is going to make a difference for us, for our people. And especially for both countries, where what happened last year, we received 33 million U.S. citizens as tourists in Mexico, so that really shows the relationship between two countries and millions of Mexicans that live in - here in the U.S. and that contribute. Because truth be told, Mexicans are contributing to the economy, and I think that that's the base. And this is - we are here, we are ready, ready to address the root causes of migration, the factors that generate irregular migration, and above all, how can we work together to face this issue to benefit our people, of course, but also, undoubtedly, that this will benefit other countries in the region, because this is something, as I said, that doesn't affect just U.S. and Mexico.
Thank you, Secretary Blinken. We have the mechanism, the bicentennial dialogue, and we are going to carry out a meeting in Mexico. So of course, the issue of weapons, which is something that concerns us very much, but I think that what we have is a bilateral relationship which is strong through assistance, deep, and very affectionate. And I think that this is what we have to keep on working on to benefit our people. We are very happy to be here today, in this very cold day I would say - wonderful, beautiful, and it is a pleasure for us to be here in the U.S.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Here's to the road taken together.
FOREIGN SECRETARY BRCENA: Absolutely. Exactly. Robert Frost. Cheers to you. Salud.
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Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateDavos, SwitzerlandWorld Economic ForumSECRETARY BLINKEN:John, thank you very much.(Applause.)Thank you. Thank you. Good afternoon. John, my old friend, thank you very, very much. And as always, here, it's particularly good to be with leaders from across government, business, civil society. So when you think about soil, the U.S. Secretary of State is probably not the first person who comes to mind. (Laughter.) But the truth is soil is literally at the root of many pressing national security challenges that we face.You all know this, and we know this increasingly with every passing day: without good soil, crops fail, prices rise, people go hungry. Eroding soil also worsens the impact of droughts, of floods, of other climate-driven extreme weather, making crop yields even lower - and as a result, food even scarcer. As we meet here today, 700 million people do not know if they will have enough food to eat tomorrow.This hunger fuels instability, and instability fuels hunger. A parent who can't put food on the table for their children picks up the family and moves because it's the most basic thing, the most important thing that they can do, and they will do it however they have to do it. And if that means moving halfway around the world, they will. But that contributes to unprecedented migration flows that we're facing around the world. Shifting climate patterns force neighbors to compete for dwindling resources, further straining ethnic tensions, destabilizing entire communities.Meanwhile, Russia's attacks on fields, on granaries, on ports in Ukraine, the world's breadbasket, have disrupted global markets, making food harder to afford and harming the poor and most vulnerable most of all. In the Red Sea, through which 15 percent of the world's commerce passes, Houthi attacks have forced ships to take longer, more expensive routes, further raising the price of food and energy.The United States has been and is working intensely to tackle this food crisis and support those who are most affected by it. Going back to January of 2021, the U.S. Government has devoted $17.5 billion to provide vital sustenance to people in need. We are honored to fund over one third of the World Food Programme's budget. Now I had a chance to see some of these efforts just last week at a World Food Programme warehouse in Jordan, where I met with UN staff that is working relentlessly, often at great personal risk, to get aid to Palestinians in Gaza, over 90 percent of whom are facing acute food insecurity.Too many people already go to sleep hungry, and it's set to get worse. If you project out to 2050, global demand for food is projected to rise by 50 percent. But over that same period, climate change could reduce yields by as much as 30 percent. So do the math and it doesn't balance out. In short, we need to feed more people as growing food becomes harder.That's why the United States is partnering to adapt and transform agriculture and food systems, because as vital as emergency assistance is, if we don't get at the underlying infrastructure, if we don't get at a way to produce better, stronger, more resilient crops, then we won't solve the problem. But we joined a pledge with over 130 countries signing the Emirates Declaration at COP 28 to address a big part of this. Our Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate initiative with the UAE has mobilized $17 billion to invest in efforts like regenerating degraded crop land and capturing carbon in soil. Through the global partnership for infrastructure and investment, we are working with dozens of countries - from India to Zambia - to scale climate-smart agriculture and bolster supply chains.And together with the African Union and the Food and Agriculture Organization, we've launched a new initiative. It's called Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils, or VACS, and VACS is part of the USAID's flagship Feed the Future initiative. This is our comprehensive response in the U.S. Government to food insecurity around the world, and the approach that we have is two-pronged. And it really boils down to this, two very basic things: First, we're investing above ground, identifying the indigenous African crops that are most nutritious and most resilient to climate change, improving these varieties, delivering them to the world; at the same time, we're investing below ground, mapping, conserving, building healthy soils. If you get this right, if you get the seeds right, if you get the soil right, then you have your agricultural foundation for the future.We've been incredibly fortunate at the State Department to have one of the world's leading experts, Dr. Cary Fowler, lead our efforts in helping develop this initiative. We've committed $150 million thus far toward VACS. We're also rallying a broad coalition of governments around the world to advance this work: Japan, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, as well as leading nonprofits and corporations. Just to cite one example, IBM is expanding access to its OpenHarvest platform, which is using AI and climate modeling to deliver tailored farm and field management recommendations right to farmers' cell phones. We have the capacity as we're doing this with all of this technology to literally map the soil any place in the world, any given field, to tell whether the soil is good, bad, deficient, and then to figure out how we can make it as productive as possible.So, this is something that I believe is genuinely revolutionary - seeds and soil, we put them together, and we can begin to answer a lot of the challenges that our world is going to face over the next 25 or 30 years. And so my simple pitch to you today is this: Join us. This is a powerful investment. It has extraordinary, even transformational returns.Some of you may know that the word human comes from the Latin term for earth, for soil. There are a few things that are more human, more and more important to humanity, than figuring out how to cultivate this planet so that it can feed and support all of us. We have an opportunity in this moment to actually deliver better for people today while actually building a sustainable tomorrow.So part of the reason - and John said at the outset - this event in and of itself is unusual for Davos. Having foreign policy types participate in it may also seem a little bit unusual, but it only underscores the importance that all of us attach to both this challenge but also this incredible, incredible opportunity to get maybe the most fundamental thing in life that we need to sustain us right going forward into the future, and that's the food to feed everyone on this planet and to feed them well.So those of you who have the interest and the opportunity, please join us in this initiative, join us in this effort. We can make a huge difference together. Thanks very much. (Applause.)
Looking to balance user security with innovation, Singapore wants feedback on proposed updated to the country's existing artificial intelligence governance framework.
On January 25, theOffice of Global Partnerships,in collaboration with partners Good Machine and Arm, will launch a San Francisco Coalition for Climate Entrepreneurship (CCE) Hub. The San Francisco CCE Hub, the first within the United States, will provide climate entrepreneurs from around the world the opportunity to prototype, scale, and develop their innovations, benefitting from Silicon Valley's technology ecosystem.
Through CCE, the U.S. Department of State and private sector partners contribute to economic empowerment in developing countries by nurturing entrepreneurial climate solutions. CCE offers access to capital, technical assistance and capacity building, mentorship, and network opportunities for early and growth-stage startups. Currently, there are seven active CCE Hubs in Accra, Ghana; Hanoi, Vietnam; Nairobi, Kenya; Marrakech, Morocco; Bogota, Colombia; San Jose, Costa Rica; and Guatemala City, Guatemala.
This event is open to press who RSVP. The CCE Hub launch will take place at Good Machine's venture studio at 1500 Michigan St, San Francisco, CA. Please arrive by 10:45 a.m. on January 25 for setup.
If you would like to RSVP, emailpartnerships@state.gov.To schedule an interview with Special Representative for Global Partnerships Dorothy McAuliffe, please contact Senior Advisor Jake Rubenstein via cell at (412) 860 2020.
A new open letter alleges Big Tech "gatekeepers" like Google, Microsoft, and Apple haven't done enough to comply with the EU's strict Digital Markets Act.
AI integration was a key focus of CES 2024 and one company is taking that experience mobile with an always connected e-bike that serves as the hub for interactions, coaching, and fitness data collection.
Save on groceries, electronics, and more with Costco's top-tier membership, which gets you 2% back on your purchases and lower prices on Costco services.
Of everything we saw at CES 2024, we picked a TV, a laptop, an AI device, and a tech accessory we most recommend. And we have picks for the most innovative stuff, too.
Microsoft's market capitalization eclipsed Apple's a day after it showed off artificial intelligence capabilities in front of developers in San Francisco.
There's much to pay attention to from CES 2024, but if you're looking for the best speakers and audio equipment from the tech event, you're in the right place.
CES 2024 has been chock-full of AI integration, and this year's laptop lineup is no different. Brands like MSI, HP, and Razer are utilizing AI in their CPUs for better multitasking and efficiency.
The United States welcomes today's announcement by the Government of Chile and Google, launching the Humboldt subsea cable route connecting Chile to Australia via French Polynesia. This is the first-ever subsea cable connection between South America and the Indo-Pacific region. When complete (estimated 2026), this transformational project will increase the reach, reliability, and resilience of the Internet by adding a trusted and secure route across the Pacific.
The Humboldt subsea cable route is an example of a commercially viable, multi-stakeholder approach to trusted information and communications technology development that will create new economic opportunities in Chile and beyond. These undersea cables, paired with secure 5G wireless terrestrial networks, will accelerate South America and the Pacific Island nations' digital connectivity and integration with the global economy.
This announcement follows the inaugural Leaders' Summit of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, where President Biden hosted regional leaders, including Chile's President Boric, to chart an ambitious course for deepening economic integration and mobilizing responsible private investment in the Western Hemisphere. The Humboldt cable represents a concrete example of the potential for greater economic cooperation in the Americas. To help broaden access to modern, trusted and secure communications infrastructure throughout the Pacific, the United States remains committed to expanding access to fast, secure, interoperable, and reliable internet connectivity in the Pacific Ocean. The Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP) plans to contribute $15 million to enable access to fast, secure, interoperable, and reliable internet connectivity in several Pacific Island Countries. This is one way that the United States government is engaging with U.S. companies to enable the expansion of sustainable and reliable Internet infrastructure.
For more information, please contactCDP-Press@state.gov.
Tesla is increasing pay this month for many of its factory workers across the U.S., a move that comes after the UAW secured big wins against major automakers
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Davos, Switzerland January 15-17 to attend the World Economic Forum. During the World Economic Forum, Secretary Blinken will meet with leaders to discuss issues of global concern. He will emphasize the need to achieve lasting peace and security in the Middle East, the United States' enduring commitment to the people of Ukraine, and our commitment to transatlantic security and the rules-based international order.
Zafrul Aziz, Malaysia's minister for international trade and industry, explains Malaysia's plans to double down on the semiconductor sector to capture growth in the EV market.
The rapid advancement of generative AI is heralding a new era for workers--and charging leaders with a responsibility to navigate unprecedented opportunities.
X said late Tuesday it has completed a preliminary probe into the compromised account of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that displayed a false post.
The Evie Ring is making an innovative splash atCES 2024. Activity, temperature, and heart rate are other metrics it tracks. What's more, it's available now.
Trend Micro, which employed 7,582 employees as of June 2023, said it would lay off 2% of its worldwide workforce as part of a business transformation plan.
If you buy a Costco membership for $60 right now, you can get a $20 gift card to use in the store or online with this deal, to save on everything from groceries to electronics.
The United States is today designating one individual and three entities for facilitating Iranian financial assistance to the Houthis that enables attacks on international shipping and other destabilizing activities. Those designated today have facilitated the transfer of millions of dollars to the Houthis at the direction of U.S.-designated Sa'id al-Jamal, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force-backed Houthi financial facilitator based in Iran.
The Houthis' continued attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden have disrupted the free flow of commerce through the region and endangered innocent mariners. Since October, the Houthis have launched numerous missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at commercial vessels transiting near Yemen's coastline, in clear violation of international law.
The United States will continue to combat Iranian illicit financial support to the Houthis. We call on the international community to stand firmly against the destabilizing activities of the Houthis and their Iranian backers.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force is a U.S.-designated entity. The Department of the Treasury action was taken pursuant toExecutive Order 13224, as amended. For more information on this designation, see Treasury'spress release.
The following text was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Japan, and the Republic of Korea on the occasion of the Trilateral United States-Japan-Republic of Korea Indo-Pacific Dialogue.
Begin Text:
The Governments of the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea convened the inaugural trilateral Indo-Pacific Dialogue in Washington, D.C. on January 5, 2024. Led by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel J. Kritenbrink, Japanese Deputy Minister/Director-General Kobe Yasuhiro, and Republic of Korea (ROK) Deputy Minister Chung Byung-won, the meeting built upon commitments made during the Trilateral Leaders' Summit at Camp David hosted by President Joseph Biden on August 18, 2023.
Before beginning their planned discussions, the three partners expressed their condolences for those who lost their lives in the recent earthquake in Ishikawa prefecture.
The representatives of the United States, Japan, and the ROK discussed each country's Indo-Pacific approach and opportunities for cooperation, with an emphasis on partnership with Southeast Asian and Pacific Island countries. They shared their respective assessments on geopolitical trends shaping the Indo-Pacific, highlighting the need for enhanced trilateral cooperation.
They reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate through regional forums and groupings, including ASEAN, the Friends of the Mekong, the Partners in the Blue Pacific, and the Pacific Islands Forum. They took note of the unique opportunity for trilateral cooperation at the UN in 2024 while the United States, Japan, and the ROK all hold seats on the Security Council. They celebrated the success of the U.S. APEC host year in 2023 and looked forward to cooperating on the ROK's APEC host year in 2025, and applauded progress made on the Indo-Pacific Economic FrameworkforProsperitynegotiations. They discussed strategies to advance women's economic empowerment and equitable participation in the digital economy and looked forward to the 2024 Women's Economic Empowerment Conference in Washington, D.C. They also noted with optimism opportunities for further youth engagement with Pacific Island and Southeast Asian countries, supported in tandem by the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, including the upcoming July 2024 Trilateral Global Leadership Youth Summit in Busan.
Additionally, they emphasized the importance of collaborating to enhance regional economic security, resilience, and development, including taking action to combat climate change and engaging with Indo-Pacific partners on issues such as information and communications technology, cybersecurity, and emerging technology, including through the AI Safety Summit and the Global AI Forum hosted by the ROK in 2024. Furthermore, they reiterated their ongoing commitment to trilateral maritime security and law enforcement cooperation in accordance with international law with a focus on support for capacity building in the region.
While focusing on the opportunities for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, the partners also noted with concern worrying trends in the region, including the worsening humanitarian, political, and economic crisis in Myanmar.Recalling the publicly announced positions of the three countries regarding the recent dangerous and escalatory behavior supporting unlawful maritime claims by the PRC in the South China Sea, they strongly reiterated their firm commitment to international law, including the freedom of navigation and overflight, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and they opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion anywhere in the waters of the Indo-Pacific. They condemnedthe DPRK's continued development of its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs, growing military cooperation with Russia, and grave human rights violations and abuses. They reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as indispensable to security and prosperity in the international community.
Recognizing the increased threat posed by foreign information manipulation, the United States, Japan, and the ROK discussed ways to effectively counter these threats while respecting freedom of expression.
The trilateral Indo-Pacific Dialogue is a new chapter in our countries' partnership and an important step forward to strengthen and more closely align our policies globally. Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink, Deputy Minister/Director-General Kobe, and Deputy Minister Chung reaffirmed their intent to continue to hold the trilateral dialogue annually and coordinate closely on issues of shared concern in the Indo-Pacific.