The US State Department has officially declared Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich wrongfully detained by Russia, empowering the Biden administration to explore avenues such as a prisoner swap to try to secure his release. The Wall Street Journal has called for Gershkovich’s immediate release, saying the espionage charges against him are “absurd” and “unfounded”. It is unclear when he will be released, but the State Department’s designation gives the Biden administration additional resources to secure his freedom.
Posts tagged as “Antony Blinken”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed grave concern over the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia on espionage charges, and has called for his immediate release. The Journal and Dow Jones have denied the unsubstantiated allegations and the U.S. government is closely monitoring the situation, with the safety and security of American citizens around the world a top priority.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee has issued a subpoena to Secretary of State Antony Blinken for sensitive cables from the U.S. embassy in Kabul. The subpoena, signed by Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul, requests an internal dissent cable written by 23 State Department employees in Afghanistan. The document is seen as a vital piece of information as the committee investigates the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Biden administration is facing criticism from both sides of the aisle. The State Department has yet to comment on the subpoena.
The U.S. State Department is facing an "unprecedented demand" for passports as Americans prepare to travel again following the COVID-19 pandemic. The State Department is receiving 500,000 passport applications a week, with wait times of 10 to 13 weeks for a regular passport and seven to nine weeks for an expedited passport. The State Department is hiring additional staff and increasing resources to meet the increased demand and is urging travelers to plan ahead and apply for passports as soon as possible.
At the G20 meeting in India, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a brief discussion. Blinken made three points to Lavrov, including support for Ukraine in the conflict, urging Russia to reverse its decision to suspend the New START nuclear treaty, and asking Moscow to release political prisoners. The New START treaty is a key nuclear arms control treaty between the two countries, and the meeting comes at a time of heightened tensions between them.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held their first high-level meeting in months on Thursday, discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Blinken made three points to Lavrov, including support for Ukraine, reversing the decision to suspend the New START nuclear treaty, and addressing Russia's destabilizing actions. The meeting is a sign of progress in the two countries' relationship, and they will continue to work together to address the conflict in Ukraine and other issues of mutual concern.
US Government Takes Action to Remove TikTok from Government Devices in Response to Security Concerns
US Government Takes Action to Remove TikTok from Government Devices in Response to Security Concerns
The White House has issued guidance to all federal agencies to remove the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok from all government devices within 30 days due to security concerns. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that any effort by China to send lethal aid to Russia would be met with serious consequences. The US government has expressed concerns about the app’s potential to be used for disinformation campaigns and is taking steps to protect its citizens from the potential risks posed by the app.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on the international community to not let Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions become the "new normal" in a speech at the United Nations Security Council. The Biden administration has announced a $2 billion support package for Ukraine and is joining with partners in the Group of Seven countries to impose new financial penalties to stop the funding of Moscow's war machine. The US and its allies are hoping that the new measures will help to bring an end to the conflict.