The U.S. State Department has successfully evacuated hundreds of American citizens from Sudan after two weeks of deadly fighting. The evacuation was conducted with the help of American unmanned aircraft, providing armed overwatch for a bus convoy carrying 200-300 Americans over 500 miles. The State Department is continuing to monitor the situation and provide assistance to those who wish to leave the country.
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President Joe Biden has shown his commitment to protecting the rights of journalists by calling the family of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been wrongfully detained in Russia. The Biden administration has also designated Gershkovich’s case as a priority and Biden is expected to discuss the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin when they meet in Geneva. As Biden embarks on his trip to Ireland and the United Kingdom, he is likely to continue to advocate for the release of Gershkovich and other journalists wrongfully detained around the world.
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.
The White House has released a summary of the "hotwash" of U.S. policies around the ending of the longest war, blaming the chaotic 2021 withdrawal on the Trump administration and asserting that President Joe Biden was "severely constrained" by President Donald Trump's decisions. The Pentagon and State Department have completed after-action reviews on the withdrawal and are expected to provide a more detailed assessment of the withdrawal, security failures, and how the Biden administration can prevent similar situations in the future.
Paul Rusesabagina, the man who inspired the film "Hotel Rwanda," has returned to the United States and is set to reunite with his family. He arrived at the US Army’s Brooke Army Medical Center at Joint Base San Antonio on Wednesday, and the U.S. government is focused on ensuring that Rusesabagina and his family’s well-being are prioritized. It is unclear when Rusesabagina will be reunited with his family, but it is expected to be soon.
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.
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.
The U.S. intelligence community has released the results of a review into the mysterious neurological symptoms known as "Havana Syndrome", concluding that it is "very unlikely" that a foreign adversary is responsible. The State Department is now preparing to compensate victims with payments of between roughly $100,000 and $200,000 each, and is working to ensure those affected receive the compensation they are due.