SOUTHWEST ASIA — A U.S. aircraft shot down an armed pro-Syria regime Unmanned Aerial Vehicle after it fired on Coalition forces in Southern Syria, June 8.
The United States is deeply concerned by the recent detention of Taner Kiliç, Chair of Amnesty International Turkey—the latest in a series of respected human rights defenders, journalists, academics, and activists detained in Turkey. These detentions, often with little evidence or transparency, are an alarming trend. We are closely following these cases, and underscore the importance of respect for due process and individual rights, as enshrined in the Turkish Constitution and consistent with Turkey’s own international commitments.
President Donald J. Trump spoke today with Amir Sheikh Tameem bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar. The President emphasized the importance of all countries in the region working together to prevent the financing of terrorist organizations and stop the promotion of extremist ideology. The President reiterated that a united Gulf Cooperation Council and a strong United States-Gulf Cooperation Council partnership are critical to defeating terrorism and promoting regional stability. The President offered to help the parties resolve their differences, including through a meeting at the White House if necessary.
President Donald J. Trump spoke today with Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates. First, and most importantly, the leaders agreed on the importance of implementing agreements reached in Riyadh to counter extremism and to combat the funding of terrorist groups.
Paris – The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) releases the following readout of USTR Robert Lighthizer’s first meeting with European Union (EU) Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, which took place in the margins of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting:
Seventy years ago, on June 5, 1947, Secretary of State George C. Marshall laid out his bold vision for the United States to help the war-ravaged nations of Europe recover from the massive destruction of World War II. Marshall’s vision was central to reconciliation and cooperation among countries that were previously enemies on the battlefield. The Marshall Plan not only helped Europe recover and spurred rapid economic growth; it laid the foundation for the long-term peace and prosperity that both the United States and Europe have enjoyed for nearly three-quarters of a century.
SOUTHWEST ASIA -The Syrian Democratic Forces and their Syrian Arab Coalition partners launched the offensive to unseat ISIS from its so-called "capital" of Raqqah in northern Syria, June 6. The SAC and SDF began marching on Raqqah in November and have been rapidly tightening the noose around the city since their daring air assault behind enemy lines in Coalition aircraft in March to begin the seizure of Tabqah
The United States has called for the United Nations to investigate the deaths of UN employees and human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The United States is deeply concerned by the recent violence in Bangassou, the Central African Republic (CAR), and continuing violence by armed groups in other parts of the country, especially around Bria and Bambari. We strongly condemn these acts of violence and the targeted attacks against humanitarian actors whose sole purpose in the CAR is to provide lifesaving support to the population. We underscore the fundamental need for all actors to work together to promote peace and prosperity in a country that has suffered for far too long from instability and conflict.
This morning Secretary Tillerson met with Foreign Minister of Brazil Aloysio Nunes Ferreira.