Moderator: Thank you. Greetings to everyone from the U.S. Department of State’s Dubai Regional Media Hub. I would like to welcome our participants dialing in from the Middle East and around the world for this on-the-record briefing with David Schenker, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.
Today, the United States is designating two Hizballah officials to maintain pressure on the group and impede its ability to operate in the financial system. The United States is designating Nabil Qaouk and Hassan Al-Baghdadi pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended, for being officials or leaders of Hizballah, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
For many years, the Iranian regime and its primary tool of regional destabilization, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), have exploited Iraq to advance their own interests at the expense of the Iraqi people. The IRGC-QF’s activities in Iraq continue to undermine Iraqi security, sovereignty, and prosperity.
Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced $2 million for five new awards under the BetterTogether/JuntosEsMejor Challenge to benefit Venezuelans in the Argentine Republic, the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Republics of Colombia and Chile, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
On every stop I will discuss a broad range of bilateral topics, but also work to find out with each of those countries the best ways that we can make sure that we cooperate to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific.
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 21, 2020 – The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and Africa50 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop and launch the Millennium Impact for Infrastructure Accelerator (MIIA) Development Partnership.
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will travel to New Delhi, India; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Malé, Maldives; and Jakarta, Indonesia October 25 – 30.
As Prepared
Thank you for the chance to discuss U.S. engagement in the Sahel. The Secretary of State’s approval of a Diplomatic Framework for the Sahel and the creation of my position as Special Envoy earlier this year reflects the U.S. government’s commitment to the region.
TEL AVIV – The United States, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates are proud to announce the establishment of the Abraham Fund, which fulfills a commitment made in the Abraham Accords. Through this fund, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the UAE, and Israel will mobilize more than $3 billion in private sector-led investment and development initiatives to promote regional economic cooperation and prosperity in the Middle East and beyond.
U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel Region Ambassador J. Peter Pham represented the United States at the Ministerial Roundtable for the Central Sahel on responding to the crisis in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger as part of the High-Level Humanitarian Event co-hosted by Denmark, Germany, the European Union, and the United Nations. Jenny McGee, the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Associate Administrator for Relief, Response, and Resilience and Richard Albright, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration joined Ambassador Pham in representing the United States.
