Author: Vedant Patel, Principal Deputy Spokesperson

The United States stands with its ally the Philippines and condemns the dangerous actions by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) against lawful Philippine maritime operations in the South China Sea on August 19.  PRC ships employed reckless maneuvers, deliberately colliding with two Philippine Coast Guard ships, causing structural damage and jeopardizing the safety of […]

The United States congratulates Luis Abinader on his second inauguration as President of the Dominican Republic.  Through this election, the people of the Dominican Republic expressed their collective aspirations for prosperity, security, and democratic governance.  Our two countries have a strong partnership and share a deep and abiding belief in the power of democratic governance […]

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Israel on August 17 to continue intensive diplomatic efforts to conclude the agreement for a ceasefire and release of hostages and detainees through the bridging proposal presented today by the United States, with support from Egypt and Qatar.  This proposal would achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, […]

MR PATEL: Good afternoon, everybody. QUESTION: Good afternoon. MR PATEL: I don’t have any comments to offer at the top. Daphne, you want to kick us off? QUESTION: Yeah, thank you. On Gaza, Hamas has said it would not take part in a new round of Gaza ceasefire talks slated for tomorrow. Are your partners […]

The United States strongly condemns the Houthi seizure of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) headquarters in Sana’a, Yemen.  The storming and takeover of the OHCHR headquarters in Sana’a by Houthi militants violates international norms.  It further demonstrates that the Houthis have no respect for the most basic international practices.  This […]

The United States is imposing sanctions on one individual and six companies, and blocking three vessels, for their involvement in illicit revenue generation to support the Houthis’ destabilizing activities on behalf of Iran-based, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force-backed Houthi financier Sa’id al-Jamal. The United States is also sanctioning one company and blocking four of its vessels tied to Hizballah official Muhammad Qasim al-Bazzal and the shipment of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas valued at tens of millions of dollars. Since the Houthis began their attacks on Red Sea shipping last […]