State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel holds a press briefing.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good afternoon everybody. How's everyone doing? I don't have any comments at the
00:10top. Olivia, would you like to start us off? Your colleagues from the wire
00:17services must be like there must be a great food truck out there or something.
00:21I wanted to start with, so tomorrow will mark one week since Secretary
00:27Blinken said that he had made determinations regarding a review of
00:31potential Leahy law violations by Israeli military units before October
00:357th. He said at the time that we would see the result in the coming days and
00:39I'm just wondering if you have an update on the timing of such an announcement or
00:44unveiling? So I don't have any updates for you on timing. What I can say, and
00:53you've heard me say this before, is that we take extensive steps to fully
00:58implement the Leahy law for all countries that receive
01:03applicable US assistance. That of course includes Israel, with whom we have a
01:08long-standing security relationship. The Leahy law also has clear legal standards
01:13and the department applies those to all countries. In terms of process, you saw
01:19the Secretary address this, not just in Capri, but when he was here in the
01:23briefing room on Monday, that we will have more to share, I'm sure, in the
01:28time ahead, but I don't have any anything for you beyond that. Okay, when the
01:32National Security Advisor was asked yesterday about reports in the Israeli
01:35media that the U.S. may reverse course and not actually issue any punitive
01:39action in association with these determinations, he deferred to this
01:43building. So I wanted to present the question to you and whether you have any
01:46response to those reports in Israeli media that the U.S. may not actually take
01:49punitive action. Look, we, in any country in which we have a security relationship, we
01:55will apply the tenets of the Leahy law fully. The law is pretty clear in terms
02:02of what those standards are, and those standards are applied across the board
02:06to every country in which we have a security relationship with. That will be
02:10the case anywhere where we find there to be action or activity that is in
02:18violation of the Leahy law. I'm not going to speak specifically about any
02:22particular country, as that would be very much before the process, but we have
02:27every intention to fully enforce and implement this law where it is applicable.
02:33I have two questions on the region and then one on Africa. Why don't you start
02:37and stick with the region and then we'll work the room and then come back
02:40to other parts of the world. Sounds good. I will get to you, Said, just as I have done
02:45every day that I've been here. On the video of Hirsch Goldberg polling, which we
02:50understand was being reviewed by the FBI yesterday, I'm just wondering if you can
02:53say today whether that video was authenticated or any new information
02:56derived from that review. I imagine the FBI is still undertaking their analysis
03:02and undertaking whatever steps that they are involved with, them in close
03:07coordination with the hostage recovery fusion cell. What I will use this
03:11opportunity to do is just echo again that it is a high time that every
03:17hostage be released. There has been a deal on the table that Hamas continues
03:24to move the goalposts for, and so we would stress the dire circumstance and
03:30the dire importance for this to be done and to be done so immediately. The
03:37fact, going back to October 7th, we have been clear and clear-eyed about the fact
03:43that every hostage needs to be released. But on the specific video, it's deeply
03:48troubling, horrific, but I don't have any other specifics on the circumstances
03:54around the video or the individual beyond saying that Hirsch should be home,
03:58he should be with his family, and he should be released. Okay, thank you. And
04:02last one is on Rafah, and there's a swirling commentary and developments
04:07again overseas as to whether something is imminent or not. I'm wondering whether
04:11you've gotten any clarity from Israeli officials about the plan, whether an
04:14actual plan for humanitarian or military operations has been presented, and if not,
04:19is there one on the books in the foreseeable future? I don't have any updates on our
04:24engagements, specific engagements with the Israeli government. You saw last week
04:29the Strategic Consultative Group had a meeting with National Security Advisor
04:34Jake Sullivan and others. These conversations will continue to be ongoing.
04:39My understanding is that subject matter and technical experts will continue to
04:45have meetings at their level, but beyond that, we continue to not hesitate about
04:53being clear-eyed about any opposition that we have as it relates to a military
04:58operation in Rafah that does not address for the very serious humanitarian
05:03concerns that we have, that you've heard me talk about, you've heard Matt talk
05:06about, Ambassador Satterfield just the other day as well.
05:09Thank you. One more, if you want to go ahead. Nadia, go ahead.
05:12I want to ask you about a colleague of yours, Hala Ratid, who was the most senior
05:17spokesperson in the region and a diplomat who served the State Department for 18
05:21years in different places – Hong Kong, Yemen, South Africa. She resigned and
05:27basically she said that she has been calling the administration to restrict
05:34sending arms to Israel. She is resigning in protest about your policy towards
05:38Israel, and she warned of that this policy will endanger diplomats like
05:43herself and U.S. troops in the region. It's against U.S. interests in the region.
05:47So what's your message to somebody like her and many in the State Department that
05:51the normal channel that you give them to express their opposition and their views
05:55is not going anywhere, is basically they're just allowing them to speak, but
05:59there's no change of policy?
06:01So let me say a couple things there, Nadia. First and foremost, we're talking
06:07about a personnel matter, so I'm not going to delve into the specifics.
06:11It's an official.
06:12We're talking about a personnel matter, and so this is something that I'm not
06:16going to speak about specifically. I have seen the reports. On someone's decision
06:23to remain working for the U.S. government or not, that is ultimately – do you want
06:30to turn that off, whoever's got this briefing on speaker? Yeah, thank you.
06:37Sorry, I lost my train of thought. As it relates to this personnel matter, I'm not
06:42going to speak to the specifics. But look, firstly, we have been – there is a
06:50process, there are channels that we've spent a lot of time in this briefing room
06:55talking about for which our workforce can share their points of view when they disagree
07:03with a certain policy or a certain action that the U.S. government is taking.
07:09You've heard us talk about the dissent channel. That option – that channel continues
07:14to be in place. The Secretary reads every single one of those dissent channel cables
07:19and dissenting viewpoints from across the administration. We continue to welcome them,
07:25and we think that it helps lead to stronger, more robust policymaking. And the Secretary
07:32wants to hear differing points of views. He believes it makes him a better, stronger leader
07:39of this department and a better and stronger policymaker.
07:43Ultimately, anybody's decision on whether they want to continue to be – remain employed
07:50somewhere or not, that is ultimately a decision for them to make. That's not anything for
07:56us to speak to. That's a very personal process. What I can say, that when we're talking
08:01about the region, we are very clear-eyed about our goals and what we want. We want to see
08:06the hostages released. We want to see a ceasefire that is coupled with the release of hostages
08:10and the influx of humanitarian aid to continue to help alleviate the ongoing crisis that
08:16is in Gaza.
08:17We also want to see Hamas defeated. We want to ensure that Gaza can no longer be a launching
08:22pad for terrorism against the Israeli people. All of these things we want to see happen,
08:28and we are working tirelessly day in, day out, to achieve this goal.
08:33And lastly, I'll just say, Nadia, when it comes to the safety and security of our diplomats,
08:38this Secretary has no higher priority than that, and that is factored into our decision-making
08:44when it comes to any kind of foreign policy that we pursue, whether it be in the Middle
08:48East or whether it be in other corners of the world.
08:50Said.
08:51Okay, thank you.
08:52Thank you. Yesterday, the Israeli prime minister called for a crackdown on pro-Palestinian
09:01protesters in the United States of America. Do you find this to be a gross, I mean, a
09:07calling, interference in American affairs? I mean, especially from a leader of a country
09:12that has just received $26 billion of American taxpayer money, do you find that to be annoying
09:19or in any way interfering in the affairs of the American public and exercising their right
09:27to demonstrate?
09:28Well, Said, I will leave it to the prime minister's office to offer any clarification
09:34on his comments, but I don't believe he called for a crackdown. Let me just say, though,
09:41that –
09:42He didn't really call for a crackdown.
09:43He didn't really call for a crackdown.
09:44Let's be real about the facts, Said, which is that in the aftermath of October 7th, we
09:52are very much seeing a surge in anti-Semitism across the world, and its tragedy demands
09:58action. Beyond that, though, we, of course, support the right of anybody to peacefully
10:05protest, to demonstrate, to make their voices heard, to express themselves in a peaceful
10:11and nonviolent way. However, we also believe that harmful rhetoric – rhetoric, whether
10:20it be rooted in anti-Semitism, Islamophobia – is incredibly problematic and needs to
10:27be condemned and called out against. But beyond that, as it relates to the individual policies
10:34that are being pursued in dealing with these demonstrations on individual college campuses,
10:40I would defer to the local jurisdictions to speak to that.
10:44I understand everything that you said, you know, but I'm asking you – there is a foreign
10:49leader who's saying that American law enforcement, including the National Guard, ought to crack
10:55down on Americans exercising their First Amendment right to free speech. I'm asking you on
11:01this particular issue, not on October 7th, not on all this that happened. I'm asking
11:05you, do you find this to be appalling by a foreign leader in direct interference in the
11:10way Americans conduct themselves?
11:12A leader can call on whatever they'd like, Said, but it's – no one is naive to the
11:17fact that utilization of the National Guard is ultimately a decision up to individual
11:22governors.
11:23I understand.
11:24And so beyond that, the prime minister is welcome to make whatever comments he'd like.
11:31When it comes to what is happening in this country, we're going to remain focused on
11:36that, and specifically on some of the spread of anti-Semitism that we're seeing. This
11:43is something that this president takes incredibly seriously, and that's why he has implemented
11:48the first-ever national strategy to combat anti-Semitism. Other kinds of harmful, hurtful
11:54rhetoric that we have been seeing as well in the aftermath of October 7th, rooted in
12:00Islamophobia, rooted in stigmatism around Arab Americans or Palestinian Americans.
12:07That is also equally problematic and needs to be condemned as well.
12:11Yes. No, no, hold it. Please, I'm not done. I'm not done. I'm not done. Hey, I'm
12:16not done. Please. I'm not done. I just want to – I understand. I understand the need
12:21to combat the despicable anti-Semitism and so on. I understand what the president is
12:25doing. I'm asking you, do you reject the fact that a foreign leader is saying that
12:33the demonstrations ought to be put out – ought to be cracked down upon? That's what I'm
12:38asking you. Do you reject that? Said.
12:41You reject people – I mean, you reject the U.S. Government cracking down on peaceful
12:47demonstrators, correct? Correct? Said.
12:50You reject that? I mean, this is part of what America is all about.
12:54I'm asking you, do you reject the interference of a foreign leader calling for the crackdown
13:00on full American citizens exercising their basic rights, their First Amendment rights,
13:06to demonstrate? That's what I'm asking you.
13:08Well, the prime minister was commenting on something happening in this country. I will
13:14say over the course of this –
13:15That's what I'm asking you. You are here representing the Government of the United
13:20States of America. I'm asking you, you as an officer of this government, of this
13:25administration, do you reject the interference of a foreign leader saying that you must crack
13:30down on Americans exercising their right to demonstrate? It's a very simple question.
13:35I wouldn't equate that to interfering, Said. It is someone saying something. Ultimately,
13:40anybody who has a modicum of basic understanding of how the National Guard and how local law
13:46enforcement works, that ultimately – and so we're talking about the National Guard
13:50– that that is a decision up to individual governments.
13:53Just like you all ask me about things that are happening in countries around the world,
13:58you ask the Secretary, you ask the President about events that are happening in countries
14:02around the world, we're seeing leaders from around the world offer their comments on things
14:08that are happening in the United States. But when it comes to the actioning on those items,
14:15there are procedures in place. Ultimately, these individual campuses can speak to what
14:21safety protocols that they have in place to ensure that students, faculty, and others
14:26are kept safe. What I am saying in a broad sense is that rhetoric that is rooted in
14:31anti-Semitism, rhetoric that is rooted in Islamophobia, rhetoric that is rooted in targeting
14:37individuals for simply for just who they are, is unacceptable. And we have seen that in
14:43some of these demonstrations. There is no doubting that fact either, Said.
14:47So now, I've taken a couple questions on this. You've got a bunch of colleagues.
14:51I have one more question, but I have one last comment.
14:53Sure.
14:54Don't you feel offended by the fact that a foreign leader is trying to fan the flames
14:59against Palestinian Americans in this country? That's exactly what he's doing. You don't
15:03feel offended by that?
15:04Said, that is not how I would interpret the prime minister's comments, and I defer you
15:10to his office to offer any clarification on what he said.
15:13What about me?
15:14Go ahead.
15:15Thank you, Vedat. So, on Monday, you released a follow-up on this. You released a human
15:20rights violations report listing human rights violations in other countries, including violence
15:25against journalists, violations of freedom of expression, freedom of assembly. But yesterday,
15:31in this country, at Texas University, we saw footage circulated on social media showing
15:38violence against a journalist. There were also violence against protesters. Do you think
15:43that this undermines your human rights message in other parts of the world, in other countries?
15:48So, let's just be pretty clear about what the human rights report is and what it isn't.
15:53It's a congressionally mandated, statutorily required report that this department is required
16:00to put out on an assessment of human rights conditions set out around the world. It's
16:07an assessment of the human rights conditions in other countries. There are a variety of
16:11other entities – please don't interrupt me – there are a variety of other entities
16:16out there within this government whose job is to look at policies and procedures as they
16:24relate domestically. That is not the remit of this department.
16:28What I can say about the incident in Texas is that the administration is still learning
16:34more about these events. Of course, you've heard me say that peaceful protests are, of
16:39course, acceptable, and we fully appreciate and encourage Americans expressing their First
16:46Amendment rights and making their opinions heard in a peaceful, nonviolent way. But hate
16:54speech, violent rhetoric, including anti-Semitic or Islamophobic remarks, targeting people
16:59for who they are, is unacceptable to us.
17:02Do you think the U.S. should set an example to other countries when it is preparing human
17:11rights reports every year?
17:13We do not hold any country to a standard that we would not hold ourselves to. We feel that
17:20firmly and adamantly. And let me just say that we've had this iteration of this conversation
17:29a lot dating back to October 7th. When it comes to the diplomacy that Secretary Blinken
17:35has been undertaking, having gone to the region now seven times, it is no surprise that there
17:43are countries and regional partners out there that might have a slightly different opinion
17:47on the policy that is being pursued as it relates to Gaza, that might have a different
17:52opinion on certain actions that the government of Israel may or may not be taking. But in
17:58every single one of those countries, what they continue to stress to us is the indispensability
18:04of American engagement and American leadership. They want us at the table. They want us engaged.
18:09They want us part of the conversation when it comes to finding, determining a durable
18:15solution that's going to bring greater peace and security into the region.
18:19Willie, go ahead.
18:20Thanks so much.
18:21Yeah.
18:22Appreciate it. You know, back to the protests. Is there – you're just a few blocks away
18:26from here, right? The consequences of what happens in this building, of U.S. foreign
18:30policy are being played out on the campus of George Washington University. Is there
18:36a sense within this department that there is – some people are – and this might
18:42be perhaps too far-reached, but this is a Vietnam moment among this younger generation
18:50of Americans directly related to U.S. foreign policy. Is there any kind of influence that's
18:55happening on these streets that – are their voices reaching the Secretary? Are they reaching
19:00people here inside this building?
19:02Absolutely. When it comes to the voices within this workforce who may have dissenting or
19:09differing points of view, the Secretary is interested in that kind of feedback. He's
19:14interested in their points of view. And I will just say that since October 7th, this
19:19department has engaged in a number of different ways with the various components of our workforce,
19:26with various components of our employee groups, for those who may be in the Foreign Service
19:33or Civil Service, including those who might be appointees. We have prioritized not just
19:39engaging with these various subsectors of our workforce, but also unlocking and showcasing
19:46and prioritizing resources that might be available for these various – for our workforce to
19:53help cope with and deal with what we all know and find to be a very deeply troubling and
20:00challenging time in the world.
20:03As it relates to what is happening on college campuses, of course we see what's happening
20:10there too. But we're also not naive to the fact that when it comes to any of the foreign
20:16policy that we pursue, 100 percent of the population is not going to agree what we're
20:21trying to accomplish. But we are clear-eyed in the fact that what we're trying to pursue
20:26is in the best interest for the American people and is in the best interest of the
20:31national security of the American people. The things that we're talking about – the
20:35defeat of Hamas, a two-state solution, increased humanitarian aid, further regional peace and
20:43stability when it comes to the Middle East – all of these things are in the interest
20:48of the American people, and we are continuing to pursue those lines of efforts. That is
20:53why the Secretary has been going back and forth between the region, meeting with partners
20:59in other parts of the world to talk about these very challenging issues and how we are
21:04going to work collectively to find a solution. That's what all of this is about.
21:08Go ahead.
21:09Thank you.
21:10In glasses.
21:11The Gaza Civil Service today held a press conference this morning, which was televised,
21:17and they said that evidence showed that many of those pulled out from the three mass graves
21:22that they found, including children, were tortured before being killed. Some even showed
21:29signs of being buried alive, along with other crimes against humanity that they accuse Israeli
21:35forces of. They called for an independent forensic investigation. This administration
21:40repeatedly says that it asks Israel, the Israeli Government, to investigate itself. As a mediator
21:48for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, how does it ever make sense that the United
21:54States asks the accused party to examine itself and provide reports that you have previously
22:01said that you actually trust? What's wrong with an independent scientific forensic investigation?
22:08I mean, if the results of such an independent investigation prove the accusations to be
22:14baseless, then that would be in Israel's favor, wouldn't it?
22:18So as it relates to the continued reporting about – we're seeing about these mass
22:24graves, first National Security Advisor Sullivan spoke a little bit about this yesterday, but
22:29we continue to find these reports incredibly troubling. And that's why yesterday you
22:36saw the National Security Advisor call for this to be thoroughly investigated. We want
22:42to see these facts looked into, and simultaneously we're continuing to press the Government
22:47of Israel for more information. The IDF has spoken to this in some sense already, but
22:53we are continuing to press them for additional information.
22:56Why not have an independent forensic – which the Palestinians are calling for?
23:01We think this does need to be thoroughly investigated, but in terms of the modality, we continue
23:06to want to see some additional information from the Government of Israel before we make
23:11other assessments.
23:12But the government can choose to investigate itself.
23:14We believe that through a thorough investigation we can get some additional answers. We're
23:19also hoping to continue to get more information from the Government of Israel on this.
23:23But they –
23:24Go ahead.
23:25On the humanitarian side of this subject, is there a list of vetted NGOs that can deliver
23:34aid through the – via the Mediterranean route right now? And the reason I'm asking
23:40is because apparently the Freedom Flotilla was delayed for a few days over there, although
23:48apparently now they do have a date to deliver their aid. And it was said that the delay
23:56was due to U.S. and Israeli and also German pressure.
24:00So first, when it comes to humanitarian partners in the region, there are a number of those
24:06that have been operating there already and have a full sense of the scope of the situation
24:12on the ground, whether it be bodies within the UN, the World Food Program, et cetera.
24:19As it relates to the Freedom Flotilla, look, we welcome any country or any entity wanting
24:26to do more to help alleviate the suffering in Gaza. We just believe that this kind of
24:32assistance that is ultimately destined for Gaza, it needs to be transmitted through the
24:37legitimate crossings and established channels. That is the best way to ensure the safety
24:43and security of not just the aid, but also the safety and security of the workers who
24:48are involved in the implementation of this delivery and ensuring that the aid gets to
24:53the places that it needs to go. Michael, go ahead.
24:56Thanks, Rahman. First, I want to thank you and your staff for putting together a great
25:01Take Your Child to Work Day program this morning. It was really appreciated.
25:04Our pleasure.
25:05By a lot of people. And with your indulgence, and as we discussed, I have a question for
25:08you, and then we'll have a second question.
25:10Yeah.
25:11My question is that yesterday, House Speaker Johnson said on a talk radio show that he
25:18had received an emailed written assurance from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan
25:23regarding an assurance that U.S. aid that had been passed by Congress in the supplemental
25:30would not be restricted from an Israeli battalion that is reportedly being considered for penalty
25:38under the Leahy Law. So my question to you is, has there been any assurance by the White
25:44House that would restrict the terms of any Leahy Law finding that the Department might
25:51reach about that particular unit?
25:54Sure. So first, I'm just not going to speak to the specifics about our correspondence
26:00with members of Congress and congressional leadership. What I can say about the Leahy
26:05Law and how it works is that it is not a bearing on the broader security relationship that
26:12we may have with a particular country. What it is when something is found to be in violation
26:17of the Leahy Law, what it is is a restriction of the provision of applicable U.S. assistance
26:23on that particular unit or component under the umbrella of that security apparatus.
26:29So whatever may or may not happen does not have bearing on the longstanding security
26:37relationship we may have with that country. It would be – if we were to find a violation,
26:42it would be a restriction on a particular unit or component. I think your junior advisor
26:47might have a question.
26:48Thank you. Yeah, with the indulgence of my colleagues, Calvin, do you want to ask?
26:51I know we're talking about Gaza right now, but what, like, kind of weapons do they have?
27:00Like, does Ukraine have enough weapons to, like, defend themselves or, like –
27:06That's such a great question. That's such a great question, and I'm so glad you asked
27:11that, Calvin. I think your dad missed the daily press briefing yesterday, but that's
27:15all right, where we announced this. But we were really happy on the heels of the –
27:21I was watching online.
27:23I think we were really happy that on the heels of the national security supplemental that
27:28President Biden signed that we were the same day able to announce $1 billion for Ukraine,
27:36additional security assistance that included arms, training, and other kinds of military
27:42assistance around – related to these drawdowns.
27:45Some examples of what were part of that package included Stinger anti-aircraft missiles,
27:52small arms and additional rounds, high-mobility artillery rocket systems,
27:58105-millimeter artillery rounds, and 60-millimeter mortar rounds.
28:03All of these things, Calvin, are part of our longstanding effort that has been in place
28:08since February of 2022 to continue supporting our Ukrainian partners as they defend themselves
28:14against Russia's incursion on their territorial integrity and sovereignty.
28:19Go ahead, next. Yeah.
28:21Yes, you.
28:23So today the European –
28:25Oh, can we – I think we got a couple requests to stay in the Middle East and then we'll come back.
28:29All right. Go ahead, Nadia.
28:31On the Middle East, just two things I'm trying to get an answer for.
28:36One of the thing is this country prides itself on the First Amendment right, which is the
28:41freedom of expression. And in this – what we see now in this polarization and the protest
28:47movement in the universities, how can the State Department send a clear message that
28:53people have the right to protest peacefully and criticize Israel legitimately,
28:59but not being labeled as anti-Semitic?
29:01Because these anti-Semitic things have been used loosely for anybody who criticized Israel,
29:06considering that most of – a large number of the demonstrators are Jewish.
29:11The Jewish voices for peace are demonstrated in the universities,
29:15whether it's in Columbia or in D.C. or elsewhere.
29:19So this is the message that's been used by lawmakers in Congress and also when other people hear,
29:26whether you hear it on TV or in American media.
29:30So how can you send a message to say that it is legitimate to criticize Israel,
29:35but it's not obviously everybody condemn anti-Semitism or Islamophobia as it stands?
29:40This is – it's not even open for question. This is – we know.
29:43This is the message that's been repeated over and over again.
29:46But how can you separate the two? That's what I want to get to the bottom of.
29:49Well, Nadia, we believe that the two issues are incredibly separate.
29:54Let me just say, though, that what you're asking about is not totally or necessarily
29:59in the remit of the State Department. I certainly understand your question.
30:04And in answering yours and your colleagues' questions about the demonstrations
30:09and protests that we're seeing, I'm certainly not implying that any kind of criticism
30:14or critique of any kind of policy that a particular government is pursuing
30:19or not pursuing is equitable to anti-Semitism or Islamophobia or anything like that.
30:25But it is true also, Nadia, that as part of these demonstrations happening
30:30on various college campuses, happening in various places, we have seen rhetoric,
30:36language, commentary that is incendiary, that is offensive, that is rooted in anti-Semitism.
30:43And we've also seen things in the same place that is rooted in Islamophobia
30:47or the targeting of Arab Americans and Palestinian Americans.
30:50That's not hyperbole. That is – I needn't point you any further than the public reporting
30:55of what we're seeing as these demonstrations.
30:58It is totally fair and on the level for anybody to use their First Amendment rights
31:04to express their point of view peacefully on a particular foreign policy
31:09that the United States might be pursuing, that any government on the face of this planet
31:13might be pursuing. But it is also a moral imperative to ensure that in the midst
31:19of those demonstrations and in part of that process, charged, offensive language
31:25does not become part of that discourse.
31:27And finally, how can you avoid being accused of double standard
31:30if you condemn the Iranian regime for cracking down on peaceful demonstrators
31:34and you refuse to condemn another leader, in this case a friend, an ally, Israel,
31:39who's calling on you to crack down on the U.S., to crack down on peaceful demonstrators?
31:44Look, Nadia, again, as it relates to these calls for use of the National Guard,
31:49whether it be from a foreign leader or from others within the U.S. Government,
31:55these are ultimate decisions for individual governors to make.
31:59It's not really something that we would have a role in from the executive branch.
32:05Beyond that, as it relates to the National Guard, also I'm sure my colleagues
32:09at the Defense Department can speak to some of this specifically.
32:12I will also say that there is not any moral equivalency, Nadia,
32:16between what we see the Iranian regime do.
32:20They are one of the biggest abusers and perpetrators of violations of human rights
32:27going back decades versus a foreign leader opining on things
32:32that may or may not be happening in a country,
32:35which is something I do from up here, the Secretary does, the President does, Matt does.
32:40All the spokespeople in this administration who speak on topics of foreign policy
32:45are asked about topics happening in other parts of the world.
32:50Follow-up?
32:51Sure, sure.
32:53David Satterfield, Envoy David Satterfield, in his last appearance,
32:57warned that there's a strong possibility of famine in the northern Gaza.
33:02Yesterday, Gian-Carlo Siri, the head of the WFP,
33:06he says we're six weeks away from famine.
33:10Are you aware of these reports, and what is the position of the United States
33:13in terms of having some sort of urgent plan to deal with this?
33:18Said, I'm pretty sure I'm aware of these reports
33:20because I was standing right there when David Satterfield said them.
33:25You saw the ambassador speak pretty clearly about the positive steps
33:30that we are seeing on the humanitarian ecosystem,
33:34things that we believe are moving in the right direction,
33:37some gates opening up, some ports opening up, some additional flows of trucks.
33:44But I cannot stress this enough,
33:46and I'm sure if the ambassador was here with me, he would say the same thing.
33:51More needs to be done.
33:53Absolutely more needs to be done to avert this pending crisis in Gaza.
34:00We need more deconfliction mechanisms in place.
34:04We need aid entering at a higher rate.
34:07We need all of these things to happen,
34:09and we'll continue to push our partners in Israel.
34:13We'll continue to push other partners and other humanitarian actors to do so.
34:18I will also just use this opportunity to note that just this morning
34:23we announced Lisa Grande as our new special envoy for Middle East humanitarian issues.
34:29She has more than three decades of experience on working on these kinds of challenging,
34:38large-scale, complex operations.
34:41She's done so for the United Nations.
34:43She joins us just coming from the U.S. Institute of Peace.
34:48We're very eager for her to get started immediately.
34:51I believe today was her first day,
34:53and I know she will continue to build on the foundation that Ambassador Satterfield and his team laid.
34:59Will she be contacting WFP on this very issue?
35:02I have no doubt that she will be engaging directly and immediately
35:07with the variety of humanitarian partners that we work with on this.
35:11Go ahead.
35:13Thank you, sir.
35:14A few months ago we were told that the United States is waiting for the internal investigation report
35:20by Indian Government on assassination attempt of Gupta Singh Pandey in New York.
35:24Now when this report is out,
35:26India admits the involvement of their agents in that assassination attempt,
35:31but we don't see any trial or punishments.
35:34What is your comment on this report,
35:36and how would you make Indian Government accountable of these crimes?
35:39So I'm not aware of the report that you're referencing,
35:44but look, we have – this is ultimately a Department of Justice matter,
35:49and I will defer to them and let them speak to this.
35:52Sir, Australian journalist says she is being pushed out of India.
35:57Avani Dias said that she had been denied visa renewal for weeks
36:02because of reporting on six separatist movement.
36:04Do you have any comment on the free speech?
36:06So look, the Government of India can speak to its own visa policy.
36:10That's not something I'm going to opine on from here.
36:13Broadly, we have been clear with countries around the world
36:18the integral role that a free press plays in the fabric of democracy.
36:23That's why we come up here and take questions regularly,
36:27but I will let the officials in India speak to this specific.
36:31Sure.
36:32Sir, after the sanctions on suppliers to Pakistan ballistic missile program,
36:36we can see some kind of tensions in both the countries.
36:40We have seen some, like, very harsh statements from Pakistani government officials.
36:45Is there something going on between the U.S. and Pakistan right now?
36:48Absolutely not.
36:49You've heard me say this before.
36:51Pakistan continues to be one of our most important partners in the region.
36:56There continues to be a lot of cooperation that we have with the Government of Pakistan,
37:00especially in the security space, especially in the trade sector.
37:04As the – I think it was you that asked about a week and a half ago
37:07about the finance minister who is here holding consultations with members of the State Department.
37:12This is a robust relationship, and we'll look to continue strengthening it.
37:17Alex, go ahead.
37:18Can I follow up?
37:19Thank you, sir.
37:20A couple of things from your route in the region, if I may.
37:21Sure.
37:22Before that, on housekeeping, on this department's Global Engagement Center,
37:26it's funny they don't make it through the supplemental.
37:29What's the Secretary's view on that?
37:31Are you guys trying to reauthorize it, or where is the policy?
37:35So the – first, the Global Engagement Center, my understanding is that it is another
37:41congressionally mandated entity of the State Department.
37:44They continue to do important work, especially in the face of combating disinformation
37:51and misinformation in other parts of the world.
37:55As it relates to additional congressional engagements about funding levels for programs
38:00within the State Department, I just don't – I don't have that level of technical breakdowns for you.
38:05Can you take it from me if they –
38:06Sure, yeah.
38:07And what is the level of concern on potential Russian attempts to disrupt European elections?
38:13We just recently had Czech Republic uncovering Russian operation inside Czech Republic
38:18and targeting elections across Europe.
38:21Now, elections are coming up.
38:22Any concern on that?
38:24This is something that we have engaged directly on with our partners in Europe on,
38:31particularly our partners in the EU, about being clear-eyed about when it comes to any
38:37kind of potential election interference from adversarial actors like the Russian Federation.
38:44I don't have a specific assessment to offer for you, Alex, but this is something that
38:50both we and our partners in Europe have been engaged on directly.
38:55Go ahead.
38:56Can I quickly follow up on Kelvin's question of supplemental?
38:58Sure.
38:59Let me finish, Alex, then I'll come to you, and then we've probably got to wrap shortly after that.
39:02Thanks so much.
39:03Yeah.
39:04Yeah, go ahead.
39:05On supplemental that Kelvin asked about.
39:06Yeah.
39:07A portion of it is about frozen assets, and you already probably have heard about Russian
39:12deputy foreign minister today threatened the United States by saying that if you follow
39:18through that law, then we're going to shut down our embassy in Washington, D.C.
39:22If you want to leave the time for the U.S. to say, be my guest.
39:26I appreciate you giving me that opportunity, Alex, but let me just say that when it comes
39:32to sovereign assets, these are things that we're continuing to pursue through our partners
39:39in the G7.
39:40We are assessing what options and avenues are feasibly possible in the various legal
39:47and judicial systems that exist in the various countries that make up our coalition, and
39:54I just don't want to get ahead of the process.
39:56We'll leave it at that.
39:57Israel?
39:58Georgia.
39:59Go ahead.
40:00Georgia.
40:01Thank you.
40:02Today the European Parliament voted to reject opening EU accession talks with Georgia while
40:04the Russian draft law is in place, and also urged the EU and all its partners to consider
40:11sanctions.
40:12As I have information, there is a serious discussion in Congress on how to react to
40:17the actions of the Georgian government as well.
40:19Can you confirm that, or do you have any close and real serious discussion with the Congress
40:25on this matter?
40:26So I'm not going to comment on any consultations on Congress, but look, we've spent a number
40:31of weeks now talking about this draft law, and I will echo what you've heard me say before.
40:36We find the contents of this legislation incredibly troubling.
40:41It is akin to the kinds of legislation that we see in the Kremlin and in other countries
40:48in the world who have a track record of cracking down on media organizations, cracking down
40:54on civil society actors, cracking down on nonprofits.
40:57We think that this kind of legislation is inconsistent with the EU's own stated goals,
41:04which is something aspirationally Georgia itself has stated it's interested in.
41:09Israel.
41:10Go ahead.
41:11Yeah.
41:12How has the signing of the law yesterday, which included the TikTok measure, changed
41:17the Secretary and State Department officials' conversations in China, or has it?
41:22I would say it's not.
41:24It's not changed because this has been a longstanding position of not just this President,
41:29but also Secretary Blinken.
41:30The contents are the specific legislative contours of that provision.
41:35We've been clear about the substance of our national security concerns.
41:39And I just want to reiterate, this is not about the American people using TikTok.
41:46It is about ownership of TikTok by the People's Republic of China.
41:50And that is why we agreed with this call for divestment, because it's clear that we have
41:58to ensure that the data, the privacy of the American people is not owned by an adversarial
42:06actor that could potentially use it against us.
42:10But look, behavior and actions like this from the PRC have always been part of our conversations
42:17in our ongoing relationship with them, and I have no doubt that these things will continue
42:21to come up.
42:22But this has been a longstanding position for – I'm pretty sure you saw the President
42:25came out almost very quickly after this provision was first introduced, basically saying that
42:31he would sign this should it pass, which he obviously did.
42:35Yeah.
42:36Why does the U.S. think that the PRC's position or objections to the potential of banning
42:39an app somewhat hypocritical – somewhat hypocritical?
42:43I'm not going to opine on it or categorize it from here, but our view is that there's
42:49some clear runway here on what TikTok is – should be able to do.
42:56It provides for 270 days for a qualified divestment with a potential extension for another 90.
43:03And as it relates to the PRC's claims that they wouldn't allow something like this
43:08to happen, we believe that it should and we believe that this divestment should move forward.
43:13Goyal, go ahead.
43:15As far as TikTok is concerned, India had banned already two years ago.
43:20Why is it taking so long for the United States when everybody knows that this is a national
43:24security threat?
43:26And if anybody from the department have spoken with the Chinese Communist Party or Chinese
43:31leaders about this, and what's behind – there's a lobby or somebody is benefiting from this
43:38and that's why they don't care about the national security issues in the U.S.?
43:42So I will leave it to our partners in India to speak to their own efforts.
43:48But what I can say about the United States is that legislation is not the only sort of
43:56safeguard measure that we have when it comes to protecting things like our privacy and
44:01cybersecurity.
44:02I will just say when it comes to government devices and government assets, there has been
44:09a longstanding policy of the inability to use TikTok on those kinds of devices to ensure
44:15safety in the cybersecurity and tech space.
44:18So there's a number of things like that in place to make sure that we're protected.
44:24Olivia, go ahead.
44:25Second question, sir.
44:26I'm going to work through it and then – Olivia, and then we probably have to wrap.
44:29Thank you.
44:30So there are reports that U.S. military personnel are expected to leave Chad in the coming days
44:33possibly as soon as this weekend.
44:34Can you say whether there are any diplomatic efforts underway to stop that from happening?
44:38And then more broadly, is the department working at all on an urgent basis to quell what appears
44:44to be the swell of pro-Russian, anti-American sentiment coursing throughout significant
44:50counterterrorism partners?
44:51Yeah, let me address that in two parts.
44:53So first, our military deployments anywhere around the world, they operate at the invitation
45:00and with the support and partnership of host nations.
45:03U.S. forces in Chad have supported regional and international counterterrorism operations
45:09against violent extremisms in the Sahel and the Lake Chad region for years now.
45:13We are in ongoing conversations with Chadian officials about our security partnership.
45:19Our understanding is that Chad is focused on preparing for its upcoming presidential
45:23elections on May 6th, and so we anticipate these consultations and the parameters and
45:28discussions around our security cooperation will continue and grow in the ensuing time
45:35after those presidential elections.
45:37And as it relates to your broader question, we have been clear that the U.S. has a deep
45:44commitment to expand our partnerships with – between the United States and African
45:49countries, African institutions, and the people of Africa.
45:52This was a key pillar of the African Leaders Summit that was held about a year and a half
45:58ago.
45:59And one of the key things that we continue to remain focused on, especially in the West
46:03African and Sahel region, is a security partnership, a focus on counterterrorism.
46:09And again, our military deployments there are at the invitation and in the support and
46:14partnership of these host countries.
46:16And we're going to remain focused on working with additional partners, seeking out additional
46:21partnerships, and doing what we can to focus on these issues of security as well as overcoming
46:28economic and other development challenges as well.
46:31Is there any redoubling or intensification of efforts, just given recent developments?
46:35I don't have any specific engagements to read out.
46:38What I can say is that Deputy Secretary Campbell, I expect to travel to the region in the coming
46:46months, specifically in the context of Niger, to continue to have these kinds of conversations
46:52and to continue to strengthen our relationships there.
46:55All right.
46:56Thanks, everybody.