On Thursday, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller held a press briefing.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good afternoon.
00:14At the risk of disappointing everyone, I don't have any opening comments.
00:17So Matt.
00:18I don't know.
00:19Disappointing us.
00:20That was a bit facetious on my part, perhaps.
00:24Okay.
00:25All right.
00:26So let's just start in the Middle East.
00:28John, can you tell us what you're expecting out of this meeting from Dermer and the Secretary?
00:36Yeah.
00:37So later this afternoon, the Secretary will meet with Ron Dermer, Minister for Strategic
00:41Affairs for the Government of Israel, and Saki Hinegbi, the National Security Advisor.
00:46He will discuss our ongoing work to try to reach a ceasefire that will secure the release
00:51of all hostages with surge humanitarian assistance.
00:54They will discuss the situation in the north of Lebanon – or I'm sorry, in the north
00:57of Israel along the border with Lebanon.
00:59They will discuss our ongoing work, even absent trying to secure a ceasefire, to get humanitarian
01:05assistance into Gaza and work that needs to be done to accelerate and improve that process,
01:10among, of course, a host of other issues that we discuss every time we meet with people
01:14from the Government of Israel.
01:16Okay.
01:17Well, when it relates to the, quote-unquote, north of Lebanon –
01:21Israel.
01:22I corrected it.
01:23Well, I know.
01:24The north of Israel, yes.
01:25But you want to talk about the north?
01:26South of Lebanon.
01:28We can talk about the north of Lebanon if you want.
01:29Sure.
01:30You can probably tell me about your trips to it.
01:33I'm sure you've been –
01:34Let's talk about the north of Israel on the Lebanese border.
01:40What is the situation there, as you understand it?
01:43Is there some kind of – is there some kind of operation that's going to be mounted
01:49anytime soon?
01:50And if there is, what do you think of it?
01:52So we have made quite clear that we do not want to see escalation of this conflict.
01:59Hezbollah has increased the number of cross-border attacks over the past few weeks.
02:03You've seen dramatic attacks targeting civilian communities.
02:06Matt, I hate to interrupt.
02:08There's a big cockroach on the wall over your head there, so maybe need a –
02:14Well, defer that to – no insecticide or roachicide in the briefing, Matt.
02:23Well, I'll go get it as soon as you finish.
02:25Yeah.
02:26I'm sorry to be distracted, but it's a rather large one.
02:29Do I have to get rid of it now?
02:32No, no.
02:33Let me go ahead and finish.
02:34We've seen a dramatic increase in attacks across the border.
02:39I shouldn't have said anything because now the room is going to have a hard time focusing
02:42on the very important messages I have to deliver here.
02:48Back to where we were.
02:52Back to where we were.
02:53We've been extremely concerned about the situation in the north of Israel, as I said.
02:56We don't want to see the conflict escalate.
02:58We have seen a dramatic increase in strikes by Hezbollah across the border targeting Israeli villages,
03:06civilian infrastructure.
03:09And so we have been pursuing a diplomatic resolution to try to make clear that there
03:13should be no further escalation, and that's what we'll continue to pursue.
03:17Well, yeah, but I mean, have you told them, the Israelis or the Lebanese, that – well,
03:24have you told them anything?
03:26So we've had intensive conversations with both governments about this.
03:31In our conversations with the Government of Israel, which I'll speak to, and I'm sure
03:34the Secretary will go over with the two representatives from the government who are here today, we
03:39have made clear that our preference is to see a diplomatic resolution.
03:42And they have said to us that they want to see a diplomatic resolution to this conflict,
03:48and that's what we're going to continue to try to pursue.
03:50Have the Israelis told you that they're about to launch some kind of a strike and to –
03:56They have not.
03:58Thank you.
04:01Solves that problem.
04:03Right.
04:05I mean, is that a —
04:07I'm not going to engage in – I'm not going to engage in any metaphors related here, I think.
04:13I think we're – I think we're going to –
04:15No, well, I mean – so have you told the Israelis that you're going to – that you
04:22will support them or help them if they decide to go in?
04:26MR.
04:27RATHKE.
04:28We have made clear that we want to see a diplomatic resolution.
04:29I think I'll – I think I'll –
04:30QUESTIONER Well, look, that's not what I'm asking.
04:31MR.
04:32RATHKE.
04:33I think I will leave it at that.
04:34QUESTIONER All right.
04:35Thanks.
04:36MR.
04:37RATHKE.
04:38Yeah, Michel.
04:39QUESTIONER After Mr. Hochstein's visit to Israel and
04:40Lebanon, is it fair to say that the diplomatic solution has failed?
04:43MR.
04:44RATHKE.
04:45No, I don't think so.
04:46I think we continue to pursue very active diplomacy to try to keep this conflict from
04:49escalating.
04:50You've heard me say this before, and I'll say it again because it remains the case.
04:54The best way to unlock the possibility of a resolution along the Israel-Lebanese border
05:01would be achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.
05:03And we continue to actively pursue a ceasefire in Gaza, primarily for – to alleviate the
05:10suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza and to secure the return of hostages.
05:14But a very important side effect, we assess, would be making it much easier to achieve
05:21a ceasefire and diplomatic resolution along the Israel-Lebanon border.
05:25That said, we're not waiting for a ceasefire in Gaza.
05:29We're continuing to pursue diplomacy because it's important to do.
05:32But again, it's very difficult to reach such a resolution while the conflict in Gaza
05:36continues at the pace it is today.
05:37QUESTION And do you have any comments on Hezbollah
05:39Secretary General's speech yesterday and his threat to Cyprus?
05:44And did the Secretary discuss this topic with the Cyprus foreign minister in their call
05:50yesterday?
05:51MR PRICE So the meeting that he had with the – with
05:54the Government of Cyprus was actually two days ago, so it was before the speech that
05:58– the Hezbollah speech that you referred to.
06:00So no, they obviously didn't discuss it because it hadn't happened yet.
06:03But obviously, those comments are extremely unproductive, and Hezbollah should cease making
06:10threats against anyone, and our preference would be for Hezbollah to pursue a diplomatic
06:14resolution.
06:15I think that's the most productive, and certainly making threats at other countries
06:18that aren't involved in this conflict at all are not a productive step for them to
06:22be taking.
06:23QUESTION Thank you.
06:24MR PRICE Yeah.
06:25Go ahead.
06:26QUESTION Just to come – keep on the Lebanon border
06:30issue, is it fair to say that this has now become like a greater focus of your diplomacy,
06:36like in the meetings this afternoon, than the situation in Gaza?
06:39This seems to have really heightened in terms of the rhetoric coming from both sides.
06:45Do you see this as a sort of – the priority is now avoiding a broader conflict in the
06:51north?
06:52MR PRICE No.
06:53They continue to be equally important priorities, and they have been from the beginning.
06:57We have been incredibly focused on the situation in Gaza since right after October 7th.
07:03But if you go back and look at what the Secretary said in his first visit to the region or what
07:08we said in really every trip, keeping the conflict from escalating has been one of our
07:12overriding strategic goals.
07:14And there have been times when it looked like there was more of a chance of the conflict
07:18escalating than others.
07:19Obviously, we had the time when there was direct fire against the State of Israel from
07:24inside Iran.
07:25We've seen the pace of attacks across the Lebanese border kind of rise and fall over
07:30time.
07:31But that overriding strategic objective has been there from the beginning for us.
07:36We continue to focus on both.
07:39This is not what you were saying, but I would just say that the – I wouldn't – the
07:44number of questions we get about any one topic is not always indicative of the actual work
07:48that's going on inside the government.
07:49We continue to work to pursue a ceasefire.
07:51There are conversations going on between our government and the Government of Israel – Governments
07:55of Israel, Egypt, and Qatar about how best to achieve that ceasefire in a way that protects
08:01Israel's security interests, gets the hostages home, alleviates the suffering of the Palestinian
08:05people.
08:06But no, I wouldn't rank them in any kind of order.
08:08And also on the relationship with the Israeli Government, there's obviously – there's
08:13been this fallout from the video that Prime Minister Netanyahu made talking about what
08:19Secretary Blinken said to him in their meeting.
08:23There's obviously – the administration has spoken about this and said some parts
08:30of it are not true.
08:31I just wanted to get your response, because there's a latest comment from the prime
08:34minister.
08:35He's saying he's willing to absorb personal attacks.
08:37He calls them personal attacks, apparently in a reference to the way that the administration
08:41has responded to this video, in order to get the weapons that Israel needs for its survival.
08:47So yeah, how do you respond to this kind of – there seems to be a continuing discord
08:54between the way you're talking about this and specifically on the issue of whether you're
08:59providing Israel with everything it needs.
09:01So I'm not exactly sure what the prime minister is talking about or what he was trying to
09:06accomplish.
09:07All I can tell you is what the Secretary told the prime minister directly in his meeting
09:12in Israel last week, which is that our commitment to Israel's security is sacrosanct.
09:17We have proved that not just with words but with deeds, and I don't think it's productive
09:22to engage in an intense public back-and-forth about this.
09:27So we will just let our actions continue to speak for themselves, as they have since October
09:317th.
09:32Yeah.
09:33Staying on Lebanon, you and other U.S. officials have made clear that you don't want a second
09:38front to open, but how likely at this stage do you believe that a new confrontation between
09:43Hezbollah and Lebanon and Israel –
09:45I'm not going to give you any kind of assessment of likelihood.
09:48I will say it is an intense concern of ours, has been for some time.
09:53As I said, there are times where we have been more concerned about it, as it has never gone
09:56away as a concern.
09:57But whenever you see an increase in strikes across the border, that magnifies our concern
10:02at any given moment.
10:04And of course, we have intense concerns about it right now, which is why we are pursuing
10:07diplomacy to try to achieve a resolution.
10:10A U.S. official told us today that Israel hasn't come close to achieving their stated
10:14objective of destroying Hamas in Gaza.
10:18Its defense minister made similar comments publicly.
10:21Does the U.S. believe that Israel is militarily capable of succeeding militarily against Hezbollah
10:27with or without American support?
10:30Against Hezbollah?
10:31Yeah.
10:32I just don't want to offer any kind of an assessment about a conflict that we hope
10:36never happens in the first place.
10:38Well, you may be more persuasive if you point out that it's not one that Israel –
10:42We will have – we have conversations about that sort of thing behind closed doors, but
10:45I don't think it's helpful for me to offer that kind of assessment publicly.
10:47Okay.
10:48And then just because so much of this has also been predicated or has been accompanied
10:52by the U.S. diplomatic push to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, where do those talks stand?
10:57Have mediators engaged – re-engaged with Hamas to get a read on what the bridgeable
11:02gaps are at this stage?
11:04We are engaging in conversations, as I said a moment ago, with governments of Egypt, Israel,
11:09and Qatar about how to move forward, responding to the proposal that Hamas made last week
11:16to try to come to a resolution that is consistent with what the United Nations Security Council
11:21endorsed and what countries across the world have signed up to.
11:25But I don't think at this point it's helpful for me to talk about those conversations
11:28in detail.
11:29Just to – but there's been no re-engagement with Hamas, either, their political –
11:32I just – I don't – I don't want to get into that publicly right now.
11:36I have one more on Ukraine that I'll –
11:37Okay.
11:38We'll come back.
11:39Go ahead.
11:40Yeah.
11:41While we're on Hezbollah, can I just ask if you can kind of give us an up-to-date assessment
11:45as to where the U.S. – how the U.S. is viewing Iran's backing of Hezbollah at this moment
11:51in time?
11:52Has it increased?
11:53Is it the same steady state that it's been, just where that stands?
11:56So I can't give you a minute-to-minute assessment, but Iran has been one of the primary backers
12:01of Hezbollah going back years, as they are a primary backer of Hamas going back years
12:06and other terrorist organizations in the region, and that has in no way changed.
12:10Okay.
12:11And so there's no further support that they're providing to them?
12:16They are providing ongoing support to them at all times.
12:19And what I mean is I can't give you a daily kind of run-by-run of what they're doing,
12:23but they have been one of Hezbollah's chief backers going back years, and that hasn't
12:26changed.
12:27It's been consistent.
12:28It's one of the reasons we've been so concerned about Iran's destabilizing activities.
12:32And then just one question on – the Secretary previewed last week that the department was
12:39going to be rolling out plans for day-after plans in Gaza.
12:44I just wonder if you can give us an update as to where those efforts stand, how many
12:48plans you guys are going to roll out if a few weeks is still kind of the timeframe that
12:53we're dealing with here.
12:54I think I'm going to have to give you the stay-tuned answer on this one.
12:56There are conversations we are engaging with our partners in the region about.
13:01We do look forward to moving those conversations forward, and as the Secretary said, having
13:05something to say, but I'm not ready to preview it today.
13:07Okay.
13:08Can I follow up?
13:09Yeah, Said.
13:10Go ahead.
13:11Oh, sorry.
13:12Thank you.
13:13Just where you were responding to Olivia, I guess, on the path forward, I mean, a lot
13:17of – according to political, U.S. officials see no path forward to resolving the Gaza
13:22war anytime soon or coming up with a ceasefire that can endure.
13:26So I just want perhaps a few elaborate on this.
13:31Where are we with the talks?
13:32So first of all, I have no idea who those U.S. officials are.
13:36As I've said on previous occasions, thousands of people who serve in the government have
13:40U.S. – who are U.S. officials, and they have a wide diversity of opinions.
13:45They're not all – the opinions that you see quoted from U.S. officials are not universally
13:49shared.
13:50I think everyone understands that.
13:51I will say that we very much see a path forward to a ceasefire.
13:55There was a way to get a ceasefire last week – in fact, even before last week – if
14:00Hamas had agreed to the proposal that Israel had put forward and that had been endorsed,
14:05as I said, by the United Nations Security Council and countries around the world.
14:08And had Hamas accepted that proposal, we would have a ceasefire today.
14:14And the suffering of the people inside Gaza could have been dramatically alleviated, and
14:20we've seen a massive surge in humanitarian assistance.
14:22So it remains incredibly unfortunate that they didn't accept that proposal.
14:27But we think they ought to accept that – they ought to agree to a ceasefire.
14:31We are engaged in conversations with the mediators about how to get to a ceasefire that protects
14:37Israel's security interests, that alleviates the suffering of the Palestinian people.
14:40We very much do think it's possible to achieve one.
14:43But as you heard the Secretary say, just because it's possible doesn't mean that we will
14:47get there.
14:48But we're going to keep trying.
14:49Well, since you mentioned humanitarian aid, I mean, today marks the 43rd day of the closure
14:55of the Rafah Crossing and Karam al-Basad and so on.
14:58There's virtually no aid, and the pier is not functioning, obviously.
15:03The situation is very dire.
15:04Why can't the U.S. put forth an idea or a way to increase under the current circumstances
15:12before you even get to a ceasefire?
15:13Because the situation is very bad.
15:15I mean, people – literally, children are starving to death.
15:18We are absolutely – sorry to interrupt you.
15:21We are absolutely putting forward ways to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
15:27And it was because of U.S. advocacy that we saw Israel institute these humanitarian pauses
15:32that they announced on Sunday or Monday.
15:36We continue to engage with our partners on the ground about how to increase the number
15:40of trucks that go in.
15:41But more importantly right now, because there are a number of trucks that have made it to
15:45Karam Shalom that are sitting in Karam Shalom unable to then distribute the aid that they're
15:49holding inside Gaza, we're working for ways to resolve the security and logistical challenges
15:55that made it difficult to distribute aid inside Gaza.
15:58And we continue to be incredibly focused on that, as well – and I should say, as well
16:01as reaching an agreement between Israel and Egypt about how to safely reopen the Rafah
16:05border crossing.
16:06QUESTIONER 1 Although Israel has destroyed it completely.
16:09They're saying that it is now rendered completely inoperable.
16:12But let me ask you about the – what Navi Pillay, the chairperson of the Independent
16:19and International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, announced
16:24yesterday that Israel did indeed commit war crimes.
16:28Do you have any comment?
16:29Have you seen the report?
16:31Do you have any comment on that?
16:32MR.
16:33RATHKE We did see the report.
16:34We saw that Israel said it is reviewing the report.
16:36I can just give you what our assessment has been.
16:39You saw us put out a report last month where we said it is reasonable to assess that there
16:43have been violations of international humanitarian law, and we're continuing to look at specific
16:47incidents to draw final determinations.
16:51QUESTIONER 1 Thank you.
16:52MR.
16:53RATHKE Yeah.
16:54QUESTIONER 2 On Iran.
16:55Pardon me.
16:56There's reporting that Iran's undergoing a major expansion at the Fordow facility
17:00that would triple production of enriched uranium there.
17:03I wanted to get your comment on that, and a separate reporting that the Iranians could
17:09now be using computer modeling that could be used in their development of nuclear weapons.
17:14MR.
17:15RATHKE So with respect to the first question, Iran
17:17continues to expand its nuclear program in ways that have no credible, peaceful purpose.
17:23We remain deeply concerned with Iran's nuclear activities and will continue to vigilantly
17:27monitor them.
17:28As we said in a joint statement we put out with the G7 on Friday, Iran must cooperate
17:34with the IAEA without further delay.
17:36As it relates to this report on computer modeling, I've seen the article.
17:40I'm not going to comment, obviously, on intelligence matters.
17:42As you have heard us say before, we do not see indications that Iran is currently undertaking
17:46the key activities that we would – that would be necessary to produce a testable nuclear
17:51device.
17:52But of course, this is something we continue to monitor very closely.
17:54QUESTIONER 3 Iran?
17:55MR.
17:56RATHKE Yeah.
17:57Oh, Gita, go ahead.
17:59Let's stick with Iran.
18:00QUESTIONER 3 Thank you.
18:01Earlier when you were talking about Hezbollah, its activities, you referenced Iran, its support
18:04for Hezbollah, terrorism.
18:08Canada just designated the IRGC as a terrorist group.
18:13I was wondering if you have any comments.
18:15MR.
18:16RATHKE So we welcome the decision by Canada to designate
18:18the IRGC as a terrorist group.
18:20It's something the United States has done.
18:22The IRGC's terrorism and lethal plotting threatens the entire world, and we stand ready
18:27to provide support as countries – for other countries consider designating the IRGC as
18:31a terrorist organization.
18:32QUESTIONER 3 How can you support other countries in doing
18:35this?
18:36MR.
18:37RATHKE Well, we can provide information to them about
18:38activities that they have undertaken.
18:39It's something we often do in sharing intelligence information and other information with our
18:44allies and partners about activities that we have seen any supporters of terrorist – terrorism
18:49take around the world.
18:50QUESTIONER 3 Thank you.
18:51MR.
18:52RATHKE Yeah.
18:53Tom.
18:54QUESTIONER 3 Thank you.
18:55I have a follow-up question on the Netanyahu video.
18:56I mean, the White House has said today that what the Israeli prime minister said was,
19:01quote, incorrect.
19:02So I'm just trying to – there were a few things he said, but I'm trying to understand
19:05which part was incorrect.
19:06MR.
19:07RATHKE So I think the part that is incorrect is that
19:09there are bottlenecks that need to be overcome.
19:14So obviously, there is one shipment of high-payload munitions that we have put under review, and
19:20that remains under review.
19:21That's not a bottleneck.
19:22That's a policy review.
19:25Other shipments of weapons have been moving regularly to Israel because we are committed
19:30to Israel's long-term defense, and that includes things that have nothing to do with
19:34the war in Gaza but are capabilities related to Israel's long-term security defending
19:38itself against, for example, the threat from Iran.
19:40QUESTIONER 3 He also said that the Secretary told him that
19:44the administration was working day and night to overcome the bottlenecks.
19:47Is that incorrect?
19:48MR.
19:49RATHKE I don't think there's any word-for-word
19:50parsing of what the prime minister said, because as I said a moment ago, I don't think it's
19:55really productive to have this kind of conversation in public.
20:00But there are no bottlenecks.
20:02And the Secretary made clear in the – in his conversation that we are continuing to
20:07flow security assistance, despite – other than the one that is publicly known, that
20:11we have made clear to them and we've said publicly are under review.
20:14Other things continue to flow.
20:15So there are – there just are no bottlenecks.
20:17QUESTIONER 3 So he didn't say that the administration
20:20was working to overcome that particular block of the 2,000-pound bombs?
20:22MR.
20:23RATHKE No.
20:24No.
20:25QUESTIONER 3 He didn't say that.
20:26Okay.
20:27And –
20:28QUESTIONER 4 Can I just follow up on that, Tom?
20:29MR.
20:30RATHKE Yeah, sure.
20:31Yeah.
20:32Yeah.
20:33QUESTIONER 4 You say that it's not for public exchange,
20:34it's back and forth and all this, but I mean, the White House this morning went quite
20:36strongly against Netanyahu's comments.
20:40And so is the State Department not at the same line as the White House?
20:44MR.
20:45RATHKE I think it's clear that we didn't think
20:46– I didn't think the comments that – I didn't know what the prime minister was
20:51talking about or what he was trying to accomplish, and I'm happy to make the record clear,
20:55as I think the White House was doing.
20:58But none of us think it's productive to have extended public debate about it.
21:03So that's not – there's no daylight between me and the White House.
21:06I think they would agree with that.
21:07But of course, when it comes to defending our record, we're going to defend our record.
21:09QUESTIONER 5 Well, why don't you deal with that, then?
21:12I mean, it seems you have a little bit of a different take than the White House does.
21:16MR.
21:17RATHKE Not at all.
21:18Not at all.
21:19QUESTIONER 5 Why didn't you tell them that?
21:20MR.
21:21RATHKE No.
21:22The White House?
21:23We have the exact same —
21:24QUESTIONER 5 No.
21:25Not the White House.
21:26The Israelis.
21:27MR.
21:28RATHKE I think I just did.
21:29QUESTIONER 5 Did you?
21:30Did you?
21:31MR.
21:32RATHKE I think I just did.
21:33QUESTIONER 5 All right.
21:34Okay.
21:35QUESTIONER 6 I mean, you're saying it's not productive
21:36to have a back and forth, but you are having a back and forth with them right now.
21:37So what purpose do you think that serves?
21:38Because in the end —
21:39MR.
21:40RATHKE I don't think it serves any purpose.
21:41But if someone comes out and says something about the actions by the United States Government
21:42that are not accurate, we're going to correct the record.
21:43Don't think it's necessarily —
21:44QUESTIONER 6 But you —
21:45MR.
21:46RATHKE Hold on.
21:47Don't think it's necessarily productive to have this exchange in public, especially
21:48about things that we don't understand and can't comprehend because they don't reflect
21:49reality.
21:50But we will defend our record 100 percent.
21:51QUESTIONER 6 So you're saying it's not productive to have
21:52the exchange in public, but you will still have the exchange in public?
21:53MR.
21:54RATHKE I don't think so.
21:55I don't think so.
21:56I don't think so.
21:57I don't think so.
21:58I don't think so.
21:59I don't think so.
22:00I don't think so.
22:01I don't think so.
22:02I don't think so.
22:03I don't think so.
22:04I don't think so.
22:05I don't think so.
22:06I don't think so.
22:07I don't think so.
22:08I don't think so.
22:09I don't think so.
22:10I don't think so.
22:11I don't think so.
22:12I don't think so.
22:13I don't think so.
22:14I don't think so.
22:15I don't think so.
22:16I don't think so.
22:17I don't think so.
22:18I don't think so.
22:19I don't think so.
22:20I don't think so.
22:21I don't think so.
22:22I don't think so.
22:23I don't think so.
22:24I don't think so.
22:25I don't think so.
22:26I don't think so.
22:27I don't think so.
22:29We don't understand what he was talking about when he comes to talking about bottlenecks
22:32because we continue to provide – outside of this one shipment that is under review,
22:37we continue to provide them the equipment they need to defend themselves.
22:41And his staff hasn't explained to you what he was talking about since you're in daily
22:45contact with them?
22:46So we have very direct exchanges with them.
22:49They can be quite candid at times, and I think I'll leave it at that.
22:52Alex, go ahead.
22:53Thank you, Matt.
22:54I want to shift to Ukraine, but before that, anything you can tell us about another arrested
22:59U.S. Russian citizen, Ksenia Karolina, who is facing trial in Yekaterinburg.
23:05Basically, Russia is trying to jail another American citizen for experiencing her First
23:11Amendment rights in the U.S.
23:12Yeah.
23:13So first of all, as you – as we always make clear, we take seriously our commitment to
23:18assist U.S. citizens abroad and provide all appropriate assistance.
23:22Sometimes there's a limit to what I can say for privacy reasons just based on the
23:26law, and that is the case here.
23:29I will say generally, when a U.S. citizen is detained abroad, consular officers seek
23:33to provide them with all appropriate assistance.
23:37Russia has long taken the position that when it comes to dual nationals, they don't have
23:40to respond to those requests for appropriate assistance.
23:44But that said, we continue to actively seek access to any individuals in this situation.
23:49And then I do have to just reiterate, as I always do in these situations, that no American
23:54citizen for any reason should travel to Russia.
23:58And I know this is a – sometimes comes down to a very painful choice for Americans who
24:03have family members in Russia, sometimes family members with health problems that they want
24:07to see, but you run a tremendous risk by traveling to Russia of being detained, being imprisoned,
24:15being convicted.
24:16And so we continue to make clear to every American, do not for any reason travel to
24:21Russia.
24:22Thank you.
24:23Moving to Ukraine, on today's decision to reprioritize arms sales to Ukraine, if you
24:28can tell us about what triggered the decision.
24:31So we have been engaged with the – in conversations with the Government of Ukraine about what
24:35they need.
24:36We've seen the Russian military targeting Ukrainian cities.
24:42We've seen them targeting energy infrastructure, making clear that they want to turn the lights
24:45off and turn the heat off when winter rolls back around.
24:49And so it has been clear to us that we need to do something to increase Ukraine's air
24:54defense capabilities, and we have been engaged with our allies and partners about how to
24:57do that.
24:58That includes sourcing additional systems from around the world to improve Ukraine's
25:03air defense, but it also includes supplying the systems that they have already been provided.
25:08And so that's the decision that the President took, which is to resequence some of the deliveries
25:13of Patriot interceptors – the missiles that go up and intercept missiles that have
25:17been fired by Russia – to resequence them from other countries because of the dire need
25:22that Ukraine has and the dire threat that Ukraine faces, to make sure that Ukraine is
25:26getting what it needs now to defend itself from this intense Russian air bombardment.
25:31Is it fair also to expect reprioritizing F-16 training slot?
25:37So I'm not going to get into any future decisions, but the Secretary has always made
25:41clear that we always adapt and adjust our policy based on the battlefield realities.
25:47And so we look at what Ukraine needs and then we look at how we can meet those needs, whether
25:53through actions that the United States is taking or whether actions that our allies
25:56and partners are taking.
25:58And we look to provide them the best equipment, the best training that we can as quickly as
26:06we can provide it.
26:07And when the United States can't do it or when there's another country that can do
26:10it better, we look to another country to do it.
26:11Thank you.
26:12One more from me.
26:13On Putin's trip to North Korea, any concern on your end – first of all, its potential
26:18implications for Ukraine – and also any concern on your end that unified UN response
26:23to North Korea's nuclear issues might be eroding?
26:27So a few things.
26:28First of all, on the deepening cooperation between Russia and the DPRK, we have been
26:32warning about this for some time.
26:35You recall that we first made public that the DPRK was providing Russia with military
26:40equipment that would show up on the battlefield in Ukraine, has showed up on the battlefield
26:44in Ukraine.
26:45We've seen them provide thousands of artillery shells and other munitions that they have
26:47been using to shell Ukrainian cities, Ukrainian villages, and kill Ukrainian civilians.
26:54We have been taking this quite seriously, and I will say it's one of the reasons why
26:58we have been prioritizing strengthening our ties with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific
27:03throughout this administration, including through the historic trilateral agreement
27:08we had with the Republic of Korea and Japan, through AUKUS, through other work because
27:12of the potential for deepening cooperation between these two countries.
27:17That said, it should also be concerning for the second – for your second question, which
27:22is anyone who cares about maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, if
27:27you look at the – what was contained in the agreements that they made public, it would
27:32include Russia violating UN Security Council resolutions that it voted for.
27:36So it continues to be a problem and we're going to work on it with our allies and partners,
27:39including those in the region.
27:40QUESTIONER 3
27:41Just – I know I said it was final, but any – that being said, any connection between
27:44the two?
27:45MR PRICE I think I can go to someone else.
27:46He said it's final already.
27:47Go.
27:48Sorry.
27:49QUESTIONER 3
27:50Assistant Secretary's trip to Vietnam and Putin's visit – any connection between
27:53the two?
27:54MR PRICE Between the Secretary's trip?
27:55QUESTIONER 3
27:56Assistant Secretary?
27:57MR PRICE Oh, the assistant secretary.
27:58Oh, Assistant Secretary Cridenbrink, who is there.
27:59trip well before this visit by President Putin.
28:02On that, can – no, that's okay.
28:05Sign amongst yourselves.
28:06I don't care.
28:07All right.
28:08Thank you.
28:09All right.
28:10So Putin's visit to Vietnam comes after President Biden's visit last year, where
28:13the U.S.-Vietnam relationship was upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
28:19I was wondering what your take is on Putin's trip to Vietnam.
28:24So obviously, Russia and Vietnam have had longstanding close ties.
28:30That said, we expect that any country, when it engages in conversations with the Government
28:35of Russia, and especially when it hosts leaders from the Government of Russia, will make clear
28:40their respect for the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty and territorial
28:44integrity, and convey that those principles must be upheld across the world.
28:49U.S. Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink will be there tomorrow in Hanoi.
28:54Will Vietnam be sharing maybe the conversation they had with Putin?
29:00I don't know.
29:01Ask me tomorrow after the meeting.
29:02Okay.
29:03One last one on this.
29:04I'm unable to predict – I'm unable to predict the future.
29:06Okay.
29:07One last one on this.
29:08Is there any indication that Vietnam companies are – Vietnamese companies are supplying
29:13material to – or financial support to Russia in its war against Ukraine?
29:19And has the U.S. talked to Vietnam about this?
29:23Let me – I don't have an assessment.
29:24Let me take that back and get you an answer.
29:26Okay.
29:27My one question turns into two now, just on the basis of all of this stuff.
29:31On the heels of this pact between Russia and DPRK, South Korean reports from South Korea
29:35indicate its government is considering sending arms to Ukraine.
29:38Does the U.S. have a view on that?
29:40That is a decision for South Korea to make, just as in its – that is a decision for
29:45every country to make in terms of whether they are going to supply weapons to Ukraine.
29:50We welcome any support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, but that's
29:55ultimately a decision for South Korea.
29:57So you would welcome that scenario and not view it as destabilizing to the Indo-Pacific?
30:02I'm just not going to – it is a decision – we welcome any country that wants to support
30:06Ukraine in this fight, but as for the specific decision, that's one for South Korea to
30:10make.
30:11Okay.
30:12And then somewhat separately, but still on Ukraine, we've heard the Secretary say that
30:15next month at the NATO summit he hopes it will lead to a well-lit bridge for Ukraine
30:21joining NATO.
30:22There's been discussion of other characterizations of its pathway.
30:25The UK and the Secretary General of NATO have used the word irreversible.
30:31Does the U.S. oppose using the word irreversible to characterize Ukraine's path to NATO?
30:36So I'm not going to get into what the eventual words might be in a NATO communique for a
30:41summit that hasn't actually happened, but the important thing is this.
30:45NATO's future is in – I'm sorry, Ukraine's future is in NATO.
30:49It will become a member of NATO.
30:50We have made that clear.
30:52And we will continue to work with our allies in NATO about the exact bridge to membership
30:57and what that looks like and what Ukraine has to do.
31:01But what the actual words are in a communique, we will resolve that diplomatically with our
31:05allies.
31:06I don't expect you to give us the final language that's going to be used.
31:09I'm just asking you if you oppose a given word appearing in the communique.
31:12And I think we will handle this through diplomatic discussions with the members of NATO.
31:16Thanks.
31:17You are not a member, Olivia, so – sorry.
31:20Yes.
31:21A NATO question.
31:22Do you have one, Simon?
31:24Just to come back to the North Korea – Putin's presence there.
31:29Yeah.
31:30Putin himself has said that Russia may deliver weapons to North Korea as part of this.
31:36What about that side of it?
31:39What are your concerns regarding the potential for Russia to be destabilizing in that sense?
31:48It is incredibly concerning.
31:50It would destabilize the Korean Peninsula, of course, and potentially give it – depending
31:58on the type of weapons they provide, might violate UN Security Council resolutions that
32:03Russia itself has supported, which is why we will continue to work with our allies in
32:09the region – South Korea, Japan, others – to respond to the threat posed by North
32:16Korea.
32:17And also on the visit to Vietnam, so you've kind of expressed your concerns, but more
32:24broadly, is this a – how do you see the relationship with Vietnam, given that in recent
32:32– only a few months ago, the President went there to sign this upgrade in ties?
32:42Is this a failure of the policy to try to bring a country in – out of the orbit of
32:48those more authoritarian countries and to be a U.S. partner in the region?
32:57No, I think two things can be true.
32:59First of all, it was a major achievement to significantly upgrade the ties between the
33:03United States and Vietnam, especially when you look at the history between our two countries
33:08and as a key part of our Indo-Pacific strategy.
33:12That said, Vietnam has had longstanding, very close ties with Russia, so our only expectation
33:18is that when they have conversations with Russia, as China does, as other countries
33:22in the region do, we would hope that they would express their support for the principles
33:27of the UN Charter everywhere in the world.
33:30There's an ongoing process – it's based on the Commerce Department to decide whether
33:34– to recognize Vietnam as a market economy.
33:37Does the State Department have a view on whether it is, and I guess you would be involved
33:43in some way in advising for that process.
33:45I will have to take that back and get you an answer on that.
33:48I don't have an answer yet.
33:49Can I just –
33:50Yeah.
33:51On this, when you talk about the UN Charter and the territorial – sovereignty and territorial
33:57integrity, what's the U.S. record on that with regard to Vietnam?
34:06So obviously, we have – we're involved in a conflict in Vietnam many years ago, ancient
34:12history, and we are glad to see the –
34:14It's not so ancient.
34:15I mean, I was alive during it.
34:16Yeah.
34:17Maybe not others were, but I – but it's not ancient.
34:21It's not ancient.
34:22I wasn't – I wasn't trying to insult you, Matt, just to be – to be clear.
34:29That said, we have –
34:30We have – we have –
34:31In the early 1960s, the U.S. actually went into Vietnam and stayed there until 1975.
34:38I am full aware of the long historical record between our two countries, and in the years
34:42since you have seen a broad reconciliation between our countries and between our two
34:47peoples.
34:48Okay, but when you say that you want the Russians to respect the UN Charter as it relates to
34:54Vietnam and –
34:55No, I was speaking as it respects to Ukraine – with respect to Ukraine.
34:58Well, anywhere.
34:59Yeah.
35:00But as it relates to Vietnam, you don't exactly have the best record.
35:07So –
35:08Right?
35:09As usual, I'm not going to litigate the full history of American foreign policy –
35:14You don't have to litigate it.
35:15Foreign policy from the podium, especially as the representative of an administration
35:18that has been charged – in charge for three and a half years, and I think I'll leave
35:23it at that.
35:24All right.
35:25Go ahead.
35:26Thanks, Matt.
35:27So just in relation to the UN –
35:28That's fine on you, but that's fine.
35:30Go ahead.
35:31Go ahead.
35:32Okay.
35:33Well, I mean, I started so I'll finish, as they used to say.
35:38So the UN Human Rights High Commissioner's report, one of our colleagues, I don't recall
35:42who asked you about that, and you noted the State Department report, and you said we're
35:47continuing to look at specific incidents to draw final determinations as to whether, you
35:52know, international humanitarian law was broken.
35:54Are the incidents, the six incidents mentioned in the UN report among the specific incidents
36:00that we actually have?
36:01I have never spoken to, and I'm not going to today speak to specific incidents that
36:05are under review, but there is a broad number of incidents that we're looking at.
36:10But I mean, in this case, like, I can't go through all six of them, it would take
36:13too long, but one instance, a strike on the Taj Mahal tower in Gaza City, the UN says
36:21was caused by several thousand-pound bombs, killing 105 people, including 33 women and
36:2747 children.
36:28I mean, should it take eight months to make a final determination as to whether that was
36:32within international law?
36:33So, as we have said before, it is very difficult to draw fact-specific conclusions when we
36:37don't have someone on the ground and we're in the middle of an active conflict.
36:40So what we do is we gather information, we talk to independent organizations to try to
36:46gather information, and then we make our assessments.
36:48Those assessments are compounded by the sheer scale of this conflict and the number of incidents
36:53that we have to review and the limited resources that we have to make those assessments, but
36:57I can tell you there are people working hard on it day and night.
37:00But how does it come, I don't want to belabor the point, Matt, but how does it come that
37:04UN, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty, International Criminal Court, can all find compelling evidence
37:12of war crimes by Israel, and the United States with its enormous powers of intelligence and
37:18direct contact with Israel can't find those things?
37:20I would say that different organizations have different burdens, different responsibilities,
37:24and we take ours very seriously and are taking these assessments very seriously, and I want
37:28to finish them as soon as possible, but it's important that we get them right.
37:31Go ahead.
37:33Talking about people on the ground, UNICEF Global spokesperson James Elder reported an
37:37incident that he witnessed in Gaza when Israeli forces shot two fishermen and then denied
37:42them medical care until they both died.
37:44Do you know about this incident?
37:45Do you have any comment?
37:46I have read the reports about the incident and I'm not able to verify the most.
37:50Okay.
37:51And Haaretz published a story on Tuesday about another Palestinian doctor dying after being
37:54detained and tortured, an Israeli person.
37:56His name is Dr. Eyad Rantizi.
37:58Do you have an answer of why doctors are being detained in the first place?
38:04I don't have an answer with respect to this specific incident or with the overall policy.
38:08What we have made clear as a general matter is that we expect Israel in carrying out its
38:13detention policies and carrying out similar operations to fully respect human rights,
38:20fully respect the laws of war, and allow people to have due process.
38:24And lastly, there is a picture circulating of Israeli soldiers displaying Zionist flag
38:28of the greater Israeli – Israel on their uniform.
38:31This is the picture.
38:32So the badge shows a map including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, parts of them, Syria,
38:38and all of Lebanon.
38:41Do you have any comment on that, and does this serve the long-lasting peace agenda that
38:44you guys talk about?
38:45I haven't seen that photo, and I'll admit that my eyes are not good enough to view it
38:48on your –
38:49I can send it to you.
38:50I appreciate that – to view it on your phone from here.
38:53But we have made quite clear how we want to see this conflict resolved, and we have made
38:59quite clear what we believe the future ought to be, and that's the establishment of an
39:02independent Palestinian state.
39:04Thank you, sir.
39:05Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for securing
39:10a third term.
39:12We have seen messages on social media, and many experts believe that both the prime minister
39:17have the ability to initiate the peace process and normalize the relationship.
39:21Do you have any comment on that?
39:22So we value our important relationships with both India and Pakistan.
39:26As we have said, we support direct discussions between India and Pakistan, but the pace,
39:30scope, and character should be determined by those two countries, not by us.
39:34So Pakistani Ambassador Sardar Masood Khan has said that Pakistan needs modern American
39:39weapons to fight with the TTP, as they are using American weapons against Pakistani
39:44military forces that were left by U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
39:47Is U.S. going to consider provide more U.S. military equipment to Pakistani security forces?
39:53So the United States and Pakistan have a shared interest in combating threats to regional
39:57security.
39:58We partner with Pakistan on security through our high-level counterterrorism dialogue,
40:02including several counterterrorism capacity-building programs, and we support a series of U.S.-Pakistan
40:07military-to-military engagements.
40:09We are regular – in regular communication with Pakistani leaders as a part of our partnership
40:13on CT issues, and we will continue to discuss regional security in detail, including through
40:17our annual counterterrorism dialogue and other bilateral consultations.
40:20One last question.
40:21FBI and military officials and former CIA chief warned that the United States faces
40:26a serious threat of a terrorist attack in the months ahead.
40:29Have you seen that report?
40:30Do you have any comments on that?
40:32I have seen that report, and I'll say that we obviously take counterterrorism matters
40:35very seriously.
40:36We work on across the interagency the full suite of national security and law enforcement
40:40agencies' work to detect terrorism plots, disrupt them, and hold people accountable
40:44for them.
40:45Go ahead.
40:46Go ahead.
40:47Sir, Senator Cardin recently said that Congress has taken steps to make sure the President
40:51can't withdraw from a treaty or any of our commitments abroad.
40:55And following up on Ukraine and those – diversion of foreign military sales, does this speak
41:01to not just the situation on the ground, but like a renewed sense of tension and urgency
41:05around a possible Trump administration and like that destabilizing Ukrainian security?
41:10So I'm just not going to speak to something that relates to the election at all.
41:13I will make clear what our policy is with respect to Ukraine and our commitment to Ukraine
41:16that we have made very clear, including through the signing of the bilateral security agreement,
41:21which is a long-term commitment by the United States of America.
41:24But when it comes to speculating about the effects of the election, I don't think it's
41:27appropriate for me to do.
41:28Yeah.
41:29Thanks, sir.
41:30Two questions, please.
41:31One, as far as U.S.-India relations are concerned, comparing with Prime Minister Modi 2 and now
41:39Prime Minister Modi 3, third time he is the Prime Minister of India.
41:44And a lot is going on now between U.S. and India because NSA, Mr. Suleiman in India and
41:50also at the G7, Prime Minister was there, of course, the President, among others.
41:54So where do we stand now as far as under Modi 3 relations between the two countries and
42:01military – I mean, diplomatically and also culture and many other things going on?
42:06India continues to be a close partner of the United States, not just at the government
42:09level but at the people-to-people level.
42:11We do share close economic ties, close cultural ties.
42:15They continue to be a partner that we work with on our Indo-Pacific strategy, and we
42:19will look forward to continue to do that with the government – with Prime Minister Modi's
42:23government.
42:25Sorry.
42:26America was known for its football, but now cricket, U.S. is known around the globe, household
42:35name is now there.
42:37And this is the first time that a U.S. cricket team was created here in this area in Washington
42:44and beating top T20 or top cricket teams, including Pakistan, many other nations also
42:50by the U.S. cricket team.
42:52My question is how this diplomacy will play – cricket diplomacy around the globe as
42:57far as – and not only the cricket team was created here, but also U.S. is also the hosting
43:03country for the cricket World Cup.
43:06So I would say that we are very proud of the United States cricket team and its recent
43:10success, just as we are proud of the U.S. men's and women's soccer team.
43:13The U.S. men's soccer team is about to kick off the Copa America on Sunday, so we'll
43:18be pulling for them as we pulled for the United States cricket team.
43:22And it is true that sports plays a powerful role in diplomacy, in connecting people, including
43:26people from countries where governments have disputes or have longstanding historical disagreements.
43:36And so we continue to see sports as an important way to bring peoples together all around the
43:42world.
43:43So what's the future of the U.S. cricket team?
43:46What's that?
43:47What's the future of the world?
43:49I hope they'll continue to be successful.
43:51Thank you.
43:52How many cricket matches have you actually watched?
43:55I'm going to take that one back, Matt.
43:57Thank you.
43:58Thank you.
43:59Thank you so much.
44:00So Saudi Crown Prince calls for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be held criminally
44:09accountable for his actions against Palestinians.
44:13He is maybe hinting, like, with the Netanyahu-led Israeli state, maybe he will not be ready
44:19for the U.S.-led peace process with Israel, Saudi Arabia and Israel.
44:23How do you see that?
44:24So when it comes to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, which is I
44:28think where ultimately that question goes, we've made quite clear that at the end of
44:33this conflict, we need to have plans for – we need to have political plans as well as military
44:39plans.
44:40We need to have plans for security in Gaza.
44:41We need to have plans for reconstruction in Gaza.
44:44And ultimately, we need to give the Palestinian people a path forward to their own self-determination,
44:50to present an alternative vision of the world to the one that Hamas has presented.
44:55And secondly, India just surpasses Pakistan in nuclear arm race, standing at 172, where
45:01Pakistan at 170.
45:02And meanwhile, China is also accelerating, like, at 500 nukes.
45:07So meanwhile, like, NATO members are in talks about to make stand by their nuclear weapons
45:13regarding the Russian threats.
45:15And at the same time, some support suggests that Chinese officials are showing concerns,
45:21it said, like, undermining nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation regimes, and it should
45:25stop doing it, some of the Chinese officials quoted.
45:28With this timeline, do U.S. have some concerns on China and India's nuclear acceleration?
45:34I'm just not going to comment from there.
45:36I'm not going to comment on that here.
45:37I don't think it's productive to say publicly.
45:39Go ahead.
45:40Thank you.
45:41Yes.
45:42Thank you.
45:43No, no, next to you.
45:44Go ahead.
45:45Okay.
45:46Hello.
45:47Thank you.
45:48After Israel took control of the Philadelphia route and the Rafah crossing, Egypt expressed
45:50its reservation and refused to coordinate with Israel regarding the operation of the
45:56Rafah crossing.
45:57How did Egypt address this issue in the conversation with the United States?
46:03So I'm not going to get into private conversations, but we have made clear in – that we want
46:08to see Rafah crossing reopen, and we have been engaged in conversations between Egypt
46:12and Israel.
46:13It's something that they need to work on together, and so we're trying to facilitate
46:15that process, and it's one that remains ongoing.
46:17Okay.
46:18Another question, please.
46:20Last month, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority published statements referring to the IEDF
46:27Minister Galland, in which he said that Israel – there is no Palestinian state, and the
46:33American understand this, adding the American public statement are not important.
46:39At the same time, the price of the Saudi Arabia peace includes the establishment of a Palestinian
46:47state.
46:48What's your comment, please?
46:49My comment is the same that we have said for some time, that we think ultimately the only
46:52way to resolve the longstanding tension in the region, the longstanding disputes between
46:58Israel and the Palestinian people, is the establishment of a Palestinian state.
47:02And we are working on not just day-after plans for the conflict in Gaza, but long-term plans
47:07to achieve that.
47:08Okay.
47:09Go ahead.
47:10Thank you, Mark.
47:11And then we'll wrap for today.
47:12Yes.
47:13Are you known that the head of Hezbollah threatened Cyprus yesterday, that he's going to attack
47:17the island?
47:18And any comment, please, since this is the first time that Nasrallah threatened Cyprus?
47:26And also, can you tell us how was the meeting between the Secretary and the foreign minister
47:31of Cyprus today?
47:32Let me take it kind of in reverse order.
47:33It was an incredibly productive meeting.
47:35The Secretary thanked the – thanked the Government of Cyprus for all the work that
47:41they have done to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of
47:45Gaza.
47:46And I just want to highlight that again, that Cyprus has really played a key role in – as
47:50a staging area for delivering humanitarian assistance that makes it to Gaza, that helps
47:55innocent Palestinians, that feeds innocent Palestinians.
47:59And why Hezbollah would attack a country in the middle of that important humanitarian
48:05role it's playing, why they would launch this kind of verbal attack, is just beyond
48:09me.
48:10And with that, we'll wrap for today.
48:11Oh, yeah.
48:12Yeah.
48:13I just want to ask about the summer and May meeting.
48:16Does the Secretary plan to reiterate that there are no bottlenecks in U.S. weapons going
48:21to Israel, despite Netanyahu's comments?
48:23So I don't want to preview a meeting before it happens, but that has been something that
48:27we have consistently made clear to the Government of Israel.
48:28So you don't think you have to make clear that perception again?
48:32I just don't want to speak to the meeting that's starting in a few minutes.
48:34We'll be happy to talk about it afterwards.
48:35Thanks.