State Department Principal Deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel holds a press briefing.
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NewsTranscript
00:00So, over the last nine months, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has been dire.
00:07And from the beginning of the war until now, the U.S.
00:10Government has been committed to getting aid into the Gaza Strip through every possible
00:15means, whether by land, air, or sea.
00:18The creation of the maritime pier was – helped to address this situation.
00:25Despite weather-induced limitations, nearly 19 million pounds of assistance, including
00:30food and shelter supplies, entered Gaza through the pier.
00:35This is equivalent of enough assistance to feed 450,000 people for one month.
00:40The platform was helpful in allowing more aid to enter Gaza, both directly via the pier
00:47and through the Ashdod port, and demonstrated the value of having enhanced communication
00:54and coordination between the United States, the Israelis, and humanitarian organizations
00:59to improve deconfliction mechanisms.
01:02This coordination cell, which supported humanitarian maritime operations, has demonstrated that
01:08ongoing coordination between multinational and humanitarian organizations is vital.
01:14It is vital to the efforts of – to improve aid worker safety.
01:19In turn, creating a safer environment for aid workers will help humanitarian partners
01:25get assistance to people in the greatest need across Gaza.
01:29This model of coordination has now been agreed upon by the Government of Israel and to be
01:34extended to all of Gaza.
01:36This new process will allow for safer movement of aid deliveries through all crossings to
01:41include the vital land crossing we desperately need to be fully operational.
01:46The needs in Gaza are staggering and the humanitarian conditions in Gaza are unacceptable,
01:52and very significant challenges remain for delivering sufficient life-saving humanitarian
01:58assistance to Gaza, including the closure of multiple land crossings, insecurity, and
02:04logistical and capacity constraints.
02:07From the early days following October 7th, the President, the Secretary of State, and
02:11the U.S.
02:12have worked to open crossings and to facilitate humanitarian assistance, and we will continue
02:17to press for the conditions to ensure the safety of humanitarian actors and activities,
02:24open additional land crossings, remove impediments to the delivery of humanitarian aid, and do
02:29far more to prevent the innocent loss of lives and the killing of innocent civilians, including,
02:36of course, humanitarian workers.
02:38We know that more aid needs to get to civilians in Gaza, which is why we are continuing to
02:44work around the clock to broker a ceasefire agreement that would allow for a massive surge
02:50in aid to all in need and to see the hostages come home.
02:55So with that, Matt, I am happy to dive into the question.
02:58QUESTIONER 1 Sorry, yeah.
02:59So just on the pier, so is it the view of the State Department that this initiative
03:04was cost-effective?
03:05MR RATHKE Matt, we believe that this was a successful
03:09initiative.
03:10It was able to provide —
03:11QUESTIONER 1 Well, I didn't ask you if you thought it
03:13was successful.
03:14I mean, delivering one loaf of bread would make it a success, but was it cost-effective?
03:20MR RATHKE In terms of the technical breakdown, Matt,
03:23I'm sure my colleagues in the Department of Defense would be happy to speak to that.
03:27They – I didn't know our briefing in a – a little bit later this afternoon.
03:31But what I can say is that we believe that this effort was successful, and specifically
03:36because the pier and its existence and the work that happened through it impacted aid
03:42delivery to northern Gaza.
03:44It successfully delivered millions of pounds of aid to the people who need it, nearly 19
03:50million, as I mentioned.
03:52And its use helped overall the increased flow of aid and alleviate conditions in northern
03:58Gaza.
03:59Not at all to say that the situation is resolved or conclusive or anything like that, but overall
04:05it was an effort that we believe was successful.
04:09QUESTIONER 1 Okay.
04:10And then just at the very top of what you said, you said over the last nine months the
04:15humanitarian situation in Gaza has been dire.
04:18Is it the view of the Administration that prior to nine months ago, prior to October
04:237th, the humanitarian situation in Gaza was just fine?
04:26MR RATHKE No, Matt, not at all.
04:27I was, of course, speaking in the context of the months following October 7th.
04:32Of course, the Gaza Strip has long been an area that has needed consistent humanitarian
04:41access, consistent humanitarian aid, and I didn't mean to imply the otherwise with
04:45my comments.
04:46QUESTIONER 1 Okay.
04:48QUESTIONER 2 Can I just follow up on the pier?
04:49MR RATHKE Can I – sure.
04:50I'll get back to you, Daniel.
04:51QUESTIONER 2 Then I'll defer to Jen.
04:52MR RATHKE Sure.
04:53QUESTIONER 2 But on the pier.
04:54MR RATHKE Yeah.
04:55QUESTIONER 2 Do you believe that it met its goals?
04:56I mean, its goals as defined and so on, you believe that it met its goals?
05:00I know you mentioned that it fed 400,000 Palestinians for one month.
05:04That's one-fifth of the population for one month.
05:07But that was exactly the intended goal, that it will feed 400,000 Palestinians for one
05:12month?
05:13MR RATHKE Sorry, there was not a technical goal or
05:17a logistics or a flow – inflow or a throughput goal.
05:22What we are talking about, and when the President announced this at the State of the Union,
05:25what we were talking about was a all-of-U.S. government effort to ensure that we were leaving
05:31no stone unturned and that we were looking at the issue of getting more humanitarian
05:37aid into Gaza through every angle.
05:39That includes land crossings, that includes airdrops, that included this pier option as
05:45well.
05:46That's what this is about, is us trying to pursue every possible alternative to ensure
05:51that we can get humanitarian aid into Gaza.
05:55And in that effort, this pier was successful for all the reasons that I laid out.
05:59Now certainly, as I said to Matt, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to be dire, and
06:06we will continue to work with humanitarian partners, with partners in Israel, partners
06:11across the region, to look at what other avenues are at our disposal to get humanitarian aid
06:17into Gaza.
06:18I believe Ashdod Port will continue to play an important role, especially for aid that
06:23is moving through Cyprus.
06:25We'll continue to work closely with our partners in Israel and others in the region
06:29to do everything we can to get more land crossings open.
06:32So this is not at all – not at all to say that the humanitarian picture in Gaza is perfect.
06:40What I mean to say is that this pier served a purpose.
06:45We believe that purpose was successful in what it was able to accomplish, and we will
06:49continue to work hand-in-hand with partners at USAID, at the Pentagon, in the region,
06:55to make sure that there are other avenues being looked at also.
06:58I defer to Jennifer.
06:59Then I'll take my turn afterwards.
07:00Sure.
07:01Jen, go ahead.
07:02Was this aid actually distributed within Gaza, Vedant, because WFP had to suspend its operations
07:07due to security issues?
07:08And I know they did a one-off thing to move it all to their warehouses, but was it actually
07:12distributed to the people?
07:13My understanding is that there has been – some of the aid has been able to be distributed.
07:17I would defer to USAID and humanitarian partners to, again, speak to the specific throughput.
07:24But yeah, I don't have any updates on that beyond –
07:26And then the coordination cell you mentioned, when did the Israeli Government agree to –
07:30I don't have any specifics on diplomatic engagements on that, Jenny.
07:36I will just know that this is separate than the cell that we have talked about previously
07:42when talking –
07:43So this is a new cell?
07:44Correct, correct.
07:45This is a new cell that is specifically catered around humanitarian aid and as an outproduct
07:50of this pier.
07:51Isn't this something that the Israelis had said they were going to be working on after
07:54the deadly strike on the World Central Kitchen Convoy?
07:58Why did it take this long?
07:59It's something that we – it's something that we continue to engage on with the Israelis
08:03when it comes to ensuring that there is clear coordination, and like I said, this is a separate
08:08endeavor than what was being talked about then.
08:11Are there any updates on the opening of the Rafah Crossing?
08:14Where do those discussions happen?
08:16I have no updates for you.
08:17Again, we've talked about this before.
08:19Obviously, the closure of the Rafah border crossing is a logistical hurdle, but also
08:25we've talked about this before, was an important conduit for humanitarian aid.
08:29We're continuing to work and have discussions around that.
08:32But broadly, we are doing everything we can to get a ceasefire agreement across the finish
08:39line because we continue to believe that it is the most potent way to get a surge of
08:45humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
08:48And then my last question on Gaza.
08:49There was a very disturbing BBC report earlier this week about a man who had Down syndrome,
08:54whose mother said he was attacked by IDF dogs and left to die.
08:58Does the State Department tracking this report?
09:00Have you asked the Israeli Government to investigate that?
09:02I'm not aware of this specific report, Jenny, and I'd let the – defer to the IDF to speak
09:08to it specifically.
09:09Broadly, though, not speaking to this specific instance, it has been our clear call that
09:17rules of engagement, that protections for civilians be respected and abided by throughout
09:24the course of this conflict.
09:25But I don't have – or much about these – this specific incident, but I'm happy
09:31to check.
09:32Said, then I'll come to you, Nick.
09:35Yeah.
09:36The Israeli Knesset yesterday voted against the Palestinian state ever, so do you have
09:42any comment on that?
09:43Would that sort of make you adopt a different approach, or would you have, like, a mechanism
09:48to ensure that there is going to be a Palestinian state despite now it is legislated into law
09:54or will be legislated into law that no Palestinian state will ever emerge?
09:59So look, Said, I'll let Israeli officials speak to their own legislative chamber and
10:05the actions that that chamber takes.
10:08But the United States is committed to advancing enduring peace and security for Israelis and
10:13Palestinians alike, and we believe that the practical and way for that is a two-state
10:21solution, a Palestinian state that is standing side by side with Israel.
10:27We believe that is the only way to advance an enduring peace, and it is also something
10:32that we believe it is in Israel's security.
10:35To realize this vision, Israel must be a partner to the Palestinian people and Palestinian
10:42leaders.
10:43And as we have said before, we will continue to engage Israeli leadership at the highest
10:47levels in making this clear.
10:49Yeah, but the Knesset makes the laws for Israel, like our Congress makes the laws for us in
10:55this country.
10:56So I mean, with all due respect, if it remains contained to rhetorical commitment, I mean,
11:03it doesn't make any difference.
11:05Would it make any difference?
11:06Is the United States, in other words, willing or able to take some steps to actually make
11:12this happen?
11:13I'm going to go out on a limb and say that neither you nor I are experts in Knesset law
11:19and legislation and things and products that come out of the Knesset.
11:25So I will leave that analysis to others.
11:29What I can say is that the United States approach to a two-state solution has not changed.
11:34Our prior criticization of that has not changed.
11:37Wait, can I just – sorry.
11:41So you have no opinion at all on this?
11:44We certainly have an opinion, Matt.
11:46I just – what I don't have is an – What is it – what is the opinion?
11:49Our opinion is that we believe that a two-state solution is necessary, not just for Israel's
11:54security.
11:55I know what your opinion on a two-state solution is.
11:57What's your opinion on the legislation?
11:59I think it can be safely implied that a piece of legislation that is in opposition to a
12:05two-state solution is not something that we would be thrilled about.
12:09But again, I don't have the expertise or the analysis of this legislation to know what
12:15bearing it would have on the overall process.
12:19What I can say, though, Matt, is that this is something that we're going to continue
12:22to engage directly with Israeli leaders on.
12:25We believe that this is the direct and most credible and real path forward for Israel's
12:32security to get the region out of an endless cycle of violence.
12:36And that's why we have continued to call on a two-state solution being a cornerstone
12:40of every iteration and conversation that we have when we talk about the future of this
12:45region and the future of the Israeli and the Palestinian people.
12:48Okay.
12:49And Matt, I'm just – it's interesting to me that you don't want to come out – you
12:53wouldn't come out and say right off the top, in response to the first question, that
12:58this is something that you oppose and that –
13:00This is not –
13:02Because I can recall less than two months ago you guys weighing in very significantly
13:08on Georgia's parliament passing a law that you didn't like, on Uganda's parliament
13:12passing an anti-LGBTQ law that you didn't like, and there was no reticence at all –
13:19Matt.
13:20For you guys to call it out.
13:21And now it's like pulling teeth to get you to say something like this.
13:25I don't think it's like pulling teeth.
13:27This – first, this is something that my understanding is just passed earlier today
13:32or within the past 24 hours.
13:34What the full contents of this legislation are, I certainly haven't had time to read
13:39it.
13:40I can't imagine Said or – has or you have either, Matt, correct me if I'm wrong.
13:45That being said, our longstanding position on a two-state solution is quite clear, and
13:53we believe it continues to be the only way to advance enduring peace.
13:57And it's something that we have made clear with Israeli officials across its government,
14:01and it's something that we will continue to make clear across –
14:04Okay.
14:05All right.
14:06Fair enough.
14:07But I don't think that you can cite chapter and verse of the Georgia law or the Uganda
14:10law either.
14:11So don't – throw it back and say, well, you haven't read it.
14:18We know what's – the essential outline is, which is basically what you knew about
14:25the two laws that I've just mentioned in other countries.
14:29These are different circumstances, different countries.
14:31I mean, these are a little bit apples and oranges.
14:32Oh, of course they are.
14:33But the point is, is that you are not shy about weighing in on other countries' legislatures'
14:39decisions or votes.
14:42And in this case, you are.
14:44We are not – we are not shy about making clear that – how vital we believe a two-state
14:50solution to be about being the only way for an enduring peace.
14:54Nick's patiently been waiting.
14:55I have a couple more questions.
14:57I'm sorry.
14:58I will come to you.
14:59It's a different topic.
15:00Sorry about that.
15:01All right.
15:02Go ahead.
15:03Sorry.
15:04But I just want to ask you a couple more.
15:05Yeah.
15:06The Mossad leader, the Israeli intelligence leader, said that Netanyahu is really intent
15:13on thwarting any deal.
15:15Do you have any comment on that?
15:17Did you hear the Mossad chief, what he said, and so on?
15:21So for obvious reasons, Said, I'm not going to negotiate or speak about the deliberative
15:26process from up here.
15:28What I can say is that we're working to get a deal, we're working to get a ceasefire
15:32and bring the hostages home.
15:33And we continue to believe a diplomatic resolution is achievable and urgent.
15:38We're hopeful about the direction that things are progressing in, and we believe,
15:43as I said, something is achievable.
15:44But I am not going to get more specific or offer commentary beyond that.
15:49But Mr. Bernier, the head of the Mossad, is the guy who is really heading the negotiations,
15:54so he knows.
15:55He knows exactly what's going on.
15:57He knows that his prime minister is not allowing him to go forward with a deal.
16:01You don't have a comment on that?
16:03I am just not going to negotiate on this process in public, Said.
16:07That would be unhelpful to the process.
16:10What I can say is that we are hopeful about the direction that things are progressing
16:14in.
16:15We believe a deal is both achievable – it's something that we have been working around
16:19the clock, it's an urgent priority for Secretary Blinken, and this is something that we're
16:25working to get across the finish line.
16:27But I don't have more for you.
16:29Anything else on the region before I let Nick go?
16:32Go ahead, Nick.
16:33This is on Iran.
16:34Okay.
16:35Go ahead.
16:36States re-upped the four-month sanctions waiver for Iraq to buy electricity from Iran without
16:42being subject to sanctions.
16:44It's now really a good time to be granting or extending sanction waivers when Iran is
16:50plotting to assassinate the former president and others.
16:54And what, if any, ramifications will Iran face for that?
16:58So what ramifications it will face for – plotting to assassinate U.S. officials for –
17:03Okay.
17:04These are two separate questions.
17:07First, let me just say on the issue with Iraq, what this is about is this is something – we
17:12have renewed this waiver for the 22nd time, and it is about the department permitting
17:19Iraq to purchase Iranian electricity while Iraq continues to develop its domestic generation
17:26capacity and continuing to create its own independence off of Iranian energy.
17:34These waivers are short-term, and they are stopgap measures to provide energy stability.
17:38That's ultimately what this is about, is we want the Iraqi people, as we would want
17:43in any country, to have access to consistent, safe energy, which is vital to so many civilian
17:52infrastructure projects, civilian establishments.
17:55It probably would be a waste of time for me to list them off.
18:00Simultaneously, though, Nick, we are also encouraging the Iraqi Government to take meaningful
18:06steps to accelerate its efforts to wean itself off of Iranian energy sources.
18:12And over the past number of years, we have also seen that.
18:15Currently, our estimates are that it relies on Iran for about 25 percent of its energy.
18:23Just a few years ago, that number was 40 percent.
18:26And in recent years, we have seen our partners in Iraq double its capacity for its own electrical
18:33generation.
18:34So we are seeing progress and steps in the right direction, and we want to continue to
18:39see a clear plan, including realistic and measurable milestones.
18:44Now, Nick, separately on the other question that you mentioned, the Department of Homeland
18:54Security and the Department of Justice can speak to questions pertaining to the attempted
19:00assassination of former President Trump, as well as how other threats may or may not impact
19:09efforts that are undertaken to protect the former president.
19:15We're going to continue to do what is necessary to protect our people, protect our interests
19:19from threats emanating from Iran.
19:21That, of course, includes protecting former officials from any threats that may potentially
19:27emanate from Iran.
19:29And you have seen us not hesitate to take appropriate actions against the Iranian regime
19:35or its proxies when American interests, its people, or American officials have been threatened
19:42or been put in harm's way.
19:44And that continues to be the case, and for obvious reasons, it should be no surprise
19:49to you I'm not going to preview what actions and steps we would take from up here.
19:53QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS
19:54Can I follow up on that?
19:55Go ahead, Alex.
19:56Yeah.
19:57The White House this morning said that this threat is credible.
20:01So if it's credible – getting back to Nick's original question – what actions
20:06are you taking to, first of all, deter it, second of all, to make Iran pay a price?
20:09So in answering – I addressed this when speaking to Nick's question, Alex.
20:13I'm not going to speak to actions from up here.
20:17I'm not going to preview to them.
20:19That would be not in the interest of our national security.
20:23What I can say, though, is that we will not hesitate to take appropriate action to hold
20:28the Iranian regime accountable and to ensure that we're doing whatever is necessary to
20:34protect our people, including former officials, and to protect our interests from threats
20:39that are emanating from Iran.
20:40As simple as that.
20:41Has the U.S.
20:42Government reached out to Iranian new leadership?
20:43I'm just not going to – I don't have any diplomatic conversations to read out.
20:50We've made this message – we've made this message quite clear.
20:55I have two more questions, different topics.
20:56I'm going to – I think there's a couple other on – in this room.
20:58Then I will come back to you.
20:59D.R., go ahead.
21:00Thank you, Ben.
21:01Just going back to the sanctions waiver to Iraq, there is a lot of concerns in the Congress
21:05that the transactions is fungible.
21:08And what restrictions and what limitations have you placed it in this renewing sanctions
21:14waiver to Iraq that Iran is not getting any single dollars from that waiver?
21:20So let's just remember that as it relates to these funds, none of these funds from Iraq's
21:27ever enter Iran.
21:28The terms of the electricity waiver, any notion that these kinds of funds are being released
21:36to Iran is fake.
21:38And the important thing to remember here, D.R., is that what we're talking about is
21:42not a specific dollar amount.
21:45It is a waiver authority that allows the purchase of electricity over a certain period of time
21:52– in this case, 120 days.
21:54So it's permission for an activity over a period of time, and that's what this is.
21:59One more question on that.
22:00Yeah.
22:01Per sources, per people that have talked at the State Department and the Iraqi Government,
22:05the renewing sanctions is based on the progress that the Iraqi Government is making towards
22:10the energy independence from Iran.
22:11Since 2018, you are renewing this sanctions waiver to Iraq.
22:16Could you speak of the nature of this time's renewing?
22:18Is there any change?
22:19Is there an imitation that – how much energy Iraq could buy from Iran in this 22 days?
22:27So the Government of Iraq can speak to how much energy they may or may not need over
22:32the course of this 120-day period that was just approved.
22:39But to the first part of your question, I just talked about in answering Nick's question,
22:42we have over the past decade have seen some measurable steps of Iraq weaning off Iranian
22:48electricity.
22:49Like I said, currently we anticipate that they are relying on Iran for about 25 percent
22:56of their electricity.
22:57A number of years ago, that number was 40 percent.
23:00Also in recent years, we have seen Iraq double its electricity generation capacity at home.
23:07So we are seeing steps in the right direction when it comes to weaning itself off of Iranian
23:14energy, and we'll continue to keep a close eye on that plan.
23:17Rabia, go ahead.
23:18Thank you, Vedant.
23:19I just wanted to follow up on my question yesterday, the photo about – photo of Israeli
23:25soldiers posing in front of the Turkish-Palestinian hospital in Gaza.
23:30What is your reaction to this photo and the reports that the IDF is using this hospital
23:36as their military base in Gaza?
23:38So we have seen the reports on the Turkish hospital, and we are in touch with Israeli
23:43counterparts to learn more.
23:46And that's really all that we can say at the moment on that.
23:49I think at face value, when looking at that image, what we see is we see servicemembers
23:56posing in front of the hospital, so I don't want to draw any conclusions beyond that.
24:03But we have asked the IDF for additional information, and we look forward to receiving that.
24:08But beyond that, that does not change the position that we have held for quite some
24:14time now, that Israelis need to conduct their operations in such a way that civilian infrastructure
24:23– like hospitals, like schools – that harm to those kinds of infrastructures are
24:29not brought about by their operations.
24:31And that continues to be our position.
24:33Will the U.S. make its own assessment in this case on whether or not IDF is violating international
24:40law?
24:41At this point –
24:42Because this is not the first time we are seeing photos of Israeli soldiers.
24:43If we are – at this point, we have asked our –
24:44Posing in front of civilian infrastructure and using hospitals as their military base.
24:45There were many reports about that.
24:46We're in touch with our Israeli counterparts, and we're looking to understand more, and
24:47that's where we are in the process on this for now.
24:48Go ahead.
24:49Sure.
24:50Go ahead.
24:51Okay.
24:52So Russia's deputy foreign minister said today that Russia does not rule out the new
24:53deployments of nuclear missiles in response to the planned U.S. stationing of long-range
24:54conglomerate missiles.
24:55Do you have any comment on that?
24:56And if not, do you have any comment on that?
24:57And if not, do you have any comment on that?
24:58And if not, do you have any comment on that?
24:59And if not, do you have any comment on that?
25:00Would you be concerned about such a deployment, or do you view this as posturing?
25:26And have you thought through possible responses?
25:28So I certainly wouldn't speak to responses from here, and obviously colleagues at the
25:33Pentagon can speak to that in greater detail.
25:36Of course, any kind of rhetoric, language, and talking about the use or deployment of
25:43nuclear warheads is, of course, concerning and something that we'll continue to pay close
25:49attention to.
25:50This is something that we have seen the Russians do and say and thump their chests a little
25:59bit on for a number – for quite some time now, dating back to even the early months
26:05of their aggression into Ukraine.
26:07So I just don't want to – I don't want to speculate.
26:10But we are, of course, continuing to monitor closely.
26:13Okay.
26:14And then Germany next year plans to cut in half its military aid to Ukraine, saying it
26:18hopes that Ukraine will be able to meet the bulk of its military needs with 50 billion
26:23in loans from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets.
26:26Do you think those loans will be sufficient?
26:29So obviously, when we're talking about the use of those sovereign assets, that's something
26:36that the G7 worked very closely on.
26:39So we have – we no doubt believe that that is something that will be able to bolster
26:42Ukrainians – the Ukrainians' efforts when it comes to defending their territorial integrity
26:48and sovereignty.
26:49As it relates to the Germans and their own budgetary decisions, that's an internal
26:54process for them to speak to.
26:55What I can say is that over the course of this conflict, our German partners have been
27:02irreplaceable and amazing to work with when it comes to supporting our Ukrainian partners.
27:08And broadly, our allies and partners across Europe have continued to shoulder an immense
27:13burden when it comes to supporting the Ukrainian people, and we have no reason to think that
27:17that kind of support across Europe, including in Germany itself, would not continue.
27:22And Germany's plans come despite concerns that U.S. support for Kyiv could potentially
27:26diminish if Trump returns to the White House.
27:28Have you had conversations with your German counterparts about these plans to cut aid
27:33in this context?
27:34And –
27:35We talk to our – it's important to remember Germany is one of our most key and important
27:39partners in Europe.
27:40We talk to them regularly around the clock.
27:43I don't have any specifics to share on this news, though.
27:47But does this increase your concerns about the future of military aid for Ukraine?
27:51Like I just said, we have no reason to believe that aid from across Europe will not continue
27:58to be robust in supporting our Ukrainian partners.
28:01Leaders of these European countries have themselves said that, including Chancellor Schultz.
28:09And the United States has also, since the passage of the supplemental, we also have
28:14continued to show our support to our Ukrainian partners through PDAs and other kinds of support,
28:19and we have no reason to think that that won't continue over the coming months as well.
28:24Okay.
28:25Sorry, just quickly on Evan Grishkovich.
28:26Yeah.
28:27His trial moves quickly through the witness testimony behind closed doors today.
28:30Yeah.
28:31Was the embassy able to have access to his trial, and when was the last time the U.S.
28:35had contact with him?
28:36Sure.
28:37And then what's the latest on a potential prisoner exchange for him and Paul Whelan?
28:40So a couple of things.
28:41First, we are obviously watching this trial very closely.
28:46Embassy Moscow was not able to be at the courtroom given the short notice that they were provided
28:52of its date and some additional logistical hurdles that they faced.
28:58In terms of the most recent consular visit, Ambassador Tracy visited Evan on May 23rd.
29:07And on broadly, let me just say that we have been clear from the get-go that Evan did nothing
29:12wrong and should not have been detained to date.
29:16Russia has provided no evidence of a crime and has failed to justify Evan's continued
29:22detention.
29:23Evan should not be detained, Paul Whelan should not be detained, and both of them should be
29:28immediately released.
29:30As it relates to where we are in the process, I'm not going to speak to negotiations in
29:34public.
29:36We are seeking the release of Evan Grishkovich and Paul Whelan as soon as possible.
29:41The timeline of the trial and what route that takes does not have a bearing and has no impact
29:47on the urgency that the United States has been prioritizing in this effort.
29:53We want both of them home immediately and will continue to work in this area until they're
29:57reunited with their loved ones.
29:59Go ahead.
30:00Thanks, Vedant.
30:01A follow-up on that, actually.
30:03So Evan Grishkovich is due in court again tomorrow.
30:06Will U.S. diplomats be on hand for that hearing or attempt to gain access?
30:09We will certainly attempt to gain access.
30:11I don't have any more specific than that, but I'm happy to check with the team in Moscow
30:15and see if we can follow up with you.
30:18And the timeline of the trial that seems to have rocketed forward, does the State Department
30:21have any insight into why this timeline has been moved up?
30:25Is it because perhaps Russia is hoping to secure a deal?
30:28I don't have any assessment on why Russia moved the trial up to this month.
30:32What I can say is that this timeline – first, I think it's important for us to note from
30:37here that this whole legal process is a sham for Evan.
30:42He is being wrongfully detained.
30:44He did nothing wrong.
30:46We have been clear about that from the onset.
30:49Again, I will use this opportunity to echo that Russia has provided no evidence of a
30:54crime and failed to justify the reason behind Evan's detention.
30:58Now, that being said, this fake sham legal process that we are seeing play out has no
31:04bearing on the urgency that we have placed on seeking a release of Evan's detention
31:11and seeking a release for Paul Whelan as well, and we'll continue to work that process tirelessly.
31:16Can I follow up on that?
31:17Yeah, go ahead.
31:18When was the last time there was any active, substantive discussion between the U.S. and
31:22the Russians on this matter?
31:24It should be no surprise to you I would not speak to those kinds of negotiations or
31:28process from up here.
31:29Has there been any other offers put on the table after the ones that you guys put us
31:35through?
31:36I'm just not going to negotiate in public.
31:37Thanks.
31:38Janne, go ahead.
31:40Bad ant.
31:41North Korea.
31:42Recently, a series of North Korean diplomats overseas are defecting to friendly countries
31:52such as South Korea and United States.
31:56The reason is said to be Kim Jong-un's pressure to fund nuclear and missile development.
32:06How do you view this situation?
32:09Well, it certainly should come as no surprise that there are people in North Korea who want
32:14to leave the crushing oppression of the DPRK regime.
32:23Specifically, though, Janne, I don't have anything to offer on the process.
32:28I'm sure our colleagues in the ROK MFA may have more to speak to any specific defections.
32:34But from our vantage point, it should be no surprise that there are members of the North
32:40Korean community who want desperately to be somewhere where their basic human rights are
32:45protected, where they have ease of access to democracy and basic human principles and
32:51freedoms.
32:53In the past year and a half, 20 North Korean diplomats have defected to South Korea.
33:03How many North Korean defectors have recently come to the United States?
33:09I'm not aware of such a number.
33:12As in I'm not aware, but I'm happy to check with the team for you, Janne.
33:16Yeah.
33:18Goyal, go ahead.
33:19Thank you, sir.
33:20Two questions, please.
33:21Thank you so much.
33:22As far as U.S. diplomacy and foreign policy is concerned, the senator story from U.S.
33:28have become a global issue now.
33:30My question is that many countries may have affected or may have benefited from his being
33:37a long time on a foreign policy or a committee on – international committee on foreign
33:43policy issues.
33:46How the relations will be with those countries who may have benefited from his being on the
33:54committee on –
33:55So, Goyal, I appreciate your question, but I am just going to defer to the Department
33:59of Justice given that continues to be an ongoing law enforcement matter.
34:03And second, sir, as far as U.S.-India relations again, Prime Minister Modi's visit to Moscow
34:10meeting with Russia's President Putin was criticized here even by the Ukrainian president
34:18and many others during the NATO summit in Washington.
34:22So how our – I mean, the relation with the U.S. and India is concerned as far as a visit
34:27and NATO here is concerned today, if you have any talks with the Indian authorities or foreign
34:35minister or any others as far as his visit to Moscow is concerned?
34:39Well, look, broadly, India continues to be a country in which we partner with in a number
34:46of key areas, and that was clearly on display last summer when we hosted Prime Minister
34:53Modi for a state visit.
34:55But beyond that, in the context of Ukraine and Russia's ongoing aggression and its
35:01infringement on Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, we continue to ask all our
35:05partners, including India, to support efforts to realize an enduring and just peace for
35:11Ukraine, and we urge Russia to withdraw troops from Ukraine's sovereign territory.
35:15Go ahead.
35:16Thank you, sir.
35:18It's a Bangladesh issue.
35:19Student demand quota issue is in danger now.
35:22They killed more than 50 people today and 7th on 16th – 7 people killed on 16th.
35:28So big chaos going on there.
35:30What do you have?
35:31The prime minister is ordering police to kill students, innocent students.
35:34They are demanding for quota instead of less like – your – where it should be your
35:39knowledge, not the quota.
35:40So they are demanding a whole Bangladesh is in the chaos now.
35:44What you have?
35:45What do you have?
35:46So –
35:47What the United States of America stands for it?
35:48Matt spoke a little bit about this earlier in the week, so I will just echo that.
35:52We're continuing to monitor the reports of violence from the ongoing protests in and
35:57around Dhaka.
35:58Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are essential building blocks to any thriving
36:04democracy, and we condemn the recent acts of violence in Bangladesh.
36:09Our thoughts are with those who have been killed or injured by this, and we're continuing
36:12to rely on media and contacts on the ground for information.
36:15Number two is, like, military and media are on the road.
36:18So do you have any comment on that?
36:20So again, we need to make sure that any kind of freedom of expression is happening safely
36:28and people are free from violence.
36:31That's something we're continuing to pay close attention to, but I don't have any
36:35additional updates on that.
36:36Thanks.
36:37Jolio, go ahead.
36:38Thank you very much for that.
36:39First, a quick thank you from these two dozen Pakistani girls who visited State Department
36:45just two weeks ago.
36:46It's a student program, STEM.
36:49They especially emailed me as well.
36:51These are some unrecognized State Department workers who play a wonderful role in doing
36:55these projects and something the U.S.
36:57Government does for these poor countries.
36:59So thank you on behalf of them.
37:02Just two questions.
37:06Fifty thousand Afghans in Pakistan are waiting to be brought to the U.S.
37:15Twenty million dollars, according to my banking information, is – every month is spent on
37:19them by the State Department.
37:22Your comment on that, whether it's a good use of the taxpayers' amount, and also whether
37:29you are aware that these individuals that are there, they're involved in some anti-state
37:34activities in Pakistan, like –
37:35Are you talking about specifically those who are SIVL?
37:38Those 50,000 – not those millions of Afghans, those specifically 50,000 Afghans that the
37:43U.S. has – they are holding them in Pakistan because the U.S. is doing the process to be
37:50brought to the –
37:51Right.
37:52So for Afghan allies and partners who may be eligible for relocation to the United States,
37:59through the various sort of pathways that may exist, whether it be SIVs or others, we
38:05continue to focus on doing everything we can to process those applicants as swiftly as
38:10possible.
38:11We, of course, appreciate the partnership of certain host countries, in this case of
38:17Pakistan, and we'll continue to do everything we can to process those quickly and efficiently.
38:22No, but what I'm saying is are you aware that some of them are involved in supporting
38:26– you are involved –
38:27I don't have any comment on that.
38:28I'm not aware of –
38:29Just one more question, sir.
38:30No.
38:31In Pakistan, several journalists have now started using this term, emergency, which
38:36is basically a sweet word for martial law in the country.
38:40Has it passed your ears that these discussions are going on in Pakistan and your thoughts
38:46on that?
38:47It has not.
38:49Go ahead.
38:50Thank you very much.
38:51Yeah.
38:52Please give us an update or maybe details about U.S. Admiral Brett McGurk's visit
38:55to Middle East?
38:57Admiral Brett McGurk works at the White House, so I will let them speak to any of his engagements.
39:02What I can say broadly about the efforts to get a ceasefire, as I said when answering
39:08both Matt Lee and Said's question, is that we are continuing to work this around the
39:13clock.
39:14We think that it is a vital step that's necessary to do everything we can to get the
39:19region out of endless cycles of violence.
39:22It will be irreplaceable in surging humanitarian assistance into Gaza, and it will be critical
39:28to making sure that all of the hostages are released as well.
39:32Go ahead.
39:33Go ahead.
39:34Thanks.
39:35On the humanitarian truce in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, what specific moves is
39:40the U.S. taking to ensure that this truce holds?
39:43So this is something that we are working closely on with the parties.
39:48We're going to work closely with the government of the DRC, Rwanda, and Angola to support
39:53regional diplomatic efforts to reach a durable cessation of hostilities and set conditions
39:59for the voluntary return of displaced populations.
40:02We're closely monitoring the truce, and we are going to work closely with the ad hoc
40:09verification mechanism.
40:11Since you've asked the question, I also want to offer that through USAID and the Department
40:16of State and others, we've allocated more than $620 million in humanitarian aid to the
40:22DRC in fiscal year 2023, as well as that – and that does not include our support to the UN
40:30peacekeeping mission in UNESCO.
40:32And then what outreach is the U.S. Administration making to Rwanda, which has been accused of
40:37supporting M23?
40:38I don't have any specific diplomatic engagements to share, Daphne, beyond just saying that
40:44this is something that we'll continue to work closely with appropriate governments.
40:48Go ahead.
40:50Thank you, and then I have two questions on China, if I may.
40:54Human rights issues.
40:55This Saturday, July 20th, marks the 25th anniversary of the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong.
41:02Will the State Department take any action against Beijing to mark this occasion?
41:06So I don't have any actions to preview from up here, but look, broadly, we have seen the
41:15PRC take a number of steps over the past many years that we view as a crackdown on basic
41:22human rights.
41:23One, it is something that we will continue to raise with PRC officials directly, and
41:28two, we won't hesitate to take appropriate actions from the U.S.
41:31Government, and you've seen us done so.
41:34And on the second question, in a Hudson Institute event yesterday, researchers expressed alarm
41:40about Chinese authorities' ability to freely spread propaganda about Falun Gong in the
41:46West.
41:47Is the State Department concerned about this, and what is the action plan to counter such
41:52growing influence operations in the West, specifically in the U.S.?
41:57I will speak to this a little bit broadly because I don't want to speak about this
42:00in a specific context.
42:02We continue to see, of course, that we are very vigilant about the threat that certain
42:09countries pose when it comes to spreading misinformation and disinformation, not just
42:14within their own countries but in other countries.
42:17Domestically here within the United States, that is not the purview of the State Department.
42:23Of course, colleagues at the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice
42:27can speak more to that.
42:30But broadly, in combating misinformation and disinformation around the globe, we're deeply
42:35engaged on this.
42:36It's something that the Global Engagement Center, it's something that the Secretary
42:40is prioritized on as well.
42:41Go ahead.
42:42QUESTION.
42:43Thank you, sir.
42:44A few days ago, another Pakistani journalist, Hassan Zaib, was killed in Pakistan.
42:48Overall, in 2024, eight Pakistani journalists have been killed in a broad daylight, and
42:54these killings highlighting the growing threats to be a workers in Pakistan.
42:57Any comments, any comments?
42:59Well, journalists need to be protected, and they need to be allowed to do their jobs,
43:03whether that be the United States, whether that be Pakistan, whether that be in the Gaza
43:08Strip.
43:09That is something that we feel strongly, and it's something that is deeply personal to
43:14the Secretary.
43:15It's obviously personal to us and this team, having – spending most of our days engaging
43:19with you all.
43:20But simply put, journalists need to be protected and need to be able to do their job.
43:25Sir, last year –
43:26Thanks, everybody.
43:27Sir, last year –
43:29Thanks, guys.
43:30All right.