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September 11 - September 17
Next week is UN General Assembly High-Level Week, where world leaders converge on New York City. Throughout the week and beyond, the United States will prioritize peace, prosperity, and primacy of nations. But first, here’s what happened at State this past week. ⤵️
- President Trump issued the Presidential Determination on major drug transit and illicit drug-producing countries.
- Secretary Rubio announced a new visa-restriction policy targeting foreign nationals involved in race-based discrimination.
- We remembered the legacy of diplomat George Kennan, whose strategy of containment guided American diplomacy for decades.
On September 15, President Trump submitted a determination to congress identifying countries that are responsible for producing or transiting drugs. The determination identified countries that have failed to uphold their drug-control obligations and highlighted the Trump Administration's success in combating the fentanyl crisis.
"After four years of open border chaos, seizures of fentanyl and other drugs being smuggled into the United States have been reduced by more than half, and drug overdose deaths have plunged," said President Trump. "My Administration has saved tens of thousands of American lives from this scourge."
The determination noted that while the United States has secured its borders, countries like Canada and Mexico must take stronger actions to dismantle drug labs and degrade criminal networks. It also highlighted potentially expanded cooperation with Bolivia and Colombia's resurgence as a security partner.
The list of major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries is: Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
On September 15, Secretary Rubio announced new visa restrictions targeting foreign nationals involved in race-based discrimination in South Africa.
The restrictions focus on foreign nationals who enable “uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination, and/or the incitement of imminent violence against members of minority ethnic or racial groups in South Africa,” Secretary Rubio explained in a statement. “These actions directly undermine peace, economic stability, and the rule of law, and they are incompatible with the pillars of America’s foreign policy.”
This policy allows the Department to deny visas to those responsible for race-based discrimination and deny them entry into the United States. The action aligns with the Trump Administration's commitment to prioritizing American values and security, while holding foreign actors accountable for undermining fundamental rights.
The State Department released a new video celebrating the life and accomplishments of diplomat George Kennan.
Kennan was an American diplomat and expert on the Soviet Union. Stationed in Moscow in the 1940s, Kennan wrote an 8,000-word telegram laying out the idea of containment: that the United States should check Soviet expansion around the globe.
This analysis became the North Star of American diplomacy for over 40 years. His contributions paved the way for the triumph of the free world. We honor his enduring legacy and the profound impact of his service to the United States.
The video on Kennan’s work is part of the State Department’s History of Diplomacy series.
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