# Secretary’s Remarks – United States Department of State

- Secretary Antony J. Blinken’s Remarks to the Press Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateCairo, EgyptCairo AirportSECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, good afternoon, everyone.  Ten days ago, President Biden put forward a proposal that would produce an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, get all the hostages home, and put us on a path to an enduring resolution to the conflict in Gaza.  It’s a proposal that is very close to what Hamas itself had agreed to some time before.  Since the President put the proposal forward, countries throughout the region and around the world – as well as international organizations – have all endorsed it.  Israel has accepted it.  And the only outlier in this moment – the only outlier in this moment – is Hamas.So my message to governments throughout the region, to people throughout the region is:  If you want a ceasefire, press Hamas to say yes.  If you want to alleviate the terrible suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, press Hamas to say yes.  If you want to get all the hostages home, press Hamas to say yes.  If you want to put Israelis and Palestinians alike on the path to more durable peace and security, press Hamas to say yes.  If you want to prevent this conflict from spreading, press Hamas to say yes.Now, if we get this ceasefire, it also opens the path to more durable security, calm, peace in Gaza.  And for that, it’s critical that we continue to work on plans for the day after to make sure that when it comes to security in Gaza, when it comes to governance, when it comes to reconstruction, we have the plans in place to move forward.  That’s going to be a critical part of my conversations here in the region, as we go on to Israel and then to Jordan and then to Qatar.Throughout this process, Egypt has played a critical and a leading role in supporting the proposal to get to a ceasefire and return of hostages, in working on these day-after plans, in being a critical partner as well for getting humanitarian assistance in to the Palestinian people who so desperately need it in Gaza.  And I want to thank President Sisi again for a very good exchange and for all the work we’re doing almost on a daily basis.In Jordan itself – and we’ll come to this in a day – we’re going to be focused intensely on the humanitarian assistance piece and civilian protection.  Because deal or no deal, it remains absolutely essential that we get more aid to Palestinians who need it, that that aid gets around and distributed to those who are so desperately in need of it, and that we continue to work on protecting civilians and get them out of harm’s way.Look, I think this is a critical moment, because we see the possibility, we see the prospect of an immediate ceasefire, of getting all the hostages home, of getting on the path to a durable resolution to the conflict in Gaza.  I know that there are those who are pessimistic about the prospects.  That’s understandable.  Hamas continues to show extraordinary cynicism in its actions, a disinterest not only in the well-being and security of Israelis but also Palestinians.  And there are those in the region who are also working against efforts to bring about a ceasefire and a durable peace, who don’t even acknowledge – indeed reject – the existence of Israelis or Palestinians, much less their ability to live side-by-side in peace.But I believe strongly – this is now my eighth trip to the region since October 7th – that the overwhelming majority of people – whether they’re in Israel, West Bank, in Gaza, throughout the region, around the world – actually want and believe in a future where Israelis and Palestinians alike can live in peace, in security.  And for the United States, we will continue our efforts every single day, first to get this ceasefire, to get hostages home; but second, to try to put everyone in the region on that much better path.Andrea.QUESTION:  Mr. Secretary, you say that everyone but Hamas has agreed to this.  Benjamin Netanyahu has certainly said otherwise publicly, and hostage families are saying you should try everything if this fails.  And it’s quite possible it will fail with him now toughening his position with his right-wing partners.  If this fails, they want you to work through Qatar and deal with Hamas to get the Americans home.  We are reporting at NBC News that that is being discussed as a backup plan – if no other way to get a ceasefire – doing it without Israel agreeing to a ceasefire agreement.  Tell us about that.  And also if the war continues, won’t the Palestinian death toll be unacceptable, as the national security advisor of Israel has said to the end of the year, after such a horrific death toll in getting the hostages out militarily this weekend?SECRETARY BLINKEN:  First, let me be very clear:  Israel has accepted the proposal.  In fact, they were critical in putting it forward.  So the only party &#8212;QUESTION:  (Inaudible.)SECRETARY BLINKEN:  No, that’s – that is what – that is what the official position of the Israeli Government, the prime minister.  So the only party that has not accepted, the only party that’s not said yes is Hamas.  That’s who everyone is waiting on.  That’s who the Palestinians in Gaza are waiting on, it’s who the Israelis are waiting on, it’s who the hostages and the hostage families are waiting on, it’s who the entire region and the entire world is waiting on.  And so we’ll see.  Does Hamas want to end this conflict, end this war that it started, or not?  We’ll find out.  But it’s clear that virtually the entire world has come together in support of the proposal, and the only open question is will Hamas say yes.  So that’s one.Second, in terms of the hostages, my number one priority as Secretary of State is to ensure the well-being of Americans who are in harm’s way anywhere in the world, including those who are being unjustly detained or being held hostage.  The best way, the most effective way to get everyone home, including the American hostages, is through this proposal, is through the ceasefire deal that’s on the table right now.  That’s what we’re focused on.  That’s what we’re determined to have – to see achieved.And finally, Andrea, in terms of civilian suffering, civilian casualties, civilian injuries, the humanitarian assistance, again, the most immediate answer to that question, the best way to ensure that there’s not another civilian casualty, is for this ceasefire deal to go forward, for Hamas to accept it.  It’s as basic and as simple as that.  That’s what’s on the table now; that’s what we need to see an answer to.  That’s what would end the conflict in Gaza; that’s what would prevent more civilian casualties.QUESTION:  If that’s your top priority, wouldn’t indirect talks for the Americans at least bring those Americans home possibly?SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Again, my top priority always: bring Americans home.  And because of that, the most effective way to do that, to achieve that, to actually get them home is through the proposal that’s on the table.  So let’s see if we get an answer from Hamas.QUESTION:  Mr. Secretary, after your meeting with Egyptians today, do you have a better sense for when Hamas is actually going to respond to this proposal on the table – it’s been on the table for, as you say, 10 days at this point – and if the raid over the weekend to release those Israeli hostages could have a negative impact on how they respond?  And then you’re also meeting with Benny Gantz tomorrow.  I wonder what your message is to him after his resignation, and if you’re concerned at all – increasingly concerned – about Netanyahu not having an endgame to this war given that that’s the reason that Gantz stepped out of the government.SECRETARY BLINKEN:  So on Egypt, first, as I said, we greatly appreciate the critical role that they played in serving as a mediator and trying to get Hamas not only to the table, but to engage and now to say yes.  I can’t go into the details of our conversations today, except to say that our Egyptian counterparts were in communication with Hamas as early – as recently as a few hours ago.  And so I got an &#8212;QUESTION:  Were those conversations hopeful?SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Again, not going to get into any details about that.  But I think Egypt, the United States, other countries believe that, again, we should be able to get to yes.  But ultimately, I can’t put myself, none of us can put ourselves in the minds of Hamas or its leaders.  So we don’t know what the answer will be.  I don’t have anything further on that.  I just know that there’s a sense of urgency among all concerned – starting with us, with Egypt, with all of our Arab partners, the Arab League, countries throughout the region, well beyond – a real urgency in getting an answer and getting an affirmative answer, because it’s the single best way to do what so many people around the world want: to get an immediate ceasefire, get hostages home, put us on a path to enduring peace and security for the people in Gaza and throughout the region.  So we’re working on that.I think on virtually every trip to the region, including in Israel, I’ve met with leaders in Israel, whether part of the government or not part of the government, and Benny Gantz is someone for whom I have deep respect.  The decisions that the Israelis make about their government, who’s in, who’s out – those are decisions for Israelis to make, not for us.  But I’ll continue to meet with Mr. Gantz and others who lead major political parties in Israel and who are going to be critical to the path forward.QUESTION:  But based on his decision to step aside, are you increasingly concerned that the prime minister doesn’t have a plan to end the war given what he said?  He’s seen it from the inside.SECRETARY BLINKEN:  So – look, you’ve heard me talk to this, and I think if we get a positive response on the ceasefire, that only underscores the urgency of making sure that we do have plans in place for what happens the day after.  Because in the absence of those plans, then one of three things.  Either Israel would have to stay – which it says it doesn’t want to do and we believe it must not do and would be left holding the bag in Gaza and would probably have a major insurgency on his hands for years to come – or in the absence of a plan, it leaves, Hamas returns; or we have a total vacuum, and you just have chaos, lawlessness, criminality, jihadist groups, et cetera.  So it’s imperative that there be a plan, and that has to involve security, it has to involve governance, it has to involve reconstruction.We’ve spent the last five or so months, since the beginning of the year, working intensively with countries throughout the region on developing these plans, and as I mentioned a few minutes ago, that’s going to be a big part of this trip as well, carrying those conversations forward.  It would be very good if Israel put forward its own ideas on this, and I’ll be talking to the government about that.  But one way or another, we’ve got to have these plans, we’ve got to have them in place, we’ve got to be ready to go if we want to take advantage of a ceasefire and bringing this conflict to an end in a way that actually produces long-term security for Israel.  Because again, in the absence of a long-term plan, in the absence of knowing what you’re going to do post-conflict in Gaza, it’s just a recipe for permanent insecurity for Israel.  It’s not in their interest, and that’s something we’ll be talking about.QUESTION:  Thank you.SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thanks very much.
- The Rescue of Four Hostages from Gaza The Secretary of StateWe welcome the rescue of four hostages who after eight months of captivity have finally been reunited with their families in Israel. The United States will not rest until every hostage is returned home.The proposal that President Biden outlined eight days ago would bring relief to both the people of Gaza and the remaining hostages and their families through an immediate ceasefire that could lead to the release of all hostages, a surge of humanitarian assistance, Gaza’s reconstruction, and an enduring end to the war.  The only thing standing in the way of achieving this ceasefire is Hamas. It is time for them to accept the deal.
- World Ocean Day Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateAs we join the global community in celebrating World Ocean Day, the United States reaffirms its dedication to safeguarding the ocean through concrete actions and international cooperation.  We must seek ambitious and innovative solutions now if we are to tackle the many challenges facing coastal communities and marine ecosystems.The United States is working at home and abroad to advance marine protected areas and reach the global 30&#215;30 goal to conserve or protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030.  Through the Ocean Conservation Pledge, we encourage countries to achieve 30&#215;30 in their own waters.  With the new High Seas Treaty, countries will have a way to work together to establish marine protected areas in places beyond national jurisdiction – a critical part of our collective efforts to safeguard the health and resilience of our ocean.Recognizing the impacts of climate change on our ocean, including sea level rise, ocean warming, and acidification, we are taking decisive action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support ocean-based climate solutions.  We are supporting initiatives to enhance the resilience of coastal communities and marine ecosystems through President Biden’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience and collaborating with island and coastal communities to implement adaptation measures like early warning systems.We are actively working to tackle the challenge of plastic pollution in the marine environment and are promoting sustainable fisheries and aquaculture &#8211; central to food security and economic development around the world &#8211; while working to combat the challenge of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.  We are also putting the ocean at the center of our Atlantic diplomacy with the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation, collaborating with 38 coastal countries to promote and support sustainable blue economies, marine conservation, and scientific capacity building and exchange.We call on all countries, organizations, and individuals to join us in taking bold actions to protect our ocean.  Together, we can ensure a sustainable future for our planet, safeguard marine biodiversity, and secure the livelihoods of communities that depend on a healthy ocean.
- United States Announces Significant New Military Assistance for Ukraine Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateAs President Biden announced today in France, the United States is sending Ukraine a significant new package of urgently needed weapons and equipment to support the Ukrainian military as it fights to repel Russia’s assault near Kharkiv.  This $225 million package, which includes air defense interceptors, artillery systems and munitions, armored vehicles, anti-tank weapons, and other capabilities, will also help strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses and reinforce Ukrainian capabilities across the front lines.This is the sixth security assistance package the President has authorized to help Ukraine since signing the national security supplemental.  We will move this new assistance as quickly as possible to bolster Ukraine’s defense of its territory and its people.  As President Biden has made clear, the United States and the international coalition we have assembled will continue to stand with Ukraine.
- Secretary Antony J. Blinken  With Mika Brzezinski, Jonathan Lemire, and Michael Barnicle of MSNBC’s Morning Joe Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateColleville-sur-Mer, FranceNormandy American CemeteryQUESTION:  And joining us now from Normandy, the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken.  Thank you very much for joining us here on Morning Joe.What should our allies and enemies &#8212;SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Morning, Mika.QUESTION:  &#8212; take away from the President’s speech this morning in Normandy?SECRETARY BLINKEN:  The same resolve that the extraordinary men and women that we’re celebrating today showed then, he’s showing now.  Because they did what they did, we’re here today.  And we not only have a responsibility to honor what they did, but the real way to honor it is to make sure that we’re good in our time, in our moment, in standing up to the challenges that we face.And one of those we see now is aggression from Russia, not only against Ukraine but against the very principles at the heart of the international system that were put in place after World War II to try to make sure that we didn’t have another world war, that we maintained peace and security.  The President’s determined to make sure we’re standing up today, just as they stood up 80 years ago.QUESTION:  And the President talked about Ukraine as one of the current challenges that exemplified the fight against dark forces that never fade.  And he made another – yet another commitment.  He reinforced the commitment to Ukraine.And by the way, if I may, we’re watching live pictures right now of President Biden and the First Lady walking through the cemetery in Normandy, France.  And as we look at these pictures –which really symbolize the losses 80 years ago on D-Day – and talk about the losses that Ukraine is incurring right now from the same type of aggression, the President did say that the support for Ukraine would continue, that we will be there for Ukraine.  How does that parallel with some of the reticence we have seen in Washington that actually delayed the much-needed aid Ukraine needed to push back against Russian aggression?SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, you know, Mika, that aid should have gotten there a long time ago.  But I’m glad it’s there now, and it’s making a difference.  Every single day we’re pushing it out to the frontlines, making sure the Ukrainians who need it against this Russian aggression have it and can use it.But there’s a really powerful parallel too between what we’re commemorating today and what we’re doing now.  Back then, it wasn’t just the United States.  Here in Normandy, 12 countries came together, 160,000 men coming to this beach, coming to start the final fight that ultimately, 11 months later, led to victory in World War II.  In Ukraine, we have more than 50 countries standing up, standing together, making sure that Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself and to push back this aggression.  And that’s the power of our alliances and that’s the biggest difference maker we have in the world.Our adversaries, our competitors, they don’t have the same kind of voluntarily alliances.  Yes, sometimes they coerce countries into helping them, or maybe they pay them off.  Here we have country after country that volunteers to stand together, stand together in defense of principles that we share and know need defending.  We’re seeing that in Ukraine; we saw that 80 years ago in Normandy.QUESTION:  Mr. Secretary, good morning.  Jonathan Lamire.  Of course, the war in &#8212;SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Jonathan.QUESTION:  &#8212; Ukraine is the backdrop to where you are today there in Normandy.  And I wanted to get your reaction – Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has said now a few times, including last night on social media, that – he is saying that Vladimir Putin will release Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who of course is being held prisoner on espionage charges, has been so for more than a year.  And Trump suggests that Putin will do so right after the election, were Trump to win.  Can you give us a sense as to what he’s talking about?  Is there some sort of back-channel conversation between Trump and Putin, or is this sort of just dangerous and incendiary rhetoric?SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Look, I don’t know what he’s talking about; I can’t speculate on it.  All I can tell you is we’re working every day to make sure that Americans who are being detained arbitrarily, whether it’s in Russia or anywhere else, come home.  And we’ve managed to bring more Americans home who are being arbitrarily detained than, I believe, any administration.  And I carry a list with me every day of the Americans who remain detained by one power or another, and we’re working every day to make sure that not another day goes by before they’re brought home to their families.  So I’m not sure what he’s referencing, but I can tell you we’re working at it every day.QUESTION:  Mr. Secretary, as you sat there this morning on sacred ground, you witnessed a group of veterans aged 98 to 103 struggling to stand in order to receive the Legion of Merit from both the President of the United States and the President of France.  Given the burden that the President is carrying and that you are carrying in Gaza, in the Donbas, in Kyiv, I was wondering, as you watched the ceremonies and looked at the faces of these aged veterans, what were you thinking about?SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Mike, it’s – it was such an incredibly powerful moment to look at these men and to try to imagine what it was like for them 80 years ago, when they were 18, 19, 20 years old.  And I’ve got to tell you, I thought back, too, because it resonated with me – my dad then, 80 years ago, had just left college in the middle of his schoolyear to sign up for the Air Force, to prepare to go into World War II.  And somewhere else on this continent, my stepfather was incarcerated in a concentration camp, a death camp.And the men who came here to Normandy 80 years ago and turned the tide in the war – because 11 months later, World War II was over – some of them went on to liberate those camps and liberate my stepdad.  And he was liberated by an American tank with that five-pointed white star on it, rushing up to a GI in the tank who opened the hatch – an African American GI – and he said them the only words that he knew in the English language: God bless America.  That’s what I was thinking about today.  God bless America.  God bless those men who were before us who saved the world.QUESTION:  Mr. Secretary, the President talked about NATO, how it’s growing, how much stronger it will become against these dark forces.  We have had a time in the United States where the commander in chief, the – at the time did not respect NATO – I’ll say it kindly – undermined it.  Can you share what’s most important about the conviction and commitment of this international Alliance?SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Mika, it’s really, as I said, our comparative advantage that we can bring other countries together in common purpose so that it’s not just America alone.  It’s all of us taking on and upholding the cause of freedom.  In Ukraine, it’s more than 50 countries, not just the United States, and for everything that we’re putting into it, collectively, our partners, our allies are putting in even more.  And that’s what’s making the difference.  So to deny ourselves those alliances, those partnerships would be to shortchange our own interests and to mean that we’d either have to do everything ourselves or it wouldn’t get done.You know, we used to have an idea after World War II called enlightened self-interest, where the investments we made in others, the work we did with others, that came back 10 times, 100 times, 1000 times to our benefit.  It meant we had new allies to deter aggression; it meant we had new partners to deal with big problems that one country can’t deal with alone.  We had new markets for our businesses and our workers to sell to.  That made sense for America.  It still makes sense for America, and President Biden is determined and – as he has been from day one to make sure that our alliances are strong, our partnerships are real, because that’s good for the country.QUESTION:  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, thank you very much for being on this morning, live from Normandy.  We appreciate it.SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Thanks, Mika.QUESTION:  All right.  Take care.
- Secretary Antony J. Blinken  With Tony Dokoupil of CBS Mornings Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateColleville-sur-Mer, FranceNormandy American CemeteryQUESTION:  Also here this morning, somebody who helped with that speech, Secretary of State Antony Blinken.  And he joins me now.  Mr. Secretary, thank you very much for being here.SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good to be with you.QUESTION:  Late last evening, I walked down to Omaha Beach myself, and I saw there at one of the memorials a note from the next generation, from this generation, that said, “Thank you for our freedom.”  Is that what this is about today?SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Very much.  There’s a debt, a debt that we can’t possibly repay to those who came here in defense of freedom.  And had they not come here, had they not summoned the courage, the common purpose to do what they did, we probably wouldn’t be here today.  We see that in the fallen behind us.  We see it in the extraordinary veterans who are here today, veterans of the Normandy landings.QUESTION:  Yeah.  D-Day helped win World War – helped win World War II, and World War II helped bring into existence the world we live in today.  The rules, the order – Secretary Austin talked about this in his speech.  I was able to hear some snippets of it.SECRETARY BLINKEN:  That’s right.QUESTION:  It now can appear at times like that order is shaking, particularly when we see war in Ukraine and now, just overnight, Vladimir Putin saying, oh, if you’re going to arm Ukraine to strike us, we’re going to arm your enemies to strike you.SECRETARY BLINKEN:  The order is challenged, but the order is strong.  We see it in the extraordinary resolve now of more than 50 countries, for example, who are helping to defend Ukraine, defend Ukraine against the aggression being brought by Russia and Mr. Putin.  We see it in solidarity not only in Europe but all across the world, including in Asia – countries standing up in defense of freedom, in defense of the very rules that you mentioned that were established after World War II.  And there’s a – there was a purpose behind that.After two world wars, we wanted to do everything possible to make sure that there wouldn’t be a third.  And at the heart of that is an international order, an understanding that one country can’t simply violate the territory of another by force, change its borders by force, seize its land, try to dominate its future.  If we don’t stand up for those rules in our time, then we risk seeing what happened in the time that we’re commemorating today.QUESTION:  What’s remarkable is that what you just said has been the position of American presidents, Republican and Democrat, for decades now.  But what we see at home in Gallup polling is that the majority of Americans – two-thirds in fact – are not satisfied with America’s role in the world.  Now, that can mean a lot of things, but one thing it definitely means is that there is some disagreement about what we should be doing out there to maintain security.SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, there was disagreement before World War II as well, and that’s not new.  And of course the world is an incredibly dangerous place.  It’s an incredibly challenged place.  But we’re all the stronger in being able to meet those challenges because we have a unique ability to bring other countries together.  The Alliance that we have today – just the NATO Alliance – is stronger.  It’s larger than it’s ever been.  It’s better resourced.  And what I hear when I’m going around the world is country after country looking to the United States, looking for engagement, looking for leadership.  And it’s – it’s really what our comparative advantage is because our adversaries, they don’t benefit from these alliances.  They have to coerce other countries into helping them.  Maybe they have to bribe them, in effect, into helping them.  We have voluntary alliances.And, Tony, back in the day after World War II, there was something called enlightened self-interest.  We went off – yes, partly altruism, but mostly because it was in our interest to do it.  Preventing something bad from happening, that meant that we wouldn’t have to deal with something much bigger later.  Getting new allies, new partners, that benefitted us.QUESTION:  Are you able to confirm right now and just level with the American people about the use of American weapons inside Russia?  I know the rules for engagement by Ukraine using our arms were loosened recently by the Biden administration, and we understand that there have now been strikes in Russian territory with American weapons.  Is that true?SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Look, we’ve adjusted.  We’ve adapted all along.  What the President said the other day was because Russia was massing its forces on the Ukrainian, launching attacks against Ukraine from just over the border in a place that the Ukrainians couldn’t get to them without the authorization to use our weapons to do so, that we needed to adjust to that, to adapt to that.  And so our weapons, the weapons of others, are being used in this case to go at the Russians as they’re mounting attacks on Ukraine.QUESTION:  Madeleine Albright called America the indispensable nation.  And so on a day like this, I wonder if you could complete the following sentence for me: If not for America, then what?SECRETARY BLINKEN:  If not for America, chaos, lawlessness, and ultimately the things that we take for granted, the democracy that we take for granted, that would be in jeopardy.  Look, this day really resonates for me, Tony, because 80 years ago my dad had just left college to sign up for the Air Force, and he was getting ready to fly.  My stepfather was somewhere else.  He was in a concentration camp of some hundreds of miles from here.  And the forces that came to Normandy 80 years and then started that march that ultimately, 11 months later, ended World War II, they wound up liberating my stepdad from the concentration camps.  That’s what America stands for, for so many people around the world.QUESTION:  Yeah.  And as we were talking about earlier, we’re all children of their sacrifice, this D-Day generation.SECRETARY BLINKEN:  We are.  We are.QUESTION:  Secretary Blinken, thank you very much.SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Good to be with you.
- Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of D-Day Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateToday, we commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a pivotal moment in our shared history that resonates deeply with Americans, our Allies, and the world.  On June 6, 1944, brave Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy in a heroic effort to liberate Europe from the grip of Nazi tyranny.We honor the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of those who fought on the front lines for freedom and those who supported them from afar.  The bonds forged on the beaches of Normandy have endured for eight decades, evolving into the alliances that underpin our collective security and defense of democracy today.  We extend our profound gratitude to the people of France, who have preserved the memory of D-Day with unwavering dedication.As we prepare to host the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., we are reminded of the enduring importance of our Alliance.  Together, we face renewed challenges to freedom and democracy.  These challenges have reignited the spirit of cooperation and shared purpose that led to victory for those who came before us.  The NATO Summit will be an opportunity for us to highlight our collective commitment to liberty, democracy, prosperity, and security.  As we mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, we face the future together with courage and determination.
- Sweden National Day Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateOn behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of the Kingdom of Sweden in celebration of your National Day.The United States and Sweden established an enduring partnership 241 years ago in 1783 based on our shared commitment to democratic principles, human rights, and freedom. The United States welcomes Sweden’s historic accession as a NATO Ally, and we commend Sweden’s leadership on strengthening the security of the Nordic-Baltic region. Our nations will continue to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their country against Russia’s unprovoked war, and as we pursue justice and accountability for Russia’s brutal actions. Together, our nations also will continue to collaborate to overcome the climate crisis, advance peace, and work on shared priorities through our bilateral ties. This past year saw increasing cooperation between our two nations on cyberspace and digital policy, the sustainable and responsible exploration of space, the promotion of LGBTQI+ human rights globally, and in the Arctic Council. I look forward to jointly ensuring a bright, safe, and secure future for our nations.I join you in celebrating on this special day and send best wishes for health and prosperity to all people in Sweden.
- Denmark’s Constitution Day Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateOn behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of the Kingdom of Denmark as you celebrate the anniversary of your Constitution.The partnership between the United States and the Kingdom of Denmark has thrived for more than two centuries and is rooted in shared democratic values and a common vision for global peace, stability, and prosperity. We look forward to deepening our partnership as we continue to strengthen our Alliance through NATO; ensure a safe, stable, and prosperous Arctic region; defend against authoritarian regimes and threats to democracy; support further growth in trade and investment between our nations; tackle the climate crisis and manage the green transition; collaborate on cutting-edge research; and reinforce our cultural ties.I join you in celebrating this anniversary of the signing of the Danish Constitution and send best wishes for health and prosperity to the people of Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.
- Congratulations to Mexico’s President-Elect Sheinbaum Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateThe United States congratulates Claudia Sheinbaum on her historic victory as Mexico’s first woman president.  We also congratulate the people of Mexico for making their voices heard through the democratic process.  I look forward to building on the strong U.S.-Mexico partnership with President-elect Sheinbaum.We deeply value our special relationship with Mexico that is based on shared democratic values, deep economic ties, and strong cultural and familial connections.  The United States is committed to working together with Mexico as neighbors, friends, and partners, to advance our mutual economic and security interests.  I extend my best wishes to President-elect Sheinbaum and the people of Mexico.