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Deputy Secretary of State

The Deputy Secretary James B. Steinberg, serves as the principal deputy, adviser, and alter ego to the Secretary of State; serves as Acting Secretary of State in the Secretary's absence; and assists the Secretary in the formulation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy and in giving general supervision and direction to all elements of the Department. Specific duties and supervisory responsibilities have varied over time.


Challenge of Clean Energy and Energy Security

Date: 11/04/2009 Description: Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg attends a U.S.-EU Energy Council Meeting. © State Dept Image from videoDeputy Secretary Steinberg (Nov. 4): "There are few more important challenges that we all face than these related problems of clean energy and energy security. And one of the things I think we've come to understand is the two are related and that there's an opportunity to achieve a win-win set of solutions on both by working together effectively. And what's important about this council is that it will not only allow us to coordinate energy policies and thus allow us to work together more effectively..." Full Text | Video

Minimizing Potential Threats From Iran
Date: 10/06/2009 Description: Testimony by Deputy Secretary Steinberg before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on Minimizing Potential Threats from Iran: Administration Perspectives on Economic Sanctions and Other U.S. Policy Options. © State Dept Image from VideoDeputy Secretary Steinberg (Oct. 6): "Our objective is a positive outcome that successfully addresses the security concerns posed by Iran's nuclear program to the United States, to Iran's neighbors and to the international community. We are making clear the steps that Iran can take to help resolve our concerns and those of the international community and the benefits that that would bring in turn." Opening Statement before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee | Video

Travel to Asia
Deputy Secretary Steinberg led an interagency delegation to Vietnam, Malaysia, China, Republic of Korea, and Japan September 25-October 1.

Remarks at the German Marshall Fund
Date: 09/09/2009 Description: Deputy Secretary Steinberg delivers remarks at the German Marshall Fund. © Photo courtesy of The German Marshall FundDeputy Secretary Steinberg (Sept. 9):
'[I]mportant for this audience and certainly important for us in the Administration, is that support for NATO remains very strong. I think it’s a quite significant finding. For those of us ...starting to write about these things in the early ‘90s, there’s been a long and deep sort of line of questioning about whether and how long NATO would remain relevant as we move past the Cold War. " Full Text