Department Press Briefing – 4 February 2022 - United States Department of State

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2022
(ON THE RECORD UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)
Briefer: Jalina Porter, Principal Deputy Spokesperson

2:01 p.m. EST

MS PORTER: Hello and good afternoon. Thank you for joining us on this rainy Friday here in Washington. Welcome to today’s press briefing. I have two quick announcements at the top and then I will proceed to take your questions.

As we announced just this morning, Secretary Blinken will travel to Australia, Fiji, and Hawaii next week for a series of bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral engagements to advance our priorities in the Indo-Pacific.

In Australia, Secretary Blinken will attend the fourth Quad foreign ministers ministerial in Melbourne. While in Australia, the Secretary and other Quad partner foreign ministers will meet with Australian Prime Minister Morrison, and Secretary Blinken will have bilateral meetings with Australian Foreign Minister Payne, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Hayashi, Indian Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar, and a range of other senior officials to discuss bilateral and global priorities.

In Fiji, the Secretary will meet with Prime Minister Bainimarama and also have a hybrid, in-person, and virtual discussion with Pacific Island leaders to discuss the climate crisis, ending the COVID-19 pandemic, disaster assistance, and ways to further our shared commitment to democracy, regional stability, as well as prosperity in the Pacific. He will also meet with civil society for a discussion roundtable.

And also, in Hawaii, the Secretary will host a trilateral meeting with his Japanese and South Korean partners – counterparts to discuss various issues of mutual concern, including the DPRK’s nuclear and missile programs, and confronting 21st century challenges together across the globe.

Next, we value our strong bilateral relationship with the Slovak Republic, a NATO partner and Ally since 2004. Yesterday, Secretary Blinken joined Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Korčok and Slovakia’s Defense Minister Nad’ to sign a Defense Cooperation Agreement which builds on decades of close military cooperation.

This new Defense Cooperation Agreement is similar to other bilateral agreements the United States has concluded with many NATO Allies, including Slovakia’s neighbors, and builds on the provisions of a NATO Status of Forces Agreement Slovakia signed when joining the Alliance. This Defense Cooperation Agreement represents a natural progression in our mutual defense cooperation, reinforcing our partnerships, respecting Slovakia’s sovereignty, and will also help us work together more effectively to strengthen our bilateral cooperation, NATO operations, and increased transatlantic security for years to come.

The Secretary also met with Foreign Minister Rau today as a part of the U.S.-Poland Strategic Dialogue. The U.S. and Poland have shared a commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s unprovoked military buildup. The Secretary emphasized U.S. support for Poland’s leadership on NATO’s eastern flank as – and as the OSCE chair for 2022. The Secretary also expressed his appreciation for Poland’s hosting of additional U.S. troops to deter and defend against any future Russian aggression. The Secretary and foreign minister also discussed our bilateral cooperation to develop nuclear power in Poland, to strengthen regional energy security, and meet Poland’s and the EU’s climate goals, as well as promoting our shared democratic values.

America’s alliances are a tremendous source of strength for the American people and for the citizens of our partner countries. The new U.S.-Slovakia Defense Cooperation Agreement and the U.S.-Poland Strategic Dialogue reflect the U.S. commitment to strengthening and modernizing our democratic alliances all around the world to advance our shared security and prosperity.

Now with that, I’ll give it a few minutes before taking your questions.

Let’s go to the line of Said Arikat, please.

QUESTION: Thank you, Jalina, for doing this and for taking my question. A very – two quick questions on the Palestinian issue.

First, can you confirm that Secretary Blinken warned against the building of the Evyatar remote settlement when he spoke with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid? And on the same issue, the Israelis authorized the approval of 400 settlements (inaudible) just the day before yesterday, or on Tuesday, actually. I wonder if you have any comment on that. Thank you.

MS PORTER: Thank you, Said. To your first question, I’ll say at the top that I don’t have anything else to offer you outside of the readout from the call. But I’d also like to use this time to underscore that we believe it is critical for Israel and the Palestinian Authority to refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution which includes settlement activity. This certainly includes any steps to legalize outposts that are illegal under Israeli law, such as this one. And I’d also like to say that we have made, publicly and privately, our position on settlement activity very clear.

To your second question on settlements and – near Bethlehem, I would just say that we – again, we believe it’s critical for Israel and the Palestinian Authority to refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution, of course including settlement activity.

Let’s go the line of Marcin Wrona, please.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) calling on me. You said a moment ago that the Secretary expressed appreciation to the Polish foreign minister for hosting the U.S. troops. So are there any plans for further enhancing or enforcing the eastern flank, or, in other words, are there any plans to send more troops to Poland? And are there any plans for next meetings or talks between Secretary of State and the Polish foreign minister? Thank you.

MS PORTER: Thank you, Marcin. To your first question about sending more troops to Poland, I’d have to refer you to colleagues at the White House and DOD. To your second question on any other anticipated meetings, I don’t have anything to preview as far as any other meetings for the Secretary from here today.

Let’s please go to the line of Simon Lewis.

QUESTION: Hi. Thanks, Jalina. Ned spoke a little bit about this yesterday, but I wondered if we could push for a bit of a broader response on the pact that China and Russia seem to have agreed to that Presidents Xi and Putin announced today at the beginning of the Olympics. I know yesterday Ned spoke to why the U.S. thinks that this is a bad idea for Russia and for China in terms of escaping the sanctions response that Russia might face over Ukraine. But this seems like a much more comprehensive agreement, and the two countries are talking about the friendship that “has no limits” and no “‘forbidden’ areas of cooperation”; they’re going to they’re cooperate on space, climate change, artificial intelligence, the internet.

So beyond Russia and Ukraine, as Ned sort of spoke to yesterday, is the U.S. concerned that these two other powers are coming together seemingly in opposition to the U.S.-led international order? And what is your response to that? Thanks.

MS PORTER: Thanks for your question, Simon. So I’ll start by saying that I don’t have much else to offer besides what Spokesperson Price has already touched on, and I also wouldn’t be able to touch specifically on the agreement between Russia and China. But what I would want to underscore is that we have been very clear that we are united with our allies and partners to respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine. And we’ve been in touch with allies and partners not just in Europe but in the Indo-Pacific as well. We’ve had nearly 200 diplomatic engagements with allies and partners since Russia created this crisis. And again, I wouldn’t be able to comment specifically on any partnerships that Russia and China – because I obviously don’t speak on behalf of them as well.

But what I’d also like to say is that Secretary Blinken spoke to China’s Foreign Minister Wang, of course, recently and underscored the global security and economic risks for – posed by further Russian aggression against Ukraine, and also conveyed that de-escalation and diplomacy are the responsible and preferred way forward.

Let’s please go to the line of Luis Rojas.

QUESTION: Yes, Jalina, can you hear me?

MS PORTER: Yes, I can hear you.

QUESTION: Yeah, thank you. Thank you for having me. Yesterday, secretary (inaudible) announced that the United States is considering reestablishing remittances to Cuba. My question is: Does the Biden administration really believe that it would be helping to the Cuban people and not the Miguel Diaz-Canel government? Can you tell us about the measures that the Washington will take to restore remittance to Cuba? Thank you.

MS PORTER: Thanks for your question, Luis. So broadly speaking, our policy towards Cuba focuses first and foremost for the support of the Cuban people, and that would include their political and economic well-being, and that would also include human rights. So that means that we’re committed to promoting accountability for Cuban Government officials involved in any human rights abuses.

I’d also say that, following the July 2021 protests, that the Biden-Harris administration created a remittance working group to explore options to facilitate remittances to Cuba that would go to benefit the Cuban people, and that would allow Cuban families to support one another, and also minimize or eliminate benefits to the – both the Cuban regime and its military.

Also, in August of 2021, the remittance working group shared its analysis, including additional options, with other members of the administration, and the administration continues to consider these options, as well as explore innovative solutions, and that also includes digital payments as a part of these solutions. Outside of that, we don’t have a specific timetable to share at this time.

Let’s go to the line of Jenny Hansler, please.

QUESTION: Hi, Jalina. Thanks for doing this. I wanted to follow up on Simon’s question and see if, broadly, the State Department has any reaction to the Russia-China joint statement that was released today.

And can you tell us whether the U.S. has received a formal response from Moscow yet to its written response, and whether the Secretary plans to speak to Foreign Minister Lavrov in the coming days? Thank you.

MS PORTER: Thanks, Jenny. I don’t have anything else beyond what was shared before, to your first question.

And to your second question, again, I don’t have anything to preview, as far as the Secretary – any anticipated meetings for the Secretary upcoming.

Let’s please go to Francesco Fontemaggi.

QUESTION: Hi, Jalina, can you hear me?

MS PORTER: Hi, yes, I can hear you.

QUESTION: Hi, and happy Friday. I just wanted to ask you on Iran if you have any news on when Special Envoy Malley is going back to Vienna for the resumption of the talks, if he’s going today as the – it was first said that the talks would resume this week, or if it’s delayed.

And just – and then just a quick follow-up on Cuba, if you can just give us a little bit of details about what is the analysis and the options that the remittance working group provided to the administration. Thank you.

MS PORTER: Hi, Francesco. To answer your first question, Special Envoy Malley is currently in Washington. Other than that, we don’t have anything to announce for anticipated travel. We’d certainly welcome you to go to the EU as the JCPOA coordinator.

And on Cuba, I don’t have any other specifics or anything precise to give you at this point, outside of what we’ve shared before, that the administration, of course, continues to explore innovative options for Cuba. And, of course, that would include digital payments. And the working group continues to facilitate ways that would be beneficial to the people of Cuba, but at this time we don’t, again, have any specific timetables or anything precise to share, beyond that.

Let’s please go to the line of Laura Kelly.

QUESTION: Hi, Jalina, thank you for taking my question. Happy Friday.

Senator Menendez and Senator Rubio introduced legislation supporting a name change to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in D.C. as the Taiwan Representative Office. Does the administration see any problem with the Taipei office in D.C. changing its name to include Taiwan, much like was supported by Lithuania?

MS PORTER: Hi, Laura. Happy Friday. Great to hear from you. I’d just say, off the top, as a matter of general practice, we don’t comment on any pending legislation. But what I’d also like to underscore from here is that, for over four decades, the U.S. “One China” policy has been guided by the three Joint Communiques, the Taiwan Relations Act, and the Six Assurances. And our commitment to Taiwan is rock-solid, and also contributes to the maintenance and stability across the Taiwan Strait, as well as within the region.

The U.S. will continue to support a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues, consistent with the wishes and best interests of the people on Taiwan, and we’re also committed to deepening our unofficial ties with Taiwan, which is a leading democracy and a critical economic and security partner.

Let’s go to the line of Vivian Salama.

QUESTION: Hey, Jalina, thanks so much for taking my question. Happy Friday. A little bit of a self-serving, but not self-serving question. I wanted to ask you about news of the hack for – on News Corp, The Wall Street Journal included, if the State Department has any comment about the news of the hack? It’s expected to be China, or Chinese-backed hackers. Is the State Department looking into it? And any kind of comment that you have about the incident would be great. Thank you.

MS PORTER: Hi, Vivian, thanks for calling in. I’ll just say at the top that I’m just learning of these reports in real time from you, so I don’t have anything to offer as a formal response.

But what I can say at the top is that our diplomats here from State work with countries around the world to promote stability in cyberspace and also reduce the risks of conflict, and they also work with partners and allies to call out and impose consequences on states that use cyber capabilities irresponsibly.

Let’s move on to Eunjung Cho, please.

OPERATOR: Eunjung Cho, your line is open.

QUESTION: Thank you, Jalina, for taking my question. (Inaudible) Japanese (inaudible) there’s been much trilateral coordination and telephone calls in recent (inaudible). Tensions are rising yet again between Seoul and Tokyo over the plan nominating (inaudible) for World Heritage site by UNESCO.

So my question here is: Does the State Department believe U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral coordination has deepened since the Biden administration came into office?

MS PORTER: Hi, Eunjung. Candidly, it was difficult to make out some of the question. I think we might be having some technical difficulties over here, but I would say that if you could email us, then we’d be happy to take that back for you.

Let’s go to the line of Paulina Smolinski.

QUESTION: Hi. Thank you for taking my question. So are there currently any contingency plans in the event that Russia invades and there is a refugee crisis? Thank you.

MS PORTER: Thanks for your question. I don’t have anything to offer today on that, but again, I think the Secretary has made clear that Russia has two options ahead of itself, either the road to diplomacy or the road to aggression. And again, I don’t have anything to say beyond that. Of course, the State Department and the United States take seriously refugee crises all around the world and stands ready to support those who are maybe suffering and in a crisis.

Let’s take the final question from Victor Shalhoub.

QUESTION: Hello. Thank you, Jalina. Could you – can we say that Vienna negotiation will resume next week?

MS PORTER: Thanks for your question. I wouldn’t be able to share that information or preview from here, but I would certainly refer you to the EU as the JCPOA coordinator for any of those schedule details.

Thank you all for joining today’s press briefing. I hope you all have a great weekend ahead. Today’s briefing has now ended.

(The briefing was concluded at 2:27 p.m.)

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Department Press Briefing Index

Friday, February 4, 2022

2:01 p.m. EST

Briefer: Principal Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter

~ INDO-PACIFIC REGION / SECRETARY TRAVEL TO AUSTRALIA/FIJI/HAWAII ~

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~ ISRAEL / PALESTINIANS ~