Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes

.@SecRubio will travel to Rome, Italy, and the Vatican May 6-8 to advance bilateral relations and align on global challenges. The Secretary will meet with Italian government counterparts and Holy See leadership to discuss topics including Middle East developments and shared security interests.

Today, @POTUS imposed powerful new sanctions on the Cuban regime and its kleptocratic elites, military-intelligence apparatus and financial enablers. Just 90 miles from the American homeland, Cuba’s communist rulers have turned the island over to hostile military, intelligence and terrorist actors. Under President Trump and @SecRubio, we are reasserting American dominance in our hemisphere and ensuring crime, drugs, chaos and anti-Americanism never again fester in our backyard. whitehouse.gov/presidential-a…

The sovereignty of our hemisphere is non-negotiable. We are deeply concerned by China’s targeted economic pressure after the Balboa & Cristóbal terminals decision. We stand in solidarity with Panama. Any attempts to undermine Panama’s sovereignty are a threat to us all. state.gov/releases/offic…

Major action today to protect Americans. Transnational criminal organizations and human traffickers force victims to scam Americans under threats of violence. Through today's actions, we’re seeking justice for victims of these heinous crimes.

"To the Iranian leaders, who will soon be in negotiations with my representatives: I would greatly appreciate the release of these women. I am sure that they will respect the fact that you did so. Please do them no harm! Would be a great start to our negotiations!!!" - President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸

We welcome reports of the release of political prisoners to mark Burma’s New Year, including U Win Myint and Shin Daewe. The United States will continue to advocate for the release of all political prisoners and support a path to peace and stability in Burma.

The Trump Administration continues to hold the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship accountable for brutal human rights violations against Nicaraguans. I’m designating Nicaraguan Vice Minister of the Interior Luis Roberto Cañas Novoa for his role in human rights violations.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Jacob McGee welcomed Syrian Chargé d'Affaires Mohamad Qanatri today, the first such meeting by a Syrian diplomat posted to Washington since 2014. We're eager to build on the historic progress of the past year and advance shared goals for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

"We must fight for justice and restitution and ensure that the truth of the Holocaust is taught to every generation. We must ensure that the reason we utter the words “never again” is etched in historical memory." - Secretary Rubio state.gov/releases/offic…

During these Days of Remembrance for Victims of the Holocaust, Jeanette and I honor the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust. Our duty to defend the truth and fight antisemitism is more urgent than ever. Never Again means just that.

It’s been 10 years since Uyghur entrepreneur Ekpar Asat was detained by the Chinese government after participating in a State Department program in the US. We once again call for his immediate and unconditional release so he can be reunited with his loved ones.

.@VP in Hungary: "What the United States and Hungary together represent under @PM_ViktorOrban and @POTUS' leadership is the defense of Western civilization...the defense of the idea that we are founded on a certain Christian civilization and Christian values..."

Jeanette and I join our Christian brothers and sisters to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ which made a way for us to live with Him in Eternity.

Dawn photo departing Seoul — hope to return soon! A highlight of my visit was my engagement with North Korean defectors (whose faces are concealed for their security). Raised in a closed information environment, they learned to conceive of freedom in small shards — a clip from a South Korean reality show depicting contestants with varied clothes and jobs; a radio snippet mentioning that American soldiers, unlike North Korean conscripts, choose to serve and are paid. These defectors then risked execution or torture — most at very young ages — fleeing overland under rugged conditions. I am recused from all @USAGM involvement pending my confirmation hearing, but this visit underscored the deep value of info access in authoritarian societies, and steps we take to assure the same.

It is imperative that authorities investigate this tragic case. Every life is sacred. Noelia was failed in life. We cannot afford to fail her once again. foxnews.com/video/63921506…

Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is a sacred time for families all over the world, including my own. Throughout Latin America, people gather on city streets to profess their faith and mark the Passion. But once again this year, the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship is denying the people of Nicaragua the right to profess their faith in this manner by banning such public processions. Nicaragua has historically hosted some of the most beautiful and famous processions in the region (for example in Granada and Leon) and I look forward to the day when our Nicaraguan friends reclaim their religious freedom.🇺🇸🙏🇳🇮

Holding Christian beliefs isn’t a crime. Finland’s “hate speech” conviction of MP Päivi Räsänen – for simply writing a pamphlet defending the Bible – shows the tragic state of religious freedom in the West. The United States stands opposed to these ideological attacks against the Christian faith.

@ZelenskaUA state.gov/releases/offic…

Met @ZelenskaUA to discuss the impacts of the war in Ukraine. We will implement President Trump’s call to intensify efforts to return 🇺🇦 children. Working with Congress, we are launching a new $25 million program to support return & rehabilitation of 🇺🇦 children.