SYRIA
For the first time ever, against any country, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Conference of the State Parties this week in the Hague, with the United States and 45 co-sponsors, succeeded in passing a historic decision that condemns the Syrian regime, led by President Assad for its continued use and possession of chemical weapons, in violation of its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The decision, which was adopted with 87 countries voting in favor of it and only 15 against, condemns Syria’s use of chemical weapons and suspends certain of Syria’s rights and privileges Syria holds under the Convention – most notably its right to vote – until the OPCW director-general reports that Syria has completed certain measures. A State Department spokesman said that Syria must resolve all outstanding issues regarding the initial declaration of its chemical weapons stockpile and program. According to the US, the Assad regime has used chemical weapons at least 50 times since acceding to the CWC in 2013.
UKRAINE
“You know our commitment to Ukraine, our partnership with Ukraine, it’s deep. It is important to us. It’s enduring,” according to State Department spokesman New Price. He said that this was the message that Secretary Blinken conveyed to his Ukrainian counterpart last week when he met with Foreign Minister Kuleba in Brussels. The US has committed more than $2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2014.
RUSSIA
The State Department admitted it is aware that Russia has announced its intention to block foreign naval ships and state vessels in parts of the Black Sea, particularly near the Kerch Strait, through October as part of what it is claiming is a “military exercise.” The State Department spokesman said that Washington is “cognizant that Russia has a history of aggressive actions against Ukrainian vessels and impeding access to Ukraine’s ports in the Sea of Azov, impacting Ukraine’s international commerce.” This is the latest example of an ongoing campaign to undermine and to destabilize Ukraine, he added.
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AFGHANISTAN
Upon his return from meeting with Afghan President Ghani, Secretary of State Blinken responded to criticisms from the American generals who commanded troops in Afghanistan, including former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and David Petraeus, who went on to become CIA director. The commanders are saying that the withdrawal of troops will leave America more vulnerable to terrorist threats, with General Joe Dunford, a a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general, who served as the 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, saying it would also have a catastrophic effect in Afghanistan itself. Secretary Blinken responded that “We went to Afghanistan 20 years ago, and we went because we were attacked on 9/11, and we went to take on those who had attacked us on 9/11 and to make sure that Afghanistan would not again become a haven for terrorism directed at the United States or any of our allies and partners. And we achieved the objectives that we set out to achieve.” He added that the United States now is invested in the “peace process for Afghanistan” that the Administration hopes will bring about a political settlement.
NORWAY
At a time when Moscow is amassing over 40,000 troops on its border with the Ukraine, the US is looking northward to shore up its commitments to the Kingdom of Norway. Washington recently concluded a Supplementary Defense Cooperation Agreement (SDCA), which will allow the two countries to deepen bilateral security cooperation, strengthen NATO operations, and increase Transatlantic security. The SDCA builds on the 1951 NATO Status of Forces Agreement to facilitate further development of opportunities for US forces to train and exercise in Norway.
DARIA NOVAK served in the United States State Department during the Reagan Administration, and currently is on the Board of the American Analysis of News and Media Inc., which publishes usagovpolicy.com and the New York Analysis of Policy and Government. Each Saturday, she presents key updates on U.S. foreign policy from the State Department.
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