TURKEY
President Erdogan of Turkey was recently in Moscow to discuss the potential acceleration of delivery of the S-400. Due to this acquisition the United States suspended deliveries and activities associated with the stand-up of the F-35’s operational capabilities. Vice President Pence said, while traveling in Germany, that the United States “will not stand idly by while NATO allies purchase weapons from our adversaries.” According to the State Department, if Turkey acquires the S-400 it runs the risk of losing the Patriot air and missile defense systems.
SUDAN
Recent demonstrations strongly indicate the Sudanese people desire to end Omar al Bashir’s rule. In support of the demonstrations the State Department commended the Sudanese people for “maintaining peaceful demonstrations since December 2018.” The Deputy Spokesperson added that “Sudan has the opportunity to set itself on a new path – one that must include legitimate democratic elections, respect for human rights, and a civilian-led government. The United States strongly supports a peaceful and democratic Sudan. We call on the transitional government to follow the will of the people, work in an inclusive way with all representative parties, and commit to a speedy handover to civilian rule.” Recently, Sudanese security services used excessive force on Sudanese civilians resulting in more than 20 casualties.
Due to these recent deaths the United States has “suspended further Joint Review Committee discussions on Phase II, a process designed to expand bilateral ties with Sudan in six key areas: severing ties with North Korea, expanding counterterrorism cooperation, resolving internal conflicts, expanding humanitarian access, protecting human rights, and addressing outstanding legal claims related to victims of terrorism.” The talks had been scheduled for late April.
SOUTH KOREA
At a recent State Department press conference Robert Palladino, Deputy Spokesperson, responded to questions about the difference in positions on North Korea held by US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and the Republic of Korea’s President Moon Jae-in.
The Secretary and National Security Advisor John Bolton previously met with Moon at Blair House to discuss the ongoing negotiations with North Korea. At that time both Pompeo and Bolton vowed to continue coordinating with the Republic of Korea and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to a final and fully verifiable denuclearization agreement with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. No consensus was reached on withdrawing sanctions.
There was speculation that the US might consider Moon’s position and partially remove sanctions it had imposed on Pyongyang if there was movement by the North to shut down its nuclear development program.
President Moon has taken an active role and had hoped to push this issue in Washington. While the Trump Administration considers the US-ROK relationship strong Pompeo was not open to Moon’s viewpoint concerning the partial withdrawal of sanctions. The Secretary has stated repeatedly that he believes sanctions are working and that maximum pressure needs to be maintained to force denuclearization.
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Vice President Pence announced that the US is providing nearly $61 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support the regional response for the 3.4 million Venezuelans who have fled the man-made crisis in their country. To date the United States has provided more than $213 million in humanitarian assistance for basic social services. The aid has been delivered to 16 countries in the region that are taking in Venezuelans fleeing from the repression and chaos. Since FY 2017 this brings the total US assistance in the region to $256 million, of which $213 million is humanitarian aid.
IRAN
In an unprecedented move the United States announced it is continuing to build its maximum pressure campaign against the Iranian regime by designating the “Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC], including its Qods Force, as a foreign terrorist organization [FTO] in accordance with Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act,” according to Secretary of State Pompeo. The designation, which takes this week, is the first time the US has designated a part of another government at an “FTO.”
The Secretary added that “We’re doing because the Iranian regime’s use of terrorism as a tool of statecraft makes it fundamentally different from any other government. This historic step will deprive the world’s leading state sponsor of terror the financial means to spread misery and death around the world.” The Trump Administration already sanctioned 970 Iranian individuals and entities. The designation is a tool used by the US Government to counter Iranian-backed terrorism. Tehran regularly violates the laws of armed conflict around the world.
The IRGC was responsible for the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing which killed 19 American service members and has a long and active history of planning and executing terrorist attacks abroad.
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.
Illustration: Pixabay