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Foreign Policy Update

HONG KONG

The United States is planning to impose a cost on the decisionmakers who denied voting freedom to the people of Hong Kong if Beijing doesn’t change direction, according to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo. In a recent interview he said that Hong Kong no longer is a highly autonomous region. “That means, “ he said, “that the behavior and the relationships that we have with Hong Kong will look more like the relationships we have with China.”  There are elections scheduled to take place in Hong Kong in September. The US remains concerned that Hong Kong’s nominal leader, Carrie Lam, will not allow the elections to proceed if she believes they will not go the way she wants, which is synonymous with saying she supports Beijing’s effort to control Hong Kong. Pompeo said that if she cancelled the election it would be the “final nail in the coffin that Hong Kong is free or autonomous.

Should it be deemed necessary the US will impose costs on China by denying them the enormous financial benefit they received as a result of Hong Kong being the world’s capital center. According to Pompeo. But, he added, “We don’t want to punish the Hong Kong people.  That is not our objective.”  The goal, he said, is to deter China from continuing its efforts to deny freedom to peoples to whom they had previously promised to them.

CHINA

Pompeo said the US remains concerned over China’s aggressive foreign and military policies over the last two years and, especially during the last six months. “I think many countries are beginning to recognize the threat that is to their people and to their nation as a result of the nature of the Chinese Communist Party and its continued efforts to expand its reach around the world, and I’m confident that will continue to grow and the United States will lead the way in making sure that that group of freedom-loving nations, who found their nations on the idea of individual rights and human dignity, will stay together, and we will ultimately be successful delivering on those for the people of each of our democratic nations,” he said.

IRAN

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Americans sanctions against Iran appear to be working, according to Pompeo. He pointed out in a recent interview that the country had been producing three million barrels a day and this past month they were down to about 70,000 gallons a day. He also noted that the continuing threat from the Islamic Republic of Iran remains. Pompeo said it has violated a number of its nuclear commitments that it signed up for under the JCPOA. He added that the United States put resources in place to deter Iranian aggression on the ground, and that “We’ve put diplomatic power behind uniting the world in a number of ways with respect to Iran’s terrorism.  We have convinced the Germans just last month to designate Hizballah.  We’re working with partners all around the world to continue to constrain Iran’s capacity to ultimately get a nuclear and to limit their capabilities on missiles and terrorism as well.”

On October 2020, the Russians will be free to sell equipment to Iran. Even the Chinese will be able to sell tanks to Iran, according to Pompeo.  He added that “We have a plan that we believe will successfully prevent that from happening.” Even it there is no extension on the prohibition of arms sale to Iran, the Secretary suggested that the US will use its diplomatic capability to prevent it from happening.  “It’s too dangerous to the world to allow Iran, after just what would be now five years of the agreement, to be able to again arm themselves, purchase high-end weapon systems from the Russians and the Iranians, making it even more difficult for us to stop them from building out their nuclear program.  It was a fundamental flaw of the JCPOA, and we’re determined to do everything we can to prevent that expiration of the arms embargo from taking place, “ Pompeo noted. 

CUBA

The US Government announced the addition of seven new sub-entities to the Cuba Restricted List. These seven sub-entities disproportionately benefit the Castro dictatorship. According to the State Department, the regime uses the profits from these businesses to oppress the Cuban people and to fund its interference in Venezuela, at the expense of Cubans or private enterprise in Cuba. Among the seven sub-entities are one military-controlled financial institution, three military-owned hotels, two military-owned scuba diving centers, and one military-owned marine park for tourists. The bulk of Cuba’s tourism industry is owned and operated by the Cuban military.  

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