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Foreign Policy Update

SYRIA

The United States is applauding the Executive Council of the world’s chemical weapons watchdog, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), for its adoption today of a decision that condemns Syria’s use of chemical weapons, according to a statement released by the State Department on Thursday. The OPCW sets out clear measures for the Syrian government to follow, including: the declaration of facilities where chemical weapons used in the Ltamenah attacks were developed, produced, stockpiled, and stored for delivery; the declaration of its remaining chemical weapons stockpile and production facilities; and the resolution of the outstanding issues with its initial declaration.  The Syrian regime’s failure to fulfill these measures, according to the report, will result in a recommendation to the OPCW’s full body, the Conference of States Parties, to take further action.

A few months ago, in April 2020, the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) concluded that there were reasonable grounds to believe that Syrian authorities were responsible for three chemical weapons attacks on Ltamenah, Syria during March 2017.  These attacks preceded the more deadly sarin attack in nearby Khan Shaykhun by less than two weeks, and were part of the same concerted campaign of terror perpetrated by the Assad regime.   

VENEZUELA

The Venezuelan people are the ones who must restore democracy, according to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo. In a news briefing on Friday he said that: “…we will do all the things that we can do, which includes not only the economic pressure that has been brought to bear on the Maduro regime and the pressure that’s been brought to bear on Cuba to withdraw their security forces from Venezuela, but we have also, importantly, built out a global coalition to try and help the Venezuelan people achieve their objectives… we see South American countries as part of the Lima Group.  We now have some 60 countries that have recognized that Maduro’s days as a governor are done and that, in fact, Juan Guaido is the duly elected leader, as spoken to by the Venezuelan people.  This is the process that we intend to continue to support what the Venezuelan people want.” Pompeo added that the State is closely monitoring the elections in Venezuela and that he believes the Venezuelan people themselves see what is happening and will restore democracy. 

INDO-PACIFIC INITIATVE

Secretary of State Pompeo on Friday accused the Obama Administration of not taking seriously two components of the Indo-Pacific Initiative. First is the fundamental recognition of the challenge that is presented to the Indo-Pacific from the Chinese Communist Party. He said that “It’s in every dimension.  It’s diplomatically, it’s economically, it’s militarily.” The second component, according to Pompeo, is the communications infrastructure.  He pointed to cyber crime and the theft of intellectual property. He added that the US recognizes this will take a “true global coalition of people who understand this challenge.” Washington is working with its Five Eyes counterparts, G7 partners, ASEAN, and the Quad to create various tools to develop multilateral understandings about how to protect free and open transportation, shipping, commerce, and rule of law.

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IRAN

The United States remains very concerned about missile proliferation from the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to Pompeo, “they continue to work on their missile program in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231.” He said this is the reason Washington thinks it is so important that the world unite to extend the arms embargo that expires just a handful of months from now in the middle of October. Pompeo is concerned that it would be tragically dangerous for the region if it expires and also would create instability throughout the Middle East. Pompeo has bene working with its Gulf state partners to get them to assist the US effort to extend this arms embargo as well as providing a great deal of assistance.

“You see all kinds of U.S. sales of weapons – those are all public – and things that we can do both publicly and otherwise to help provide security in the face of an increasing capability of the Iranians to fire missiles all throughout the region, and ultimately establish a set of missile capabilities that is robust enough to defeat missile defenses throughout the region, but strike in places that go beyond even just their near neighborhood.,” said Pompeo.

During a press briefing on Friday the Secretary provided an example, saying “We watch as they continue to try and build out their space launch vehicle program.  They would, of course, claim this is for a civilian purpose, to put commercial satellites up.  I think the world’s smarter than that.  I think the world recognizes that program as being deeply connected to their desire to have longer and longer range missile systems that they can use to hold hostage the world.”

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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