74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

President Trump at UNGA High-Level Week

The future belongs to sovereign and independent nations who protect their citizens, respect their neighbors, and honor the differences that make each country special and unique.

Donald J. TrumpPresident of the United States

President Trump led the United Nations Event on Religious Freedom on September 23, where he delivered a historic message on persecution and religious freedom. The President issued a global call to condemn religious persecution and defend the freedom of all believers. Read the President’s remarks at the UN Event on Religious Freedom.  

On September 24, President Trump addressed the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly, noting the many challenges and opportunities facing us as we work alongside our partners to address international concerns. The President called for lifting up our nations, launching an economic revival, confronting unfair trade, holding Iran accountable, promoting a free Western Hemisphere, stopping illegal immigration, and protecting religious freedom. Read the President’s remarks at the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly. 

President Trump met with leaders of the Western Hemisphere, on September 25, to discuss the need for democratic transition in Venezuela, urging the international community to take concrete action to increase pressure on Maduro’s dictatorship and his illegitimate regime. Read the President’s remarks at the Multilateral Meeting on Venezuela. 

During a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on September 25, President Trump affirmed the close friendship and alliance between the United States and Japan. The two leaders also signed the first stage of a trade agreement, in which Japan will eliminate or lower tariffs for certain U.S. agricultural products. Read the Joint Statement of the United States and Japan. 

Visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/  to learn more about President Trump’s bilateral meetings and engagement with foreign leaders.

White House Fact Sheets

• President Donald J. Trump Has Reached Agreements with Japan to Improve Trade Between Our Nations 

• President Donald J. Trump is Charting a Future of Nations that Empowers Our Citizens, Respects Our Sovereignty, and Protects Our Freedom 

• President Trump is Committed to Protecting Religious Freedom in the United States and Around the World 

Secretary Pompeo at UNGA High-Level Week

This is the beginning of an awakening – to the truth that Iran is the aggressor and not the aggrieved.

Michael R. PompeoSecretary of State

Secretary Pompeo followed President’s Trump schedule the first three days of high-level week.

Secretary Pompeo addressed the UN Event on Religious Freedom, led by President Trump, and urged participation in the International Religious Freedom Alliance, the most ambitious human-rights project launched in a generation. Over 80 percent of the world’s population lives in a religiously restricted environment. Read the Secretary’s remarks the UN Event on Religious Freedom.

On September 24, Secretary Pompeo hosted the foreign ministers of Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) +2 Ministerial on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York. Read Spokesperson Ortagus’ readout of the Ministerial.

Speaking for the second time at the United Against Nuclear Iran Summit, Secretary Pompeo announced new actions to disentangle the IRGC from the Iranian economy and to impose sanctions on certain Chinese entities for transporting oil from Iran. Read the Secretary’s speech at the United Against Nuclear Iran’s 2019 Iran Summit.

On September 25, Secretary Pompeo announced in New York nearly $119 million in additional humanitarian assistance to further demonstrate the United States’ commitment and solidarity with the Venezuelan people and the region in response to the Maduro-made Venezuela crisis.  This amount includes nearly $36 million for life-saving aid inside Venezuela. Read Spokesperson Ortagus’ press statement announcing the additional humanitarian aid.

U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo convened a multilateral meeting on the U.S. Department of State-led Energy Resource Governance Initiative (ERGI) on September 26 during the high-level week at the United Nations General Assembly. Growth in mineral intensive clean energy and electric vehicle (EV) technologies is creating unprecedented demand for raw materials and products. ERGI promotes sound governance and resilient supply chains in the energy minerals sector. Read the Secretary’s remarks at the ERGI meeting.

At a press availability, Secretary Pompeo announced that the United States has concluded that the Assad regime used chlorine as a chemical weapon on May 19th in an attack at Latakia province, Syria. The United States will continue to pressure the insidious Assad regime to end the violence directed at Syrian civilians and to participate in the UN-led political process to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Read the Secretary’s press availability.

Deputy Secretary Sullivan at UNGA High-Level Week

Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan, Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok, and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne co-hosted the second Ministerial Meeting on Advancing Responsible State Behavior in Cyberspace on the margins of the 74th UN General Assembly, on September 23. Twenty-six countries joined the United States to sign a statement highlighting their joint commitment to ensuring greater accountability and stability in cyberspace. Read the Deputy Secretary’s remarks from the Cyberspace Ministerial.

Our decisions can change Venezuela’s trajectory and protect the region’s security and economic prosperity.

John J. SullivanDeputy Secretary of State

Also on September 23, Deputy Secretary Sullivan lead the U.S. delegation to the 30th Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which serves as the Organ of Consultation in Application of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (also known as the Rio Treaty). This meeting discussed regional next steps on the worsening crisis in Venezuela, which continues to pose a clear threat to peace and security in the Western Hemisphere. Sixteen countries agreed to invoke the TIAR treaty for collective action to restore democracy to help the people of Venezuela. Read the Deputy Secretary’s remarks at the Rio Treaty meeting.

Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan co-hosted an invitation-only panel discussion for United Nations delegations and non-governmental partners on the Human Rights Crisis in Xinjiang.  The event featured the deeply personal stories of victims of China’s brutal campaign of repression against Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs, ethnic Kyrgyz, and other Muslim individuals in Xinjiang. China’s repression campaign includes, among other abuses, the mass detention of more than one million individuals in internment camps since April 2017. The Deputy Secretary welcomes global partners in joining the call for China to end the cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of the people of Xinjiang. Read the Deputy Secretary’s remarks at the Human Rights Crisis in Xinjiang Event.

Deputy Secretary Sullivan participated in the tenth Ministerial Plenary meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum in sessions that endorsed GCTF framework documents, including two documents produced by U.S. co-led initiatives on interdicting terrorist travel and countering terrorist use of unmanned aerial systems. Read Spokesperson Ortagus’ readout of the meeting.

Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan hosted African foreign ministers and senior officials and senior executives from several U.S. corporations and business councils for a discussion on U.S.-Africa trade and investment. Read the Deputy Secretary’s remarks at the roundtable discussion.

Other Department Officials at UNGA High-Level Week

During UNGA High-Level Week, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach attended meetings with Secretary Pompeo. He also hosted bilateral and multilateral meetings with government leaders from UNGA member states and with senior business officials to promote the United States’ global economic priorities and discuss issues including development based on free market competition, fair trade, innovation, private sector engagement, and democratic principles.

Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale met with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, and conveyed U.S. support for UN-led efforts focused on creating the conditions for an enduring ceasefire and a return to an inclusive political process.  The Under Secretary participated in the Ministerial on the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen; conference addressed the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and encouraged donors to fully fund the 2019 UN Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). Under Secretary Hale met at UNGA and met with Caribbean Foreign Ministers to increase cooperation and strengthen our partnerships. We share common interests and goals on disaster resilience, prosperity, security, energy, health, and education.

In conjunction with the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Special Representative for Iran and Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of State Brian Hook delivered remarks on the Trump Administration’s Iran policy and participated in a discussion at the Asia Society on Monday, September 23. Read the Special Representative’s remarks at the Asia Society.

Ambassador Nathan A. Sales, the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, delivered opening remarks during the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) Side Event “Threats, Challenges, and Resources related to FTF and Family Repatriation” on September 24 in New York City.  In his remarks, Ambassador Sales called on countries to repatriate their citizens from Syria, prosecute those who have committed crimes, and rehabilitate and reintegrate those who have been exposed to terrorist ideology.  He also acknowledged the successful repatriation efforts of various countries, and highlighted tools and resources that can help countries repatriate their citizens. Read the Coordinator’s remarks at the GCTF event.

Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Samuel Brownback briefed the press on President Trump’s Core Event on Religious Freedom. At the Human Rights Crisis in Xinjiang Event, U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Samuel D. Brownback moderated the panel, which featured victims of China’s repression campaign, including a survivor of the camps and individuals who are fighting to learn the fate of missing or detained family members. They shared heartbreaking and deeply personal stories of their experiences and the abuses those in Xinjiang endure on a daily basis.

Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Kirsten D. Madison opened and moderated a panel on combatting transnational synthetic drug challenges and partnering with the private sector to strengthen our fight against this crisis. This effort brought together U.S. and international businesses with government authorities to fight the complex, newly emerged synthetic drug threats we see proliferating around the world.

Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources Frank Fannon attended the Secretary’s multilateral meeting on the U.S. Department of State-led Energy Resource Governance Initiative (ERGI) and facilitated a conversation among the founding partners and other participant countries. The participants discussed shared challenges and opportunities for improving governance standards in extractive sectors to meet the anticipated demand for energy resource minerals. Read the Assistant Secretary’s remarks at the ERGI meeting.

Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells participated in the U.S. launch of the second phase of the U.S.-Pakistan Women’s Council (USPWC) on September 23 on the Sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. The second phase launched by kicking off the Pakistan Million Women Mentor Initiative with a speed mentoring session.  The event was co-hosted by the USPWC, Citi, U.S.-Pakistan Business Council and convened approximately 75 leaders from the private sector, civil society, Government of Pakistan, and the U.S. government, including the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues.

Carol Thompson O’Connell, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration spoke at a Ministerial Level Pledging Conference for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis to fundraise for life-saving assistance for Rohingya, host communities in Bangladesh, and other vulnerable populations affected by the Rakhine State crisis. During her remarks, she announced that the United States is providing more than $127 million in additional humanitarian assistance in response to the crisis, including more than $89 million for programs inside Bangladesh. Read PDAS O’Connell’s remarks at the conference.

While in New York, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Marcia Bernicat participated in events related to protecting the ocean and the environment and advancing economic growth, resilience, and adaptation.  She also joined a meeting of African Great Lakes regional ministers of health on Ebola preparedness and response hosted by the United States, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the World Health Organization.  Throughout the week, Ambassador Bernicat met with her counterparts from several countries and international organizations in bilateral meetings.

Special Briefings

• Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom On President Trump’s Core Event on Religious Freedom;
• Senior State Department Official On United States Policy on Venezuela;
• Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker On Middle East Issues at the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly;
• Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell On the Human Rights Crisis in Xinjiang;
• United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green on U.S. Government Development Engagement at the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly;
• Senior State Department Official Previewing the Energy Resource Governance Initiative at the 74th Session of the United National General Assembly;
• Senior State Department Official On Indo-Pacific Issues at the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly;
• Acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells At the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly;
• Special Representative for Syria Engagement and Special Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS Jim Jeffrey and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Defense Policy, Emerging Threats, and Outreach Thomas DiNanno of the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance On U.S. Policy on Syria and D-ISIS.

NYC Foreign Press Center Briefings

• Special Representative for Iran and Senior Policy Advisor Brian Hook on Iran: Readout from the 74th U.N. General Assembly;
• Ambassador Nathan Sales, Coordinator for Counterterrorism on The U.S. Policy in Countering Terrorism;
• Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback on Promoting International Religious Freedom;
• Assistant Secretary Kirsten Madison of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs on The Opioid Crisis Gone Global: The Transnational Synthetic Drugs Challenge;
• Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell on The Human Rights Crisis in Xinjiang.