Press Releases: Trilateral Meeting


Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Brasilia, Brazil
January 1, 2019


The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Honduras, and Israel.

Begin text:

Following the trilateral meeting held in Brasilia, Brazil, between U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, it was agreed to strengthen political relations and coordinate cooperation on development in Honduras.

They also agreed to pursue a plan of action, which includes meetings in their three respective capitals, to advance the process of the decision to open embassies in both Tegucigalpa and Jerusalem.






Press Releases: Attack in Giza


Press Statement

Robert Palladino

Deputy Spokesperson

Washington, DC
December 28, 2018


The United States strongly condemns the attack carried out today on a tourist bus in Giza. Our deepest condolences go out to the families of those killed and we wish a quick recovery for those injured. We are unaware of any American citizen casualties at this time. We stand with all Egyptians in the fight against terrorism and support the Egyptian government in bringing the perpetrators of this attack to justice.






Press Releases: Israel’s Right to Self-Defense


Press Statement

Robert Palladino

Deputy Spokesperson

Washington, DC
December 28, 2018


The United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against Iranian regional actions that endanger Israeli national security and the safety of the Israeli people. Iranian support of and supply to terrorist groups in Syria and across the region that have the clear intent and capability to strike Israel are unacceptable. The United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against the Iranian regime’s aggressive adventurism, and we will continue to ensure that Israel has the military capacity to do so decisively. The commitment of the Trump Administration and the American people to ensuring Israel’s security is both enduring and unshakable.






Press Releases: Secretary Pompeo Travels to Brazil and Colombia To Strengthen Prosperity, Security, and Democracy


Fact Sheet

Robert Palladino

Deputy Spokesperson

Washington, DC
December 28, 2018


  • Secretary Pompeo is leading a Presidential Delegation to Brazil for the inauguration of President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, a leader who has expressed interest in closer ties with the United States and our regional allies.
  • We welcome the opportunity to forge a close and comprehensive partnership with South America’s most populous democracy and the world’s eighth-largest economy. Our close cooperation has the potential to make our countries more prosperous and more secure. Together, we will support democracy throughout the Western Hemisphere.
  • The Secretary’s trip to Cartagena, Colombia, to meet with President Ivan Duque furthers our strong partnership with Colombia on shared goals, including building a more prosperous and secure hemisphere.

INCREASING ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

  • As the two largest economies in the region with approximately $100 billion in bilateral trade per year, this new chapter in Brazil’s democracy presents an historic opportunity for expanded prosperity in the bilateral, U.S.-Brazil relationship.
  • The United States held a trade-in-goods surplus with Brazil of $7.8 billion for 2017. We will seek to increase trade and investment between our countries, including increasing opportunities for U.S. businesses in technology, defense, and agriculture.
  • We applaud President-elect Bolsonaro for standing up for Brazilian sovereignty in the face of China’s predatory trade and lending practices.
  • The Secretary’s visit to Colombia will build on our countries’ mutual successes under the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, which has doubled U.S. agricultural exports, to $2.53 billion in 2017 from nearly $1.3 billion in 2011.

DEFENDING AND STREGTHENING DEMOCRACY

  • Brazil’s latest free and fair election demonstrates the stability and integrity of the country’s democratic institutions.
  • As the two largest democracies in the hemisphere, our partnership is based on shared values and commitments to democracy and the rule of law, public security, education, and human rights.
  • The United States will work with Brazil to support the peoples of Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua who are struggling to live in freedom against repressive regimes. We welcome President-elect Bolsonaro’s commitment to stand up to tyrants.
  • In Colombia, the Secretary will meet with President Ivan Duque, commend Colombia for assisting Venezuelans fleeing the Maduro regime, and thank President Duque for his commitment to increasing pressure on Caracas to restore democracy in Venezuela.

ADVANCING GLOBAL AND REGIONAL SECURITY

  • We seek to deepen our cooperation with Brazil and Colombia against transnational crime, including counter-narcotics, terrorism, and threats to international peace and security, like North Korea.






Press Releases: Secretary Pompeo’s Trip to Brazil and Colombia


Press Statement

Robert Palladino

Deputy Spokesperson

Washington, DC
December 27, 2018


U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will travel to Brazil and Colombia from December 31-January 2.

From December 31-January 2, Secretary Pompeo will lead the Presidential Delegation to Brasilia to attend the inauguration of Jair Bolsonaro, President-elect of Brazil. In addition to joining inauguration-related events, he will participate in a bilateral meeting with incoming President Bolsonaro and Foreign Minister Araujo to reaffirm the strong U.S.-Brazil partnership in promoting prosperity, security, education, and democracy. While in Brasilia, Secretary Pompeo will also participate in bilateral meetings with Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On January 2, Secretary Pompeo will travel to Cartagena, Colombia, to meet with Colombian President Ivan Duque. He will underscore U.S. support for shared goals, such as counternarcotics efforts, peace accord implementation, trade, and responding to the regional crisis perpetrated by the disastrous policies of the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

Follow Secretary Pompeo’s travel to Brazil and Colombia via @StateDept and @SecPompeo on Twitter and go to the Department’s Flickr account for the latest trip photos. Stay connected at https://blogs.state.gov/engage and keep track of all of the Secretary’s travels at https://www.state.gov/secretary/travel/index.htm.