The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:

Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met today with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on the margins of the NATO Summit in Brussels. The Secretary thanked the Foreign Minister for Saudi Arabia’s strong partnership and reiterated our commitment to further deepening U.S.-Saudi cooperation. The two covered a broad range of regional and bilateral issues, especially the need to address the full array of threats posed by Iran.

On Yemen, the Secretary and Foreign Minister agreed on the importance of all sides supporting the UN-led political process, facilitating critical humanitarian and commercial access, and working toward a comprehensive agreement to end the conflict. The Secretary emphasized the President’s desire to see the Gulf dispute eased and eventually resolved, and his hope that our Gulf partners will work together to promote regional security and stability, and stand against Iran’s destabilizing activities.

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The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert: ‎

Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met today with EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini on the sidelines of the NATO Summit. Secretary Pompeo and the High Representative discussed the range of shared challenges facing the United States and Europe. They agreed on the growing dangers posed by Iranian malign influence across the Middle East. They discussed the security and humanitarian situation in Syria, the importance of continued reform in Ukraine, and the common approach to ensuring a path to the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK. The two leaders also discussed shared U.S. and EU concerns about the Nord Stream II Pipeline and the need to ensure the diversification of European energy supplies.

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Andrea L. Thompson, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, will travel to the United Kingdom from July 15-18, 2018.

Under Secretary Thompson will join a delegation of senior U.S. government officials at the Farnborough International Air Show, UK, where she will hold consultations on defense trade issues and promote more than 350 U.S. companies and trade organizations exhibiting the latest aerospace technologies. Under Secretary Thompson will update U.S. industry executives, as well as senior civilian and military officials, on steps the Administration is taking to improve U.S. defense trade regulations, expand opportunities for U.S. industry, drive innovation, and promote American jobs.

Under Secretary Thompson will also meet with‎ senior UK government officials in London to discuss a wide range of security, defense trade, and nonproliferation issues.

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Twenty-two women entrepreneurs from 13 African countries arrive in the United States this week to connect with their American counterparts and accelerate the growth of their businesses. The businesswomen in this year’s African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) join a network that has created thousands of jobs and over 20 women’s business associations in sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative promotes business growth and increases trade both regionally and with U.S. markets through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

AWEP, which runs through July 27, is a special initiative of the International Visitor Leadership Program, now in its ninth year of elevating women entrepreneurs who are transforming their societies through business, and are voices for social advocacy in their communities. The women will visit American private companies, business incubators, financial institutions, schools, and mentorship institutions.

The program begins in Washington, D.C., continues to Santa Fe and Albuquerque, and then splits into smaller, sector-based groups in Atlanta, Portland, or San Diego. The entire AWEP group then comes together in Chicago for closing programming.

This year’s cohort represents Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, and Zimbabwe. The women will return home to continue their work as women advocates with AWEP chapters in more than a dozen countries.

For press inquiries on the program, please contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at ECA-Press@state.gov. Join the conversation on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #AWEP.

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The following is a joint statement by the United States and the European Union:

The eighth EU-U.S. Energy Council met today in Brussels. This was the first meeting of the Energy Council during the Administration of President Donald J. Trump and allowed for a substantial exchange of views, in an open and constructive atmosphere, on the opportunities for transatlantic energy cooperation.

Today’s discussions focused on energy infrastructure, innovation and transitions as important means of promoting transparent, open and secure energy markets. In this context the meeting discussed the modernisation, development and resilience of energy infrastructure, including the importance to critical infrastructure protection through cybersecurity; clean energy innovation and other technology cooperation; and engagement with industry. Regarding energy security, the meeting addressed issues related to energy policy and markets; diversification of energy sources, suppliers and routes; cooperation relating to reforms in Ukraine’s energy sector and to its transit role; and cooperation on energy vulnerable regions. The participants encouraged the working groups under the Energy Council to meet again shortly to take forward EU-U.S. cooperation. They looked forward to the Energy Council meeting again in due course.

The Energy Council was co-chaired by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Energy Union, Maroš ŠefÄ�oviÄ�, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, U.S. Secretary of State, Michael R. Pompeo and U.S. Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry. Federal Minister Juliane Bogner-Strauß represented the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Background

The EU-U.S. Energy Council was established in 2009 to promote transparent, open and secure global energy markets; foster policy and regulatory cooperation on efficient and sustainable energy use; and pursue joint research and development on clean energy and energy efficiency technologies.

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