As we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, I would like to recognize Ireland’s remarkable contributions to the United States and reaffirm the strong bonds of friendship between our two nations and people.

Throughout American history, men and women of Irish descent have had a deep and lasting impact on our country. Since our founding, these men and women have helped shape and strengthen America, including as signers of the Declaration of Independence, presidents, military leaders, authors, business titans, and much more. Irish fortitude, leadership, creativity, and entrepreneurship are woven into the very fabric of the United States.

While we honor the contributions of past generations, we continue today to write the Irish-American story through a shared embrace of progress and a mutual quest to secure a more prosperous and peaceful future. Together, Ireland and the United States are forging new connections in the areas of security, trade, investment, research, and cultural exchanges.

As communities across our two countries celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, I offer warm wishes for a safe and happy holiday.

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The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:

On March 16, Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan met with ROK Foreign Minister Kang in Washington, D.C. Deputy Secretary Sullivan and Foreign Minister Kang reaffirmed that the U.S.-ROK Alliance is the lynchpin of stability and security in the region, particularly in light of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Both sides agreed that the announcement of a meeting between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is an historic opportunity and evidence that the global maximum pressure campaign is working and must remain in effect. Deputy Secretary Sullivan and Foreign Minister Kang agreed that international pressure on North Korea must be maintained until the regime takes credible, verifiable, and concrete steps toward denuclearization.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

Ambassador Nathan A. Sales, the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, will be in Tokyo from March 19-21. He will lead the U.S. delegation at the Thirteenth Coordinating Committee Meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), which will serve to strengthen international cooperation on countering terrorism, discuss areas of future cooperation among the various working groups of the GCTF, discuss ongoing counterterrorism initiatives and introduce new ones.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Heather Nauert:

On March 16, Deputy Secretary Sullivan met with Japanese Foreign Minister Kono in Washington, DC. Deputy Secretary Sullivan and Foreign Minister Kono affirmed the importance of the U.S.-Japan Alliance in the region, particularly in light of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK’s) unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Both sides agreed that the announcement of a meeting between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is an historic opportunity and that the global maximum pressure campaign is working and must remain in effect. Deputy Secretary Sullivan and Foreign Minister Kono agreed that international pressure on the DPRK must be maintained until the DPRK takes credible, verifiable, and concrete steps toward denuclearization.

Deputy Secretary Sullivan and Foreign Minister Kono also discussed other issues of bilateraland global concern.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.

The United States today renewed its support for two of Lebanon’s vital national institutions, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Internal Security Forces (ISF), in Rome at the conference in support of Lebanese state security services. U.S. delegate and Senior Bureau Official for Near Eastern Affairs, Ambassador David Satterfield, underscored that the LAF and ISF “are critical to Lebanese security and stability, and ultimately, to the survival of a stable, democratic, and prosperous Lebanon.”

The United States has provided nearly $1.7 billion to the LAF and over $160 million to the ISF since 2006. U.S. assistance for Lebanon’s security services helps advance our shared goals in the region, enabling the Lebanese government to provide civilian security and assert its authority throughout all of Lebanese territory.

In 2017, the United States provided over $250 million in security assistance to Lebanon, including $121 million in Foreign Military Financing. During the conference, Ambassador Satterfield announced part of the FY 2017 funds will be used to provide the LAF with three additional transportation helicopters, valued at $30 million, as well as a new $9 million investment in ISF training and facilities, subject to Congressional approval.

Examples of recent and upcoming U.S. support for Lebanese security services includes:

• In August 2017, the LAF expelled the last remaining pockets of ISIS and al-Qa’ida from Lebanon using U.S.-provided systems and munitions, including 155mm Howitzers, M113 APCs, Huey helicopters, Cessna Caravans, Scan Eagle reconnaissance aircraft, and precision-guided munitions including Copperheads, Hellfires, and TOW missiles.
• This year, the United States will complete the delivery of six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft and 32 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, which are part of $340 million in assistance to improve the LAF’s strike capability in the air and to build its modern, mechanized maneuver capability on the ground.
• Through International Military Education and Training (IMET), 946 members of the LAF (to include 86 in FY 2017) will have received U.S.-instructed training, which has increased professionalization, enhanced U.S. joint interoperability, and strengthened our enduring military-to-military relationship.

The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department.
External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.