Ambassador Nathan A. Sales, the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, travels to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway the week of January 28 to discuss Iran-backed terrorism in Europe, prosecuting foreign terrorist fighters, and combatting terrorist travel.

Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. In recent years the regime has directed or backed terrorist plotting in France, Denmark, The Netherlands, Albania, and elsewhere. To address the threat of foreign terrorist fighters who traveled from Europe and other parts of the world to fight for ISIS, the United States is urging its partners to repatriate their citizens and prosecute them for the crimes they have committed. In December 2017, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2396, which obliges member states to use key tools to combat terrorist travel, including terrorist watchlists and airline reservation data.

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The United States is deeply concerned by the sentencing of human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang in Tianjin, China on January 28 to four-and-a-half years in prison on charges of “subverting state power.” Wang was among the first individuals detained during the Chinese government’s July 9, 2015 (“709”) crackdown on legal advocates for rule of law and human rights defenders, and the last to be tried.

We are troubled that China has subjected Mr. Wang to a three-and-a-half-year period of pre-trial detention, and has been held incommunicado, has been deprived of legal counsel of his choosing, and that his chosen lawyer has been subjected to reprisals.

We call on China to release Mr. Wang immediately and allow him to reunite with his family. We remain concerned by the deteriorating situation for the rule of law, human rights, and fundamental freedoms in China, and continue to urge China to uphold its international human rights commitments and to respect the rule of law.

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U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will host a day of meetings with the foreign ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS on February 6 in Washington, D.C. The full 79-member Coalition will meet for in-depth discussions on the impending territorial defeat of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, which is the result of four years of Coalition and our partners’ efforts, and a significant milestone towards delivering ISIS an enduring defeat. Ministers will discuss the next phase of the campaign in Iraq and Syria, which will focus on protecting against a resurgence of ISIS through stabilization and security assistance. Ministers will also discuss important next steps in degrading ISIS’s global networks and affiliates outside Iraq and Syria.

These meetings are taking place at a key moment in our coordinated fight. The United States is determined to prevent a resurgence of ISIS in Syria and Iraq after the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria takes place, and remains committed to working with the Global Coalition to continue to destroy ISIS remnants and thwart its global ambitions. As ISIS is defeated on the battlefield, the Coalition will continue its stabilization efforts to facilitate the safe and voluntary return home of those who have been displaced by the violence.

The Global Coalition regularly meets to coordinate and enhance combined efforts to counter ISIS. The last Ministerial took place in Brussels on July 12, 2018, with select members of the Coalition. The last meeting at the Political Director level took place in Rabat, Morocco, on June 26, 2018.

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The United States and Algeria convened the fourth session of the Strategic Dialogue on January 29, 2019, with Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdelkader Messahel chairing their respective delegations. Secretary Pompeo and Minister Messahel reviewed the close and productive partnership between the United States and Algeria and discussed areas for future U.S.-Algerian cooperation.

The two governments agreed to sustain cooperation to advance shared interests in regional stability and a defeat of terrorist groups including AQIM and ISIS. Both sides emphasized their strong support for increased business-to-business engagement, free, fair and reciprocal trade, and a closer economic partnership. The governments also reviewed cultural and educational programs between the two countries and agreed to intensify joint work to promote educational exchange and protect cultural heritage.

Foreign Minister Messahel and Secretary of State Pompeo emphasized their commitment to a long-standing relationship between the United States and Algeria. The United States and Algeria anticipate continuing consultations on the topics reviewed at the Strategic Dialogue.

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Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale will travel to Canada January 29-30. On January 30, Under Secretary Hale will co-chair the twelfth meeting of the U.S.-Canada High-Level Policy Review Group (HLPRG) in Ottawa, Canada with Canadian Assistant Deputy Minister for International Security and Political Director Mark Gwozdecky.

The HLPRG, launched in 2009, is an opportunity for the United States and Canada to discuss and coordinate efforts on a broad range of global issues including the restoration of democracy in Venezuela, NATO cooperation, Iran’s malign actions, and the denuclearization of North Korea.

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