The Week at State
๐ Week in Review
- President Trump addressed the nation, highlighting his work restoring American strength and achieving peace in the Middle East
- Secretary Rubio held an end-of-year briefing discussing global issues and American priorities
- The U.S. expressed unwavering solidarity with Australia following recent attacks
- Status of Forces Agreement signed with Paraguay to enhance security cooperation
- New entry restrictions announced for nationals from seven additional countries
Restoring American Strength
President Trump addresses the nation Wednesday, December 17, 2025, from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House. (Official White House photo by Daniel Torok)
In an address to the nation on December 17, President Trump highlighted his success in strengthening American trade and securing peace deals around the world. The President detailed a record of decisive action that has established the United States as the world’s preeminent power.
Highlighting the return of American captives from Hamas, the President noted the Administration has “secured the release of the hostages, both living and dead,” bringing a new era of stability to the Middle East for the first time in millennia.
Secretary Rubio’s End-of-Year Briefing
Secretary Rubio delivers remarks to the press at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., December 19, 2025. (Official State Department photo by Freddie Everett)
On December 19, Secretary Rubio gave a year-end press briefing where he answered wide-ranging questions about foreign policy issues, outlined America’s security priorities, and highlighted the Administration’s wins for the American people.
Secretary Rubio emphasized that the Department’s primary mission remains the decisive implementation of the “America First” agenda.
During the hours-long press conference, Secretary Rubio discussed the Administration’s efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, its progress on building lasting stability in the Middle East, and the steps America is taking to protect its citizens from narco-traffickers in the Western Hemisphere.
Security Cooperation in the Americas
Secretary Rubio meets with Paraguayan Foreign Minister Ramรญrez Lezcano at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., to sign a Status of Forces Agreement. (Official State Department photo by Freddie Everett)
On December 15, Secretary Rubio signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Rubรฉn Ramirez. This agreement provides the legal framework for enhanced military-to-military cooperation and joint training exercises.
Standing with Australia
President Trump participates in a Hanukkah reception at the White House on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. (Official White House photo by Molly Riley)
President Trump and Secretary Rubio reached out to the people of Australia to express their sincere condolences and enduring solidarity in the aftermath of deadly attacks targeting a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach.
In a call with Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Secretary Rubio condemned the violence and reaffirmed that the U.S. stands shoulder to shoulder with Australia.
Counter-Drug Operations
On December 16, Secretary Rubio briefed members of Congress on the Department’s latest counter-drug operations. “It’s our 22nd or 23rd bipartisan engagement,” Secretary Rubio told reporters.
The briefing focused on the Administration’s successful efforts to disrupt the flow of illicit narcotics before they reach U.S. borders.
โ ๏ธ Updated Entry Restrictions
On December 16, the White House announced an entry ban on nationals from seven countries, citing insufficient vetting in the countries of origin. Suspended entry also applies to individuals using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority.
Seven New Restricted Countries:
These restrictions add to existing prohibitions on 12 countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
๐ฐ Additional News & Developments
๐ฅ Global Health Security
The United States signed a bilateral health Memorandum of Understanding with Cameroon to advance global health security under the America First Global Health Strategy.
๐ซ Terrorist Designation
We designated Clan del Golfo as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group, cutting off their access to the global financial system.
๐ฃ๏ธ Free Speech Advocacy
Secretary Rubio called for China to release Jimmy Lai, a free speech advocate from Hong Kong, on humanitarian grounds.
๐ Quad Cooperation
Quad partners (Australia, India, Japan, and the United States) concluded a field training exercise to support logistical cooperation and efficient disaster response in the Indo-Pacific.
โ๏ธ ICC Sanctions
Secretary Rubio sanctioned two International Criminal Court judges directly engaged in politicized and illegitimate actions against Israel.
๐ฎ๐ท Iran Sanctions
The U.S. is acting to stem the flow of the Iranian regime’s revenue used to support terrorism and other illicit activities.
๐ถ๐ฆ Qatar Strategic Dialogue
Secretary Rubio met with Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Al Thani, launching the seventh U.S.-Qatar Strategic Dialogue to deepen cooperation on shared economic and security goals.
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