The Week at State U.S. Department of State - Faith & Freedom News

The Week at State: August 29 – September 4

Good afternoon. The Trump Administration is sending a warning to narcotraffickers planning to move drugs to the United States: “Those days are over.”

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The United States destroyed a boat carrying drugs and members of Tren de Aragua.

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Secretary Rubio visited the Western Hemisphere, meeting with leaders in Mexico and Ecuador.

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Secretary Rubio participated in the Lech Walesa Solidarity Prize Awards Ceremony to recognize Berta Soler.

🚢 The U.S. Takes on Drug Cartels

On September 2, U.S. military forces destroyed a drug-laden boat carrying members of Tren de Aragua, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization under the control of Nicolás Maduro.

The President has been very clear that he is going to use the full power of America, the full might of the United States, to take on and eradicate these drug cartels, no matter where they’re operating from and no matter how long they have been able to act with impunity. Those days are over.
— Secretary Rubio in remarks to the press

🌎 Secretary Rubio Visits Mexico and Ecuador

This week, Secretary Rubio visited Mexico and Ecuador, where he discussed security cooperation to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and combat fentanyl trafficking.

In Mexico, Secretary Rubio met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. After the meeting, Secretary Rubio said the two nations have strengthened border security, made progress toward sharing water resources, and promoted new economic opportunities in line with President Trump’s America First policies.

On Thursday, the Secretary met with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa and Ecuadorian cabinet members in Quito, Ecuador, to strengthen cooperation on illegal immigration and countering transnational crime and terrorism in our region.

🏅 Honoring Berta Soler

On September 2, Secretary Rubio participated in the ceremony for the Lech Wałęsa Solidarity Prize Awards. The award is given by the government of Poland and recognizes the promotion and protection of democracy. This year’s recipient was Berta Soler, a Cuban dissident and leader of the Ladies in White.

More people need to know about what she’s done, about how inspirational she is. Her refusal to continue to live under the conditions that she lives under, which are incredibly oppressive, that deny her the basic rights, including the right to go to church every Sunday, is a source of incredible admiration for all of us…
— Secretary Rubio

He also thanked the government of Poland for its steadfast support of the United States in the cause of freedom.

📰 News You May Have Missed

Secretary Rubio revoked the visas of Palestinian officials ahead of the United Nations General Assembly. The Secretary said the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority must be held accountable for not complying with their commitments.

President Trump implemented the Impoundment Control Act, cancelling $5 billion in foreign aid and international organization funding that violates the President’s America First foreign policy priorities.

The United States sanctioned China-based synthetic opioid and chemical suppliers who have manufactured and coordinated shipments of illicit opioids and chemical agents to the United States. Learn more about sanctions.

The United States and the governments of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo released a statement for the second Joint Oversight Committee held this week in Washington.