Speeches

It's really important that we keep sight on the longer term investments in resilience so that the next drought, the next flood, is less damaging to human life and human welfare and livelihood. So that's what that event is about. We will be discussing new investments, new means of bringing in the private sector as well, to supporting agribusiness in a climate-smart way. And I think it's going to end up having lasting positive effects, what we do in that meeting. 

Shifting to a model of locally-led development means ceding power over decisionmaking to those who know their problems best.

I would like to acknowledge High Representative Josep Borrell for inviting me to speak today. And Commissioner Urpilainen for her remarks, her introduction, and for her strong ethic of partnership across a range of issues and challenges we face.

Following President Biden’s early memorandum, the U.S. government is ensuring that our diplomacy and foreign assistance efforts promote and protect LGBTQI+ rights. “It shall be U.S. policy,” the memorandum states, “to pursue an end to violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics...and to lead by the power of our example in the cause of advancing the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons around the world.”