Addressing Migration With Mexico and Guatemala
 Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the foreign ministers of Guatemala and Mexico to develop a new path to address migration. The Secretary spoke with Foreign Minister Carlos Ramiro Martinez of Guatemala and Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena Ibarra of Mexico.
The three nations agreed to address the root causes of irregular migration and displacement. Participants discussed efforts to combat human trafficking, strengthen joint law enforcement efforts, and prosecute human trafficking and migrant smuggling networks.
They also emphasized the need to foster economic productivity, foster supply chains between our countries, and create jobs in the region.
“By creating jobs, promoting democratic governance, protecting human rights, and improving security, we can help people build better lives at home,” the Secretary said on Twitter/X.
Advancing Economic Resilience of Afghan Women and Girls
 Secretary Blinken spoke at the first Afghan Women’s Economic Resilience Summit to talk about new partnerships to advance entrepreneurship, employment, and education for Afghan women and girls. The initiative, launched in 2022, is a public-private partnership between the State Department and Boston University.
“Afghan women and girls are resilient and adaptive in the face of relentless barriers,” the Secretary said on Twitter/X.
The Taliban denies women and girls access to education and blocks their participation in entire sectors of the economy. The initiative invests in training and job opportunities.
U.S. Embassy Salutes Ukrainians for their Resilience
 U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink reflected on her tenure in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. In a DipNote, she described her experiences inside a nation fighting to maintain its identity and sovereignty.
“Amid hundreds of headlines, one can lose track of what Ukrainians are fighting for, which is Ukraine’s very existence in the largest war in Europe since World War II,” Brink wrote.
Restoring Haiti's Water Sources
 Caribbean nations are facing climate and biodiversity threats that affect basic necessities such as drinking water.
The U.S. will provide $10 million through USAID to help institutions in Haiti deliver safe and reliable drinking water services. With the aid, one million Haitians will have access to climate-resilient sources of safe water.
“This is key. We cannot just send assistance to Haiti after disaster strikes, we need to ensure Haiti has resilient infrastructure in place before disaster strikes,” said Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Twitter/X.
U.S. Embassy Portugal Celebrates the Power of Music
 Music gives voice to democratic ideals, to the powerful and the powerless, across borders and beyond barriers, and to generations of citizens – from all walks of life – worldwide. As Secretary Blinken has said, “Music has the potential to connect cultures and tell our story, the American story, around the world.”
The U.S. Embassy in Portugal recently hosted a concert to salute Black History Month. Ambassador Randi Charno Levine said, “February is dedicated to the annual commemoration of the achievements of African Americans and a time to recognize their central role in U.S. history. African-American music has always been a means to address difficult truths.”
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