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April 18 – April 24
"The American people deserve a State Department willing and able to advance their safety, security, and prosperity around the world." - Secretary Rubio
Here's what happened at State this week. ⤵️
- 💬 We announced a reorganization plan to allow the State Department to meet the challenges of a new era.
- ✈️ Secretary Rubio and Ambassador Witkoff traveled to Paris to advance President Trump's goal of ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
- 🌏 We celebrated 48 years of working with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the 37th annual dialogue, promoting fair trade and security.
Building an America First State Department
On April 23, Secretary Rubio announced a plan to reorganize the State Department. The plan will cut down on bureaucracy, remove unnecessary offices, and "...ensure every bureau and office in the Department of State has clear responsibility and mission," Secretary Rubio shared on Substack.
In a podcast interview with Bari Weiss of The Free Press, Secretary Rubio explained how the plan to reorganize the State Department will make it more nimble, dynamic, and effective for the 21st century.
"America must be ready to confront the challenges of illegal immigration, unfair trade, and dangerous adversaries like China and Iran. We can't do that with a State Department in its current form. That's why under President Trump's leadership and at my direction, we're making the State Department Great Again," Secretary Rubio said on X.
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Peace Talks in Paris
 Secretary Rubio met with French President Emmanuel Macron (far left), French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot (far right), and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff at the Élysée Palace in Paris to discuss ending the Ukraine-Russian war. (State Dept/Freddie Everett)
Secretary Rubio concluded his trip to Paris on April 18, following two days facilitating peace talks to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In remarks to the press, Secretary Rubio emphasized that the United States has been helping Ukraine over the last three years, but the conflict is not America's war, and the United States wants it to end.
Dialogue With Southeast Asian Nations
 Senior Bureau Official Sean O'Neill co-chaired the 37th annual U.S.-ASEAN Dialogue in Siem Reap, Cambodia, April 21–22, 2025. (State Dept/US Mission to ASEAN)
This week, the U.S. and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held their 37th annual dialogue in Cambodia.
We celebrated 48 years of working with ASEAN and discussed ways to advance our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The U.S. is committed to achieving fair and reciprocal trade relationships with our partner countries in the region.
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Looking Ahead
- May 4: Dachau Liberation 80th Anniversary
- May 8: 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day
Note to Our Readers
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