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May 23 – May 29

"Free speech is essential to the American way of life – a birthright over which foreign governments have no authority." - Secretary Rubio

Here's what happened at State this week. ⤵️

• We took action to defend free speech from foreign censorship. 
• Secretary Rubio met with Venezuelan opposition leaders in support of their fight for democracy. 
• We issued sanctions relief to support Syria's recovery — marking the first steps in President Trump's vision for a new U.S.-Syria relationship.

Protecting Free Speech

On May 28, Secretary Rubio announced new visa restrictions on foreign nationals who attempt to censor U.S. citizens or pressure American tech companies to limit speech. These restrictions apply to those who issue or threaten arrest warrants on U.S. citizens for social media posts on American platforms while on U.S. soil.

"For too long, Americans have been fined, harassed, and even charged by foreign authorities for exercising their free speech rights," Secretary Rubio posted on X.

For a deeper exploration of free speech and democratic values in global settings, read our latest Substack article, "The Need for Civilizational Allies in Europe," written by Samuel Samson, Senior Advisor for the Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

Supporting Venezuela's Path to Democracy

Secretary Marco Rubio met with Venezuelan democratic opposition leaders, commending their bravery in the face of repression from the Maduro regime, May 23, 2025. (State Dept.)

On May 23, Secretary Rubio met with five Venezuelan opposition leaders who escaped persecution from the Maduro regime after sheltering in the Argentine ambassador's residence in Caracas. The Secretary praised these leaders for their bravery, highlighting the tenacity of Maria Corina Machado, who still remains in Venezuela. 

Secretary Rubio expressed his concern following the arbitrary arrest of opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa and over 70 others. "The U.S. will not waver in our support for Venezuelans' fighting for democracy and the safe return of all wrongfully detained Americans," he stated on X. 

We continue to warn Americans not to travel to Venezuela due to a growing risk of wrongful detention and other threats.

Sanctions Relief in Syria

Secretary Rubio announced a waiver of certain sanctions on Syria for 180 days to support recovery and humanitarian relief. These waivers will help bring electricity, energy, water, and sanitation to ensure a more effective humanitarian response across Syria. 

These actions mark the first step in delivering on the President's vision of a new relationship between Syria and the U.S.

News You May Have Missed

• We submitted our reorganization plan to Congress, designed to streamline operations to build a more agile Department that moves at the speed of relevancy. 
• Secretary Rubio emphasized that there can be no compromise with antisemitism in remarks at the Foreign Ministers' Conference on Combating Antisemitism. 
• We announced new visa policies that put America First, noting that the U.S. will begin to revoke visas for Chinese students, and enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong.
• We highlighted Rosa María Payá's decades-long commitment to human rights, freedom, and democracy in support of her candidacy for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. 
• The Diplomatic Security Service coordinated with U.S. and foreign counterparts to repatriate over 100 nationals from Central Asia who were in the United States illegally.
• Secretary Rubio welcomed Germany's Foreign Minister to Washington, commending Germany for boosting defense spending, containing destabilizing actions from Beijing, and supporting efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Looking Ahead

• June 15-17: G7 Summit, Alberta, Canada
• June 14-July 13: 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
• June 24-25: NATO Summit, The Hague

Note to Our Readers

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