Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with French Foreign Minister Le Drian

Office of the Spokesperson

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian today on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference to discuss ongoing diplomatic and deterrence efforts by NATO Allies, EU partners, G7 members, and other partners in response to the crisis Russia has needlessly precipitated. They reaffirmed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the readiness of Allies and partners to impose severe consequences on Russia should it pursue further aggression against Ukraine. The Secretary welcomed France’s leadership role during the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and its contributions to strengthening the U.S.-EU partnership. The two discussed the latest developments in the Sahel region of Africa, including the need for continued cooperation on counterterrorism and regional security. They also reviewed the status of efforts to seek a mutual return to compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as well as developments in Lebanon.