>>192602, >>192604, >>192605, >>192606, >>192607
Ambassador Mike Waltz @michaelgwaltz - Hugely important engagements in the Pacific by @DeputySecState
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Christopher Landau @DeputySecState
I’m not sure many Americans realize that our country enjoys an exceptionally close relationship with three Pacific Island nations: Palau 🇵🇼, the Federated States of Micronesia 🇫🇲, and the Marshall Islands 🇲🇭. Each of these nations came under US administration as a trust territory after WWII but opted for independence in the 1980s and 90s under Compacts of Free Association (COFAs) with the US. These COFAs provide benefits for both sides, and (among other things) give the US responsibility and authority over defense and security. I had the pleasure of conferring with the Presidents of all three COFA countries last week to reaffirm our close relationships and announce (among other things) the planned return of the Peace Corps.
https://x.com/michaelgwaltz/status/2097480802850521115

Ambassador Mike Waltz @michaelgwaltz - Powerful Air & Sea blockade.
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Miad Maleki @miadmaleki
The naval blockade now has an aviation counterpart courtesy of @USTreasury. While this isn't a blockade in the legal sense and no aircraft is being intercepted, it does the same job through the financial system: it makes flying to, from, or for Iran very risky.
Economically: Iran's airlines are hard-currency earners: ticket sales in dirhams and lira, cargo, and overflight fees. Now, U.S. have designated all 27 remaining Iranian airlines, plus Mahan Air's enablers in the UAE, Türkiye, the UK, Malaysia and Kazakhstan under powerful terrorism sanctions. Every bank, lessor, service provider or fuel supplier that touches them now faces secondary-sanctions risk, and for the industry Iran business is small and risky to begin with.
Treasury also pulled several long-standing sanctions exemptions that quietly kept Iran's aviation sector connected to the world. U.S. companies can no longer pay Iran the fees airlines owe for crossing its airspace. The carve-outs that let Iranian planes get safety-related parts, fuel and emergency repairs abroad are gone. And foreign airlines can no longer fly Boeing jets, or Airbus jets built with American parts, into Iran without special permission from Washington. That covers nearly every modern passenger aircraft, so the routes linking Tehran to Dubai, Doha and Istanbul, Iran's main doors to regional trade and banking, are now on the line. Companies have until Sept. 23 to wind down.
https://x.com/michaelgwaltz/status/2097449838413537637

Ambassador Mike Waltz @michaelgwaltz - Disgusted for the 9/11 victims’ families.
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