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June 27 – July 3

Hello from Washington, where we are getting ready to celebrate our nation’s 249th Independence Day.

Here’s what happened at State this week. ⤵️

• 🦅 Secretary Rubio outlined the new America First approach to foreign aid.
• 🌏 We welcomed the Indo-Pacific Quad Foreign Ministers, deepening ties in trade and security with key partners.
• ✍️ The U.S. mediated a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, bringing an end to a 30-year conflict.

Moving Toward Trade — Not Aid

As of July 1, USAID will officially cease to implement foreign assistance. Going forward, “foreign assistance programs that align with administration policies — and which advance American interests — will be administered by the State Department.” Secretary Rubio underscored that “from now on, our foreign assistance programs will be accountable to the American taxpayer.”

The Secretary detailed this new approach, exploring how it will advance our interests in key regions around the world by “prioritizing trade over aid, opportunity over dependency, and investment over assistance.” Read his announcement in full on our official Substack account.

Bolstering Indo-Pacific Collaboration

Secretary Rubio meets with Indo-Pacific Quad Foreign Ministers at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., July 1, 2025. (Official State Department photo by Freddie Everett)

On July 1, Secretary Rubio and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan met in Washington, D.C., for the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting and reaffirmed steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“These are very important strategic partners and allies of the United States, and together we have a lot of shared priorities — a lot of things we care about in the world,” remarked Secretary Rubio at the event. Key areas of mutual interest include: 

• Maritime and transnational security 
• Economic prosperity 
• Critical and emerging technology
• Humanitarian assistance and emergency response 

Read the Ministers’ Joint Statement in full on state.gov.

U.S. Brokers Peace Breakthrough Between DRC and Rwanda

Rwandan Foreign Minister Nduhungirehe (left) and DRC Foreign Minister Kayikwamba Wagner stand with Secretary Rubio at the peace-agreement signing ceremony between their nations. (State Dept./Freddie Everett)

On June 27, Secretary Rubio hosted representatives from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as they signed a peace agreement at the U.S. Department of State. 

Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos said the agreement would bring “an end to a 30-year conflict and [set] both countries and their people on a path towards peace and prosperity.” 

During the ceremony, Rwandan Foreign Minister Nduhungirehe and DRC Foreign Minister Kayikwamba Wagner recognized the vital roles President Trump, Secretary Rubio, and the leadership of Qatar played in paving the way for this long-sought achievement.

News You May Have Missed

• President Trump announced the termination of Syria sanctions, opening new opportunities for the country to rebuild.
• The U.S. Ambassador to NATO outlined the impact of NATO defense commitments on mutual security and U.S. jobs in a Substack article.
• The record-breaking U.S.-Africa Business Summit yielded $2.5 billion in deals and commitments.
• We celebrated the election of Rosa María Payá to serve as Commissioner on the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
• We unveiled the new "America First" rebranding initiative to ensure contributions made by the United States will be immediately recognized as American.

Looking Ahead

• July 4:  U.S. Independence Day

Note to Our Readers

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