Good Morning DC,
Welcome to the final day of January 2024! It’s incredible how quickly this month has flown by, isn’t it?
Let’s get you caught up with the news of the day.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Other than the lunch with VP Kamala Harris, President Biden does not have anything else on his public agenda.
Biden spoke with the families of the three US soldiers killed in an aerial drone attack in North East Jordan on Sunday. According to John Kirby, “He was grateful for their time.” Kirby added that the President expressed to them how “proud we all are of their service.”
Addressing the sobering reality faced by military families and the inherent risks of their missions, Kirby remarked, “As I said, no Blue Star family wants to become a Gold Star family.”
ON THE HILL
Appearing on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed concern over the potential demise of the border deal due to Donald Trump’s influence in Congress.
“I think it’s heading in that direction that Donald Trump’s influence is going to kill any possibility at making bipartisan progress on an issue that is clearly important to the American people.”
GLOBAL AFFAIRS
Kosovo PM Albin Kurti has rejected the US State Department request to “reconsider” the suspension of the Serbian dinar in Kosovo on February 1,2024. Speaking to the press in Kosovo on Wednesday, Kurti took a hardline stance, declaring that this matter is “non-negotiable.”
Former Special Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo, Richard Grenell, is sounding the alarm on Kosovo PM Albin Kurti, asserting that he is “putting American lives at risk” with his latest actions.
“He must stop his belligerence – or the American troops should be pulled home for safety concerns,” he told The Pavlovic Today.
The Pavlovic Today has reached out to the State Department and is awaiting the response regarding Kosovo government refusal to consider the US and EU concerns.
THE BALKAN VOICE NEWSLETTER
We are excited to introduce The Balkan Voice, your essential newsletter covering US-Western Balkans relations.
The Balkan Voice provides an insider’s perspective on US policy toward the Western Balkans, featuring weekly coverage, State Department briefings, exclusive interviews, and more.
Today, the United States is designating three entities and one individual as part of a network that generates funding for the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and Hezbollah through the sale of Iranian commodities and by receiving funds from the Syrian government.
US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, Joseph Kennedy III, is embarking on an official trip to Belfast and Dublin from January 30 to February 2. While in Belfast, Special Envoy Kennedy will engage with business and industry leaders, members of the Chamber of Commerce, and young entrepreneurs.
Additionally, he will visit Queen’s University Belfast and Stranmillis University College. In Dublin, Special Envoy Kennedy will participate in a fireside chat alongside Ambassador Claire Cronin.
The focus of his trip will be on Northern Ireland’s business and investment priorities for 2024, emphasizing the crucial role played by U.S. investors in upholding the gains of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.
And that’s a wrap for this Wednesday morning January 31, 2024. Good Morning DC will be back tomorrow to provide you with a front-row seat to the ever-evolving landscape of American politics under President Joe Biden.
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