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The text of the following statement was issued by the Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Austria in connection with the 2023 United States-Austria Strategic Dialogue.
The governments of Austria and the United States held the annual U.S.-Austria Strategic Dialogue in Vienna on December 4, 2023. The strategic dialogue was hosted by the Political Director of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Gregor W. Kossler. The United States was represented by Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Ambassador James C. O’Brien. The meeting was also attended by senior representatives of the Austrian Foreign Ministry and the US State Department.
Topics discussed during the strategic dialogue included global and regional security issues; the importance of maintaining the rules-based international order; Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; Middle East and PRC issues; defend and advance human rights and democracy; the fight against racism, anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred; support for Holocaust survivors; disarmament and non-proliferation; and the Western Balkans. In this regard, both sides fully supported the prospect of Western Balkan countries joining the EU.
Austria and the United States expressed their unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, discussed the situation in the Middle East, and reaffirmed their common commitment and solidarity with Israel in light of of the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7. on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need for unhindered humanitarian access and protection of civilians.
The Vienna Strategic Dialogue focused on shared interests and values and commitment to increased cooperation on a wide range of issues, such as the State Partnership Program between Austria and the Vermont, learning, manipulation of foreign information and other forms of malign foreign influence, as well as on strengthening people-to-people exchanges, including professional development and cultural exchanges. Both sides noted that economic relations between Austria and the United States remain strong, robust and thriving.
Within the framework of the Austrian-American strategic partnership, both sides emphasized the importance of transatlantic cooperation in resolving geopolitical problems and highlighted the importance and contribution of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to regional security. Austria, also in its capacity as a member of the European Union, and the United States committed to strengthening their transatlantic relations and reaffirmed their commitment to their shared values of promoting democracy and human rights .
Both sides expressed keen interest in continuing and deepening the bilateral strategic partnership. The parties plan to hold the next meeting in Washington in 2024.
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