Sweden Officially Joins NATO
 On March 7, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson deposited Sweden’s instrument of accession — the official documentation completing Sweden’s entry into NATO — to the United States.
“This is a historic moment for Sweden,” Secretary Blinken said at the State Department ceremony welcoming Sweden to NATO. “It’s historic for the transatlantic relationship. Our NATO Alliance, our defensive alliance, is now stronger and larger than it’s ever been.”
President Biden Reemphasizes Our Foreign Policy Commitments
During his State of the Union address on March 7, President Biden reiterated the United States’ commitment to Ukraine and warned of Putin’s continued aggression.
“If anybody … thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you, he will not,” President Biden said, addressing both chambers of the United States Congress. “My message to President Putin, who I’ve known for a long time, is simple: ‘We will not walk away. We will not bow down.’”
President Biden also announced that the United States will establish a port on the Gaza coast to receive ships carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters.
“To Israel, I say humanitarian assistance cannot be secondary,” President Biden said. “Protecting and saving lives must be a priority.”
Celebrating “Simply Extraordinary” International Women of Courage
 On March 4, Secretary Blinken joined First Lady Jill Biden at the White House to honor the 2024 International Women of Courage.
“They’re advocating for domestic workers in Bangladesh and people with disabilities in Afghanistan, exposing corruption in Uganda, combating sexual harassment in Japan, standing up for the children of war-time rape in Bosnia and Herzegovina, fighting for democracy in Belarus, and defending human rights in Cuba,” Secretary Blinken said at the awards ceremony.
“Whether on the front lines of war or the front lines of social change, women are often the most powerful engines for progress,” Secretary Blinken said. “The United States stands with every woman of courage working to build greater stability, greater equality, and greater opportunity. And we are committed to knocking down the barriers that prevent women and girls from reaching their full potential alongside them.”
Exploring Achievements of African American Women in Foreign Policy
 In honor of Women’s History Month, Ambassador Ruth A. Davis wrote about the outstanding achievements of 24 African American women in U.S. foreign policy and their many firsts.
Travel Safe This Spring Break Season
 Every day, U.S. citizen passengers are turned around and denied entry by their destination country because they forgot their passport in the seat-back pocket of the plane or lost it before arrival.
Don’t let your vacation be cut short — keep your passport in a safe place (not the seat pocket or loose in the overhead bin) and make sure you have it before getting off the plane.
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