Foreign relations of the United States

Germany and Europe want to make sure that the new US sanctions against Russia will not lead to a new "ice age" in the ties between Russia and the West, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said, quoted by Reuters.

Former US Ambassador to Serbia Cameron Munter says it is necessary for the West to pay more attention to the Western Balkans.

In an op-ed penned for Strafor, Munter argues that changes and reforms in the region can only happen from within - but that support from global players is important.

Beyond the bluster, the Trump administration has been quietly engaged in back channel diplomacy with North Korea for several months, addressing Americans imprisoned in the communist country and deteriorating relations between the long-time foes, The Associated Press has learned.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson believes there is a danger that Russian-American relations will get worse. Tillerson will meet with Russia's first diplomat Sergei Lavrov at a regional forum in Manila this weekend. Reports BNT.

The U.S. should move its nuclear weapons from Incirlik Air Base and start looking for alternatives to the longtime military hub in Turkey, a country that can no longer be fully relied on, analysts and former military officials said.

The U.S. military maintains about 50 nuclear warheads at Incirlik, according to nuclear watchdog organizations.

The Supreme Court dealt President Donald Trump's government a fresh setback on July 19, saying its controversial travel ban cannot be applied to grandparents and other close relatives of people living in the United States - for now.

Michael Karloutsos has been appointed Deputy Chief of Protocol and Acting Chief, a high-profile position in the State Department, and will begin on July 23. He brings many years of extensive experience in politics and public relations to the position.

Greek police have cordoned off the residence around US Ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey Pyatt after a suspicious package was reportedly found near a rubbish bin opposite the diplomat’s house. Mrs. Pyatt lives on Panagi Kyriakou street on Elena Venizelou square near the maternity hospital in Athens. A special bomb disposal unit has arrived on the scene to investigate the package.

Police detained a person who infiltrated the U.S. Consulate building in Istanbul on July 14. 

The person, who is of Central Asian origin, jumped into the consulate garden over the wall, triggering an alarm for security forces.

Police later detained the person, who was reportedly not carrying any weapon.

The man reportedly said he lost his way.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic met on Monday with State Minister for Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany Michael Roth.