Special Briefing
Senior State Department Officials
Via Teleconference
January 29, 2018

MODERATOR: Thank you so much. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us for today’s background call to preview the Secretary’s upcoming trip to Texas, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, and also Jamaica. Today we’re joined by [Senior State Department Official One], who will be referred to as Senior State Department Official One. We’re also joined by [Senior State Department Official Two], who will be referred to as Senior State Department Official Two. As a reminder, today’s call is on background; it’ll be embargoed until the end of the call.

And with that, I will turn it over to our senior State Department officials for opening remarks, and then we’ll take a few questions.

QUESTION: ... And a quick question on Cuba: Will the Secretary Tillerson be addressing the situation in Cuba on his trip?

SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL TWO: The State Department, in line with the White House, will use all economic, political, and diplomatic tools at our disposal to address the situation in Venezuela. The upcoming undemocratic transition of political authority in Cuba is likely to be raised at multiple stops throughout the Secretary’s trip.

Economic Eye On Cuba

U.S. Department of State About Vice President Diaz-Canel's inauguration: an "undemocratic transition of political authority"

U.S. - Cuba Trade and Economic Council, Inc.