President Donald Trump says Iran is not living up to the "spirit" of the nuclear deal that it signed in 2015. He's announcing a new strategy in a speech at the White House.

Trump says the administration will seek to counter the regime's destabilizing activities and will impose additional sanctions on the regime to block its financing of terrorism.

The president says the new strategy will also seek to address the proliferation of Iran's missiles and weapons.

And he says the U.S. will deny Iran's paths to develop nuclear weapons.

Washington - 13 October 2017

1. Wide of President Donald Trump walking toward podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"By its own terms, the Iran deal was supposed to contribute to regional and international peace and security. And yet, while the United States adheres to our commitment under the deal, the Iranian regime continues to fuel conflict, terror and turmoil throughout the Middle East and beyond."

3. Wide cutaway of Trump

4. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"Importantly, Iran is not living up to the spirit of the deal. So today, in recognition of the increasing menace posed by Iran and after extensive consultations with our allies, I am announcing a new strategy to address the full range of Iran's destructive actions."

5. Wide cutaway of Trump

6. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"We will work with our allies to counter the regime's destabilizing activity and support for terrorist proxies in the region. Second, we will place additional sanctions on the regime to block their financing of terror. Third, we will address the regime's proliferation of missiles and weapons that threaten its neighbors' global trade and freedom of navigation. And finally, we will deny the regime all paths to a nuclear weapon."

7. Wide cutaway of Trump

8. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"I am authorising the Treasury Department to further sanction the entire Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for its support for terrorism and to apply sanctions to its officials, agents and affiliates. I urge our allies to join us in taking strong actions to curb Iran's continued dangerous and destabilising behaviour."

9. Wide cutaway of Trump

10. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"Based on the factual record I have put forward, I am announcing today that we cannot and will not make this certification. We will not continue down a path whose predictable conclusion is more violence, more terror and the very real threat of Iran's nuclear breakout."

11. Wide cutaway of Trump

12. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"Key House and Senate leaders are drafting legislation that would amend the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act to strengthen enforcement, prevent Iran from developing an internat (sic) -- this is so totally important -- an intercontinental ballistic missile and make all restrictions on Iran's nuclear activity permanent under U.S. law. So important."

13. Wide cutaway of Trump

14. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"In the event we are not able to reach a solution working with Congress and our allies, then the agreement will be terminated. It is under continued review and our participation can be cancelled by me, as president, at any time. As we have seen in North Korea, the longer we ignore a threat, the worse that threat becomes. It is why we are determined that the world's leading sponsor of terrorism will never obtain nuclear weapons."

15. Trump walks away from podium

President Donald Trump says Iran is not living up to the "spirit" of the nuclear deal that it signed in 2015. He's announcing a new strategy in a speech at the White House.

Trump says the administration will seek to counter the regime's destabilizing activities and will impose additional sanctions on the regime to block its financing of terrorism.

The president says the new strategy will also seek to address the proliferation of Iran's missiles and weapons.

And he says the U.S. will deny Iran's paths to develop nuclear weapons.

Washington - 13 October 2017

1. Wide of President Donald Trump walking toward podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"By its own terms, the Iran deal was supposed to contribute to regional and international peace and security. And yet, while the United States adheres to our commitment under the deal, the Iranian regime continues to fuel conflict, terror and turmoil throughout the Middle East and beyond."

3. Wide cutaway of Trump

4. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"Importantly, Iran is not living up to the spirit of the deal. So today, in recognition of the increasing menace posed by Iran and after extensive consultations with our allies, I am announcing a new strategy to address the full range of Iran's destructive actions."

5. Wide cutaway of Trump

6. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"We will work with our allies to counter the regime's destabilizing activity and support for terrorist proxies in the region. Second, we will place additional sanctions on the regime to block their financing of terror. Third, we will address the regime's proliferation of missiles and weapons that threaten its neighbors' global trade and freedom of navigation. And finally, we will deny the regime all paths to a nuclear weapon."

7. Wide cutaway of Trump

8. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"I am authorizing the Treasury Department to further sanction the entire Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for its support for terrorism and to apply sanctions to its officials, agents and affiliates. I urge our allies to join us in taking strong actions to curb Iran's continued dangerous and destabilizing behavior."

9. Wide cutaway of Trump

10. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"Based on the factual record I have put forward, I am announcing today that we cannot and will not make this certification. We will not continue down a path whose predictable conclusion is more violence, more terror and the very real threat of Iran's nuclear breakout."

11. Wide cutaway of Trump

12. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"Key House and Senate leaders are drafting legislation that would amend the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act to strengthen enforcement, prevent Iran from developing an internat (sic) -- this is so totally important -- an intercontinental ballistic missile and make all restrictions on Iran's nuclear activity permanent under U.S. law. So important."

13. Wide cutaway of Trump

14. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"In the event we are not able to reach a solution working with Congress and our allies, then the agreement will be terminated. It is under continued review and our participation can be cancelled by me, as president, at any time. As we have seen in North Korea, the longer we ignore a threat, the worse that threat becomes. It is why we are determined that the world's leading sponsor of terrorism will never obtain nuclear weapons."

15. Trump walks away from podium

President Donald Trump says Iran is not living up to the "spirit" of the nuclear deal that it signed in 2015. He's announcing a new strategy in a speech at the White House.

Trump says the administration will seek to counter the regime's destabilizing activities and will impose additional sanctions on the regime to block its financing of terrorism.

The president says the new strategy will also seek to address the proliferation of Iran's missiles and weapons.

And he says the U.S. will deny Iran's paths to develop nuclear weapons.

Washington - 13 October 2017

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASHES++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"While the United States adheres to our commitment under the deal, the Iranian regime continues to fuel conflict, terror and turmoil throughout the Middle East and beyond."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"Importantly, Iran is not living up to the spirit of the deal. So today, in recognition of the increasing menace posed by Iran and after extensive consultations with our allies, I am announcing a new strategy to address the full range of Iran's destructive actions."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"We will work with our allies to counter the regime's destabilizing activity and support for terrorist proxies in the region. Second, we will place additional sanctions on the regime to block their financing of terror. Third, we will address the regime's proliferation of missiles and weapons that threaten its neighbors' global trade and freedom of navigation. And finally, we will deny the regime all paths to a nuclear weapon."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"I am authorizing the Treasury Department to further sanction the entire Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for its support for terrorism and to apply sanctions to its officials, agents and affiliates. I urge our allies to join us in taking strong actions to curb Iran's continued dangerous and destabilizing behavior."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"Based on the factual record I have put forward, I am announcing today that we cannot and will not make this certification. We will not continue down a path whose predictable conclusion is more violence, more terror and the very real threat of Iran's nuclear breakout."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) U.S. President Donald Trump:

"In the event we are not able to reach a solution working with Congress and our allies, then the agreement will be terminated. It is under continued review and our participation can be cancelled by me, as president, at any time. As we have seen in North Korea, the longer we ignore a threat, the worse that threat becomes. It is why we are determined that the world's leading sponsor of terrorism will never obtain nuclear weapons."

US President Donald Trump welcomed German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the White House Friday.

He thanked her for keeping up "maximum pressure" on the North Korean regime in efforts to end it's nuclear ambitions.

Trump says he and Merkel also discussed Iran, adding, "The Iranian regime fuels violence bloodshed and chaos all across the Middle East. We must ensure that this murderous regime does not even get close to a nuclear weapon and that Iran ends its proliferation of dangerous missiles and its support for terrorism."

Trump also said other countries must step up their financial and military contributions to fight Islamic State militants.

Washington, DC - 27 April 2018

1. US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel walk down hallway to lecterns

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President: (continued from previous shot)

"Thank you very much. Today I'm honored to welcome Chancellor Angela Merkel back to the White House. Over the past year I have enjoyed getting to know the chancellor very well through many productive calls, discussions, and meetings. We have a great relationship. Chancellor, I want to congratulate you once again on your election victory, fourth term in office. It's really something. Congratulations."

3. Cutaway of Merkel nodding at Trump

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"For decades, the alliance and friendship between Germany and the United States has advanced the cause of peace, prosperity and freedom. Today our nations face a wide array of shared challenges and opportunities. And I am confident that we will meet them together with the same strength and resolve that has always defined the United States-German friendship. This afternoon I want to congratulate the Republic of Korea and its historic summit with North Korea. We're encouraged by President Moon and Kim Jong Un's expressed goal of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. I will be meeting with Kim Jong Un in the coming weeks. We look forward to that and hopefully it will be productive. I want to thank Chancellor Merkel for her leadership in our campaign of maximum pressure on the North Korean regime, which has helped us to reach this important step, this moment where we are right now it's taken a long time many, many decades to get here. Let's see what happens. We seek a future of peace prosperity and harmony for the whole Korean peninsula. Unlocking not only a brighter future for the people of Korea, but for the people of the world. However, in pursuit of that goal we will not repeat the mistake of past administrations. Maximum pressure will continue until denuclearization occurs. I look forward to our meeting. It should be quite something. In our meetings today, the chancellor and I discussed Iran. The Iranian regime fuels violence bloodshed and chaos all across the Middle East. We must ensure that this murderous regime does not even get close to a nuclear weapon and that Iran ends its proliferation of dangerous missiles and its support for terrorism. No matter where you go in the Middle East, wherever there is a problem Iran is right there as we eradicate what little remains of ISIS in Syria, we must also ensure that Iran does not profit from our success. To prevent this outcome, it is essential that our coalition and regional partners step up their financial and military contributions to the anti-ISIS efforts. Some of these countries are immensely wealthy and they are going to start paying for it and paying for this tremendous help that we've given them."

5. Side shot of Trump and Merkel

US President Donald Trump welcomed German Chancellor Angela Merkel to the White House Friday.

He thanked her for keeping up "maximum pressure" on the North Korean regime in efforts to end it's nuclear ambitions.

Trump says he and Merkel also discussed Iran, adding, "The Iranian regime fuels violence bloodshed and chaos all across the Middle East. We must ensure that this murderous regime does not even get close to a nuclear weapon and that Iran ends its proliferation of dangerous missiles and its support for terrorism."

Trump also said other countries must step up their financial and military contributions to fight Islamic State militants.

Washington, DC - 27 April 2018

1. US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel walk down hallway to lecterns

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President: (continued from previous shot)

"Thank you very much. Today I'm honoured to welcome Chancellor Angela Merkel back to the White House. Over the past year I have enjoyed getting to know the chancellor very well through many productive calls, discussions, and meetings. We have a great relationship. Chancellor, I want to congratulate you once again on your election victory, fourth term in office. It's really something. Congratulations."

3. Cutaway of Merkel nodding at Trump

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"For decades, the alliance and friendship between Germany and the United States has advanced the cause of peace, prosperity and freedom. Today our nations face a wide array of shared challenges and opportunities. And I am confident that we will meet them together with the same strength and resolve that has always defined the United States-German friendship. This afternoon I want to congratulate the Republic of Korea and its historic summit with North Korea. We're encouraged by President Moon and Kim Jong Un's expressed goal of complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. I will be meeting with Kim Jong Un in the coming weeks. We look forward to that and hopefully it will be productive. I want to thank Chancellor Merkel for her leadership in our campaign of maximum pressure on the North Korean regime, which has helped us to reach this important step, this moment where we are right now it's taken a long time many, many decades to get here. Let's see what happens. We seek a future of peace prosperity and harmony for the whole Korean peninsula. Unlocking not only a brighter future for the people of Korea, but for the people of the world. However, in pursuit of that goal we will not repeat the mistake of past administrations. Maximum pressure will continue until denuclearisation occurs. I look forward to our meeting. It should be quite something. In our meetings today, the chancellor and I discussed Iran. The Iranian regime fuels violence bloodshed and chaos all across the Middle East. We must ensure that this murderous regime does not even get close to a nuclear weapon and that Iran ends its proliferation of dangerous missiles and its support for terrorism. No matter where you go in the Middle East, wherever there is a problem Iran is right there as we eradicate what little remains of ISIS in Syria, we must also ensure that Iran does not profit from our success. To prevent this outcome, it is essential that our coalition and regional partners step up their financial and military contributions to the anti-ISIS efforts. Some of these countries are immensely wealthy and they are going to start paying for it and paying for this tremendous help that we've given them."

5. Side shot of Trump and Merkel

After talks at Chequers with UK's Prime Minister Theresa May, the US president said the relationship between the US and UK is "indispensable".

Trump said he discussed with the British leader a range of priorities including stopping nuclear proliferation.

He thanked the Prime Minister for her partnership in the "pursuit of a nuclear free North Korea."

On Iran, he said "We both agree that Iran must never poses a nuclear weapon."

Trump said they both "recognise the vital importance of border security and immigration control."

"In order to prevent the foreign acts of terrorism within our shores we must prevent terrorists and their supporters from gaining admission in the first place," Trump said.

Trump also thanked May for her "very gracious hospitality."

The leaders held a news conference following meetings on Friday at Chequers, May's official country estate.

UK POOL

Chequers, Buckinghamshire - 13 July 2018

1. US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Theresa May at lecterns

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Thank you. Prime Minister thank you very much. And it is my true honour to join you at this remarkable setting - truly magnificent - as we celebrate the special relationship between our two countries on behalf of the American people I want to thank you for your very gracious hospitality. Thank you very much, Theresa. Last night Melania and I were delighted to join you and Philip for dinner at the magnificent Blenheim Palace. It was a wonderful and memorable evening that we will not soon forget. It was really something very special. Today it's a true privilege to visit historic Chequers that I've heard so much about and read so much about growing up in history class and to continue our conversation which has really proceeded along rapidly and well over the last few days. For generations our predecessors have gathered at this stunning retreat to strengthen a bond that is like no other. The relationship between our two nations is indispensable to the cause of liberty, justice and peace."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"The traditions of freedom sovereignty and the true rule of law were our shared gift to the world. They are now our priceless inheritance to a civilization. We must never cease to be united in their defence and in their renewal."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"It was from right here at Chequers that Prime Minister Churchill phoned President Roosevelt after Pearl Harbour in that horrific war American and British service members bravely shed their blood alongside one another in defence of home and in defence of freedom. And together we achieved a really special magnificent victory. And it was total victory."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"The Prime Minister and I discussed a range of shared priorities including stopping nuclear proliferation. I thanked Prime Minister May for her partnership in our pursuit of a nuclear free North Korea. It has been a tremendous help. The Prime Minister and I also discussed Iran. We both agree that Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon and that I must halt, and we was, to it. I'm going to do it and she's going to do it and we're all going to do it together. We have to stop terrorism. It is a scourge. We have to stop terrorism and we have to get certain countries and they've come a long way, I believe. The funding of terrorism has to stop and it has to stop now."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"The United Kingdom and the United States are also strengthening cooperation between our armed forces who served together on battlefields all around the world. Today the Prime Minister and I viewed several US-UK Special Forces demonstration. We saw some demonstrations today frankly that were incredible - the talent of these young, brave, strong, people."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President

"We also recognise the vital importance of border security and immigration control in order to prevent foreign acts of terrorism within our shores. We must prevent terrorists and their supporters from gaining admission in the first place. Border security is a national security problem and in the United States we are working very hard to get the Democrats to give us a couple of votes so we can pass meaningful and powerful border security. "

++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

After talks at Chequers with UK's Prime Minister Theresa May, the US president said the relationship between the US and UK is "indispensable".

Trump said he discussed with the British leader a range of priorities including stopping nuclear proliferation.

He thanked the Prime Minister for her partnership in the "pursuit of a nuclear free North Korea."

On Iran, he said "We both agree that Iran must never poses a nuclear weapon."

Trump said they both "recognise the vital importance of border security and immigration control."

"In order to prevent the foreign acts of terrorism within our shores we must prevent terrorists and their supporters from gaining admission in the first place," Trump said.

Trump also thanked May for her "very gracious hospitality."

The leaders held a news conference following meetings on Friday at Chequers, May's official country estate.

UK POOL

Chequers, Buckinghamshire - 13 July 2018

1. US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Theresa May at lecterns

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Thank you. Prime Minister thank you very much. And it is my true honour to join you at this remarkable setting - truly magnificent - as we celebrate the special relationship between our two countries on behalf of the American people I want to thank you for your very gracious hospitality. Thank you very much, Theresa. Last night Melania and I were delighted to join you and Philip for dinner at the magnificent Blenheim Palace. It was a wonderful and memorable evening that we will not soon forget. It was really something very special. Today it's a true privilege to visit historic Chequers that I've heard so much about and read so much about growing up in history class and to continue our conversation which has really proceeded along rapidly and well over the last few days. For generations our predecessors have gathered at this stunning retreat to strengthen a bond that is like no other. The relationship between our two nations is indispensable to the cause of liberty, justice and peace."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"The traditions of freedom sovereignty and the true rule of law were our shared gift to the world. They are now our priceless inheritance to a civilization. We must never cease to be united in their defence and in their renewal."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"It was from right here at Chequers that Prime Minister Churchill phoned President Roosevelt after Pearl Harbour in that horrific war American and British service members bravely shed their blood alongside one another in defence of home and in defence of freedom. And together we achieved a really special magnificent victory. And it was total victory."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"The Prime Minister and I discussed a range of shared priorities including stopping nuclear proliferation. I thanked Prime Minister May for her partnership in our pursuit of a nuclear free North Korea. It has been a tremendous help. The Prime Minister and I also discussed Iran. We both agree that Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon and that I must halt, and we was, to it. I'm going to do it and she's going to do it and we're all going to do it together. We have to stop terrorism. It is a scourge. We have to stop terrorism and we have to get certain countries and they've come a long way, I believe. The funding of terrorism has to stop and it has to stop now."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"The United Kingdom and the United States are also strengthening cooperation between our armed forces who served together on battlefields all around the world. Today the Prime Minister and I viewed several US-UK Special Forces demonstration. We saw some demonstrations today frankly that were incredible - the talent of these young, brave, strong, people."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President

"We also recognise the vital importance of border security and immigration control in order to prevent foreign acts of terrorism within our shores. We must prevent terrorists and their supporters from gaining admission in the first place. Border security is a national security problem and in the United States we are working very hard to get the Democrats to give us a couple of votes so we can pass meaningful and powerful border security. "

++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

STORY

Rushes of the Trump and Putin presser at the Helsinki summit. Contains AP reporter Jonathan Lemire’s question to President Trump, “My first question for you sir is, who do you believe? My second question is would you now, with the whole world watching, tell President Putin, would you denounce what happened in 2016 and would you warn him to never do it again?”.

HD version available in \\Source_Clips\News Rushes

SHOWS

PUTIN: Thank you so much. Shall we start working, I guess? Distinguished Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen. Negotiations with the President of the United States Donald Trump took place in a frank and businesslike atmosphere. I think we can call it a success and a very fruitful round of negotiations.

We carefully analysed the current status – the present and the future of the Russia/United States' relationship – key issues of the global agenda.

It's quite clear to everyone that the bilateral relationship are going through a complicated stage and yet those impediments - the current tension, the tense atmosphere - essentially have no solid reason behind it. The Cold War is a thing of past. The era of acute ideological confrontation of the two countries is a thing of remote past, is a vestige of the past.

The situation in the world changed dramatically.

Today both Russia and the United States face a whole new set of challenges. Those include a dangerous maladjustment of mechanisms for maintaining international security and stability, regional crises, the creeping threats of terrorism and transnational crime, the snowballing problems in the economy, environmental risks and other sets of challenges.

We can only cope with these challenges if we join the ranks and work together, hopefully we will reach this understanding with our American partners.

Today's negotiations reflected our joint wish, our joint wish with President Trump to redress this negative situation and bilateral relationship, outline the first steps for improving this relationship to restore the acceptable level of trust and going back to the previous level of interaction on all mutual interests issues.

As major nuclear powers, we bear special responsibility for maintaining international security.

And it made vital and we mentioned this during the negotiations. It's crucial that we fine-tune the dialogue on strategic stability and global security and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

We submitted our American colleagues a note with a number of specific suggestions.

We believe it necessary to work together further to interact on the disarmament agenda, military and technical cooperation. This includes the extension of the Strategic Offensive Arms Limitation Treaty.

It's a dangerous situation with the global American anti-missile defence system. It's the implementation issues with the INF treaty. And, of course, the agenda of non-placement of weapons in space.

We favor the continued cooperation in counter-terrorism and maintaining cyber security. And I'd like to point out specifically that our special services are cooperating quite successfully together.

The most recent example is their operational cooperation within the recently concluded World Football Cup.

In general, the contacts among the special services should be put to a system-wide basis should be brought to a systemic framework. I recall - I reminded President Trump about the suggestion to re-establish the working group on anti-terrorism.

We also mentioned a plethora of regional crises. It's not always that our postures dovetail exactly, and yet the overlapping and mutual interests abound.

We have to look for points of contact and interact closer in a variety of international fora. Clearly, we mentioned the regional crisis, for instance Syria. As far as Syria is concerned, the task of establishing peace and reconciliation in this country could be the first showcase example of this successful joint work.

Russia and the United States apparently can act proactively and take - assume the leadership on this issue and organize the interaction to overcome humanitarian crisis and help Syrian refugees to go back to their homes. In order to accomplish this level of successful cooperation in Syria, we have all the required components.

Let me remind you that both Russian and American military acquired a useful experience of coordination of their actions, established the operational channels of communication, which permit it to avoid dangerous incidents and unintentional collisions in the air and in the ground.

Also crushing terrorists in the south west of Syria - the south of Syria - should be brought to the full compliance with the Treaty of 1974 about the separation of forces, about separation of forces of Israel and Syria.

This will bring peace to Golan Heights and bring a more peaceful relationship between Syria and Israel and also to provide security of the state of Israel.

Mr. President paid special attention to the issue during today's negotiations.

And I would like to confirm that Russia is interested in this development and this will act accordingly.

Thus far, we will make a step toward creating a lasting peace in compliance with the respective resolutions of the Security Council, for instance the Resolution 338.

We're glad that the Korean Peninsula issue is starting to resolve. To a great extent it was possible thanks to the personal engagement of President Trump, who opted for dialogue instead of confrontation.

We also mentioned our concern about the withdrawal of the United States from the JCPOA. Well, the U.S., our U.S. counterparts are aware of our posture.

Let me remind you that thanks to the Iranian nuclear deal, Iran became the most controlled country in the world. It submitted to the control of IAEA. It effectively ensures the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program and strengthens the non-proliferation regime.

While we discussed the internal Ukrainian crisis, we paid special attention to the bona fide implementation of Minsk Agreements by Kiev.

At the same time, the United States could be more decisive and nudging the Ukrainian leadership and encourage it to work actively on this. We paid more attention to economic ties and economic cooperation. It's clear that both countries, the businesses of both countries, are interested in this.

The American delegation was one of the largest delegations in the St. Petersburg Economic Forum. It featured over 500 representatives from American businesses.

We agreed, me and President Trump, we agreed to create the high level working group that would bring together captains of Russian and American business. After all, entrepreneurs and businessmen know better how to articulate this successful business cooperation. We'll let them think and make their proposals and their suggestions in this regard.

Once again, President Trump mentioned the issue of the so-called interference of Russia when the American elections and I had to reiterate things I said several times, including during our personal contacts that the Russian state has never interfered and is not going to interfere into internal American affairs, including the election process.

Any specific material, if such things arise, we are ready to analyse together. For instance, we can analyse them through the joint working group on cyber security, the establishment of which we discussed during our previous contacts.

And clearly, it's past time we restore our cooperation in the cultural area, in the humanitarian area.

As far as...I think you know that recently we hosted the American congressmen delegation and now it's perceived and portrayed almost as a historic event, although it should have been just a current affairs, just business as usual. And in this regard, we mentioned this proposal to the president. But we have to think about the practicalities of our cooperation but also about the rationale, the underlying logic of it.

And we have to engage experts on bilateral relationship, who know history and the background of our relationship. The idea is to create an expert council that would include political scientists, prominent diplomats and former military experts from both countries, who would look for points of contact between the two countries, that would look for ways on putting the relationship on the trajectory of growth.

In general, we are glad with the outcome of our first full-scale meeting because previously we only had a chance to talk briefly on international fora.

We had a good conversation with President Trump and I hope that we start to understand each other better and I'm grateful to Donald for it.

Clearly, there are some challenges left when we were not able to clear all the backlog but I think that we made a first important step in this direction.

And in conclusion, I want to point out that this atmosphere of cooperation is something that we are especially grateful for to our Finnish hosts. We are grateful for Finnish people and Finnish leadership for what they've done. I know that we have caused some inconvenience to Finland and we apologize for it.

Thank you for your attention.

TRUMP: Thank you. Thank you very much. I have just concluded a meeting with President Putin on a wide range of critical issues for both of our countries.

We had direct, open, deeply productive dialogue. Went very well. Before I begin, I want to thank President Niinisto of Finland for graciously hosting today's summit.

President Putin and I were saying how lovely it was and what a great job they did. I also want to congratulate Russia and President Putin for having done such an excellent job in hosting the World Cup. It was really one of the best ever and your team also did very well. It was a great job.

I'm here today to continue the proud tradition of bold American diplomacy. From the earliest days of our republic, American leaders have understood that diplomacy and engagement is preferable to conflict and hostility.

A productive dialogue is not only good for the United States and good for Russia but it is good for the world. The disagreements between our two countries are well-known and President Putin and I discussed them at length today.

But if we're going to solve many of the problems facing our world, then we are going to have to find ways to cooperate in pursuit of shared interests. Too often in both recent past and long ago, we have seen the consequences when diplomacy is left on the table.

We have also seen the benefits of cooperation. In the last century, our nations fought alongside one another in the Second World War. Even during the tensions of the Cold War, when the world looked much different than it does today, the United States and Russia were able to maintain a strong dialogue.

But our relationship has never been worse than it is now.

However, that changed, as of about four hours ago.

I really believe that. Nothing would be easier politically than to refuse to meet, to refuse to engage, but that would not accomplish anything.

As president, I cannot make decisions on foreign policy in a futile effort to appease partisan critics, or the media, or Democrats who want to do nothing but resist and obstruct.

Constructive dialogue between the United States and Russia affords the opportunity to open new pathways toward peace and stability in our world.

I would rather take a political risk in pursuit of peace than to risk peace in pursuit of politics.

As president, I will always put what is best for America and what is best for the American people.

During today's meeting, I addressed directly with President Putin the issue of Russian interference in our elections.

I felt this was a message best delivered in person. We spent a great deal of time talking about it and President Putin may very well want to address it and very strongly, because he feels very strongly about it and he has an interesting idea.

We also discussed one of the most critical challenges facing humanity: nuclear proliferation.

I provided an update on my meeting last month with Chairman Kim on the de-nuclearisation of North Korea and after today, I am very sure that President Putin and Russia want very much to end that problem. Going to work with us and I appreciate that commitment.

The president and I also discussed the scourge of radical Islamic terrorism. Both Russia and the United States have suffered horrific terrorist attacks and we have agreed to maintain open communication between our security agencies to protect our citizens from this global menace.

Last year, we told Russia about a planned attack in St. Petersburg and they were able to stop it cold. They found them. They stopped them. There was no doubt about it.

I appreciated President Putin's phone call afterwards to thank me. I also emphasized the importance of placing pressure on Iran to halt its nuclear ambitions and to stop its campaign of violence throughout the area, throughout the Middle East.

As we discussed at length, the crisis in Syria is a complex one.

Cooperation between our two countries has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives.

I also made clear that the United States will not allow Iran to benefit from our successful campaign against ISIS. We have just about eradicated ISIS in the area.

We also agreed that representatives from our national security councils will meet to follow up on all of the issues we addressed today and to continue the progress we have started right here in Helsinki.

Today's meeting is only the beginning of a longer process but we have taken the first steps toward a brighter future and one with a strong dialogue and a lot of thought.

Our expectations are grounded in realism but our hopes are grounded in America's desire for friendship, cooperation and peace. And I think I can speak on behalf of Russia when I say that also.

President Putin, I want to thank you again for joining me for these important discussions and for advancing open dialogue between Russia and the United States.

Our meeting carries on a long tradition of diplomacy between Russia, the United States for the greater good of all and this was a very constructive day. This was a very constructive few hours that we spent together.

It's in the interest of both of our countries to continue our conversation and we have agreed to do so.

I'm sure we'll be meeting again in the future often and hopefully we will solve every one of the problems that we discussed today.

So again, President Putin, thank you very much.

REPORTER: Good afternoon. My name is Alexei Meshkov, Interfax Information Agency. I have a question to President Trump. During your recent European tour, you mentioned that the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline makes Europe a hostage of Russia. And you suggested that you could free Europe from this by supplying American LNG. But this cold winter, actually it showed that the current model, current mechanism, of supply of fuel to Europe is quite viable. At the same time, as far as I know, the U.S. had to buy even Russian gas for Boston. I have a question. The implementation of your idea has a political tinge to it or is this a practical one? Because there will be a gap formed in the supply and demand mechanism and first it's the consuming countries who will fall into this gap. And the second question, before the meeting with President Putin, you called him an adversary, a rival, and yet you expressed hope that you will be able to bring this relationship to a new level. Did you manage to do this?

TRUMP: No, actually I called him a competitor and a good competitor he is.

And I think the word competitor is a compliment. I think that we will be competing, when you talk about the pipeline. I'm not sure necessarily that it's in the best interest of Germany or not but that was a decision that they made.

We'll be competing. As you know the United States is now or soon will be, but I think it actually is right now, the largest in the oil and gas world.

So we're going to be selling LNG and we'll have to be competing with the pipeline and I think we'll compete successfully, although there is a little advantage locationally.

So I just wish them luck. I mean, I did. I discussed with Angela Merkel in pretty strong tones but I also know where they're all coming from and they have a very close source.

So we'll see how that all works out. But we have lots of sources now and the United States is much different than it was a number of years ago when we weren't able to extract what we can extract today. So today we're number one in the world at that. And I think we'll be out there competing very strongly. Thank you very much.

PUTIN: If I may, I'd throw in, I'd throw in some two cents. We talked to the president including this subject as well. We are aware of the stance of President Trump and I think that we, as a major oil and gas power and the United States as a major oil and gas power as well, we could work together on regulation of international markets because neither of us is actually interested in the plummeting of the prices and the consumers will suffer as well and the consumers in the United States will suffer as well.

And the shale gas production will suffer because beyond a certain price bracket it's no longer profitable to produce gas but nor we are interested in driving prices up because it will drain juices, life juices, from all other sectors of the economy from machine building, etc. So we do have space for cooperation here, as the first thing. Then about the Nord Stream 2 - Mr. President voiced his concerns about the possibility of disappearance of transit through Ukraine and I reassured Mr. President that Russia stands ready to maintain this transit.

Moreover, we stand ready to extend this transit contract that is about to expire next year. In case, if the dispute between the economic entities dispute will be settled in the Stockholm Arbitration Court.

REPORTER, JEFF MASON, REUTERS: Thank you. Mr. President, you tweeted this morning that it's U.S. foolishness, stupidity, and the Mueller probe that is responsible for the decline in U.S. relations with Russia. Do you hold Russia at all accountable or anything in particular? And if so, what would you what would you consider them that they are responsible for?

TRUMP: Yes I do. I hold both countries responsible. I think that the United States has been foolish. I think we've all been foolish. We should have had this dialogue a long time ago, a long time frankly before I got to office. And I think we're all to blame.

I think that the United States now has stepped forward, along with Russia, and we're getting together and we have a chance to do some great things, whether it's nuclear proliferation in terms of stopping, have to do it, ultimately that's probably the most important thing that we can be working on.

But I do feel that we have both made some mistakes. I think that the probe is a disaster for our country. I think it's kept us apart, it's kept us separated.

There was no collusion at all. Everybody knows it. People are being brought out to the fore. So far that I know virtually none of it related to the campaign.

And they're gonna have to try really hard to find somebody that did relate to the campaign. That was a clean campaign. I beat Hillary Clinton easily and frankly we beat her.

And I'm not even saying from the standpoint...we won that race. And it's a shame that there can even be a little bit of a cloud over it. People know that. People understand it. But the main thing and we discussed this also is zero collusion and it has had a negative impact upon the relationship of the two largest nuclear powers in the world.

We have 90 percent of nuclear power between the two countries. It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous what's going on with the probe.

REPORTER: For President Putin, if I could follow up as well. Why should Americans and why should President Trump believe your statement that Russia did not intervene in the 2016 election, given the evidence that U.S. intelligence agencies have provided? And will you consider extraditing the 12 Russian officials that were indicted last week by a U.S. grand jury?

TRUMP: Well, I'm going to let the president answer the second part of that question. But, as you know, the whole concept of that came up perhaps a little bit before but it came out as a reason why the Democrats lost an election, which frankly, they should have been able to win because the electoral college is much more advantageous for Democrats, as you know, than it is to Republicans. We won the Electoral College by a lot. 306 to 223, I believe.

And that was a well fought, that was a well fought battle. We did a great job. And frankly, I'm going to let the president speak to the second part of your question. But just to say it one time again and I say it all the time, there was no collusion. I didn't know the president.

There was nobody to collude with. There was no collusion with the campaign and every time you hear all of these you know 12 and 14 - stuff that has nothing to do and frankly they admit - these are not people involved in the campaign.

But to the average reader out there, they're saying well maybe that does. It doesn't. And even the people involved, some perhaps told mis-stories or in one case the FBI said there was no lie. There was no lie. Somebody else said there was. We ran a brilliant campaign and that's why I'm president. Thank you.

PUTIN: As to who is to be believed and to who is not to be believed, you can trust no one – if you take this — where did you get this idea that President Trump trusts me or I trust him?

He defends the interests of the United States of America. And I do defend the interests of the Russian Federation. We do have interests that are common.

We are looking for points of contact. There are issues where our postures diverge and we are looking for ways to reconcile our differences, how to make our effort more meaningful.

We should not proceed from the immediate political interests that guide certain political powers in our countries.

We should be guided by facts. Could you name a single fact that would definitively prove the collusion? This is utter nonsense.

Just like the president recently mentioned. Yes, the public at large in the United States had a certain perceived opinion of the candidates during the campaign. But there's nothing particularly extraordinary about it. That's a usual thing.

President Trump, when he was a candidate, he mentioned the need to restore the Russia U.S. relationship and it's clear that a certain part of American society felt sympathetic about it and different people could express their sympathy in different ways.

But isn't that natural? Isn't it natural to be sympathetic towards a person who is willing to restore the relationship with our country, who wants to work with us? We heard the accusations about the Concorde country. Well, as far as I know, this company hired American lawyers and the accusations doesn't have a fighting chance in the American courts.

So there's no evidence when it comes to the actual facts. So we have to be guided by facts, not by rumors.

Now let's get back to the issue of these 12 alleged intelligence officers of Russia. I don't know the full extent of the situation, but President Trump mentioned this issue and I will look into it.

So far, I can say the following: the things that are off the top of my head. We have an acting, an existing agreement between the United States of America and the Russian Federation, an existing treaty, that dates back to 1999, the Mutual Assistance on Criminal Cases. This treaty is in full effect. It works quite efficiently.

On average, we initiate about 100-150 criminal cases upon the request from foreign states.

For instance, the last year, there was one extradition case on the request sent by the United States. So this treaty has specific legal procedures. We can offer that the appropriate commission headed by special attorney Mueller.

He can use this treaty as a solid foundation and send a formal and official request to us so that we would interrogate, we would hold the questioning of these individuals who he believes are privy to some crimes and our law enforcement are perfectly able to do this questioning and send the appropriate materials to the United States.

Moreover, we can meet you halfway. We can make another step. We can actually permit official representatives of the United States, including the members of this very commission headed by Mr. Mueller, we can lead them into the country and they will be present at this questioning.

But in this case, there's another condition. This kind of effort should be a mutual one. Then we would expect that the Americans would reciprocate and that they would question officials including the officers of law enforcement and intelligence services of the United States, whom we believe have something to do with illegal actions on the territory of Russia. And we have to request the presence of our law enforcement.

For instance, we can bring up Mr. Browder in this particular case. Business associates of Mr. Browder have earned over one and a half billion dollars in Russia. They never paid any taxes, neither in Russia nor in the United States and yet the money escaped the country, they were transferred to the United States.

They sent a huge amount of money - 400 million - as a contribution to the campaign of Hillary Clinton.

Well, that's their personal case, it might have been legal, the contribution itself, but the way the money was earned was illegal.

So we have a solid reason to believe that some intelligence officers accompanied and guided these transactions. So we have an interest of questioning them. That could be a first step and we can also extend it. Options abound.

And they all can be found in an appropriate legal framework.

REPORTER: Did you want President Trump to win the election and did you direct any of your officials to help him do that?

PUTIN: Yes, I wanted him to win. Because he talked about bringing the U.S. Russia relationship back to normal.

I think there were three questions from the Russian pool. Russia Today, you have the floor.

REPORTER: Mr. President, would you please go into the details, if possible, any specific arrangements for the U.S. to work together with Russia in Syria, if any of these kind of arrangements were made today or discussed? My question to President Putin in Russian: Since we brought up the issue of football several times, I use the football language: Mr. Pompeo mentioned that when we talk about the Syrian cooperation, the ball is in the Syrian court. Mr. Putin, in Russian court - is it true? And how would you use this fact – them having a ball?

TRUMP: Well, I guess I'll answer the first part of the question. We've worked with Israel long and hard for many years, many decades. I think we've never, never has anyone, any country been closer than we are.

President Putin also is helping Israel and we both spoke with Bibi Netanyahu and they would like to do certain things with respect to Syria, having to do with the safety of Israel.

So in that respect, we absolutely would like to work in order to help Israel and Israel will be working with us.

So both countries would work jointly.

And I think that when you look at all of the progress that's been made in certain sections with the eradication of ISIS, we're about 98 percent, 99 percent there, and other things that have taken place that we've done and that frankly Russia has helped us with in certain respects.

But I think that they're working with Israel is a great thing and creating safety for Israel is something that both President Putin and I would like to see very much.

One little thing I might add to that is the helping of people. Helping of people. Because you have such horrible, if you see and I've seen reports and I've seen pictures, I've seen just about everything. And if we can do something to help the people of Syria get back into some form of shelter and on a humanitarian basis, and that's what the word was really a humanitarian basis. I think that both of us would be very interested in doing that and we are. We will do that. Thank you very much.

REPORTER: Excuse me. But for now no specific agreements for instance between the militaries –

TRUMP: Well our militaries do get along.

In fact our military actually have gotten along probably better than our political leaders for years but our militaries do get along very well and they do coordinate in Syria and other places. OK? Thank you.

PUTIN: Yes, we did mention this. We mentioned the humanitarian track of this issue. Yesterday, I discussed this with French president Mr. Macron and we reached an agreement that together with European countries, including France, will step up this effort.

On our behalf, we'll provide military cargo aircraft to deliver the humanitarian cargo and today I brought up this issue with President Trump. I think there is plenty of things to look into.

The crucial thing here is that huge amount of refugees are in Turkey, in Lebanon, in Jordan in the states that border, are adjacent to Syria. If we help them, the migratory pressure upon the European states will drop, will be decreased many fold.

And I believe it's crucial from any point of view, from humanitarian point of view, from the point of view of helping people, helping the refugees and in general I agree, I concur with President Trump our military cooperate quite successfully together. They do get along and I hope they will be able to do so in future.

And we will keep working in the Astana format - I mean Russia Turkey and Iran which I informed President Trump about.

But we do stand ready to link these efforts to the so-called small group of states so that the process would be a broader one, it would be a multidimensional one.

And so that we will be able to maximize our fighting chance to get the ultimate success in the issue of Syria.

And speaking about having the ball in our court in Syria.

President Trump has just mentioned that we've successfully concluded the World Football Cup.

Speaking of the football, actually. Mr. President I'll give this ball to you. And now the ball is in your court.

All the more that the United States will host the World Cup in 2026.

TRUMP: That's right. Thank you very much. We do host it and we hope we do as good a job. That's very nice. That will go to my son Barron. We have no question. In fact, Melania, here you go.

REPORTER, AP: President Trump, you first. Just now, President Putin denied having anything to do with the election interference in 2016. Every U.S. intelligence agency has concluded that Russia did. My first question for you sir is, who do you believe? My second question is would you now, with the whole world watching, tell President Putin, would you denounce what happened in 2016 and would you warn him to never do it again?

TRUMP: So let me just say that we have two thoughts. You have groups that are wondering why the FBI never took the server. Why haven't they taken the server? Why was the FBI told to leave the office of the Democratic National Committee?

I've been wondering that. I've been asking that for months and months and I've been tweeting it out and calling it out on social media. Where is the server? I want to know where is the server and what is the server saying?

With that being said, all I can do is ask the question.

My people came to me, Dan Coates, came to me and some others they said they think it's Russia. I have President Putin. He just said it's not Russia.

I will say this: I don't see any reason why it would be. But I really do want to see the server but I have, I have confidence in both parties.

I really believe that this will probably go on for a while but I don't think it can go on without finding out what happened to the server. What happened to the servers of the Pakistani gentleman that worked on the DNC?

Where are those servers? They're missing. Where are they? What happened to Hillary Clinton's emails? 33,000 emails gone, just gone. I think in Russia they wouldn't be gone so easily.

I think it's a disgrace that we can't get Hillary Clinton's thirty three thousand e-mails.

I have great confidence in my intelligence people but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today and what he did is an incredible offer.

He offered to have the people working on the case come and work with their investigators, with respect to the 12 people. I think that's an incredible offer. Ok? Thank you.

PUTIN: I'd like to add something to this. After all, I was an intelligence officer myself and I do know how dossiers are made up. Just a second. That's the first thing. Now the second thing.

I believe that Russia is a democratic state and I hope you're not denying this right to your own country. You're not denying that United States is a democracy. Do you believe the United States is a democracy?

And if so, if it is a democratic state, then the final conclusion and this kind of dispute can only be delivered by a trial, by the court, not by the executive, by the law enforcement.

For instance, the Concord company that was brought up is being accused - it's been accused of interference. But this company does not constitute the Russian state.

It does not represent the Russian state. And I brought several examples before.

Well, you have a lot of individuals in the United States, take George Soros for instance, with multibillion capitals. But it doesn't make him, his position, the posture of the United States. No it does not. Well, it's the same case.

There is the issue of trying a case in the court and the final say is for the court to deliver.

We are now talking about the private individuals and not about the particular states. And as far as the most recent allegations is concerned about the Russian intelligence officers, we do have an intergovernmental treaty.

Please do send us the request. We will analyse it properly and we will send a formal response. And as I said we can extend this cooperation. But we should do it on a reciprocal basis because we would await our Russian counterparts to provide us access to the persons of interest for us, whom we believe can have something to do with intelligence services.

Let's discuss the specific issues and not use the Russia and the U.S. relationship as a loose change, for this internal political struggle.

REPORTER: A question for President Putin. Two questions for you, sir. Can you tell me what President Trump may have indicated to you about officially recognizing Crimea as part of Russia? And then secondly, sir, do you, does the Russian government have any compromising material on President Trump or his family?

PUTIN: chuckles President Trump and - well, the posture of President Trump on Crimea is well known and he stands firmly by it, he continue to maintain that it was illegal to annex it. We - our viewpoint is different. We held a referendum in strict compliance with the UN Charter and the international legislation.

For us, this issue, we put unintelligible to this issue.

And now to the compromising material.

Yeah, I did heard these rumours that we allegedly collected compromising material on Mr. Trump when he was visiting Moscow.

Now, our distinguished colleague, let me tell you this.

When President Trump was at Moscow back then I didn't even know that he was in Moscow. I treat President Trump with utmost respect. But back then, when he was a private individual, a businessman, nobody informed me that he was in Moscow.

Well, let's take St. Petersburg economic forum, for instance. There were over 500 American businessmen - high ranking, the high level ones, I don't even remember the last names of each and every one of them.

Do you think that we tried to collect compromising material on each and every single one of them? Well, it's difficult to imagine an utter nonsense of a bigger scale than this.

Well, please just disregard these issues and don't think about this any more again.

TRUMP: And I have to say if they had it, it would have been out long ago and if anybody watched Peter Strzok testify over the last couple of days and I was in Brussels watching it, it was a disgrace to the FBI, it was a disgrace to our country. And you would say that was a total witch hunt. Thank you very much everybody. Thank you.

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus128459

U.S. defense officials say they are closely watching North Korea for signs of a possible missile launch or nuclear test in the coming days. Something that officials are referring to as a "Christmas surprise."

A significant launch or test would mean the end of North Korea's self-imposed moratorium and raise tensions in the region.

It would also be a major blow to one of the Trump administration's major foreign policy initiatives: the drive to get North Korea back to negotiations to eliminate its nuclear weapons and missiles.

Earlier this month, the North conducted what U.S. officials say was an engine test.

North Korea described it as "crucial" and experts believe that it may have involved an engine for a space launch vehicle or long-range missile.

Officials worry that it could be a prelude to the possible launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile in the coming days or weeks.

Any test involving an ICBM would have the most serious impact on the diplomatic effort because it would be considered a move by North Korea to acquire the ability to strike the United States, or, even worse, to show they already have it.

The North Koreans warned of a possible "Christmas gift" in early December, saying the Trump administration was running out of time to salvage nuclear negotiations, and it was up to the U.S. to choose what "Christmas gift " it gets from the North.

President Donald Trump tweeted Friday that he discussed North Korea with China's President Xi Jinping.

Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Friday that the U.S., Japan and South Korea are ready to defend against any move by the North. "We always maintain very high levels of readiness," he said.

At a meeting in Singapore in June 2018, Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued a joint statement that said the North "commits to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

But negotiations stalled this year after the U.S. rejected North Korean demands for broad sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of the North's nuclear capabilities at Kim's second summit with Trump last February.

Since then, Pyongyang's testing and rhetoric has escalated.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is celebrating the launch of Space Force, the first new military service in more than 70 years.

In signing the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act that includes Space Force, Trump on Friday can claim a victory for one of his top national security priorities just two days after being impeached by the House.

It is part of a $1.4 trillion government spending package — including the Pentagon's budget — that provides a steady stream of financing for Trump's U.S.-Mexico border fence and reverses unpopular and unworkable automatic spending cuts to defense and domestic programs.

Space Force has been a reliable applause line at Trump's political rallies, but for the military, it's seen more soberly as an affirmation of the need to more effectively organize for the defense of U.S. interests in space — especially satellites used for navigation and communication. Space Force is not designed or intended to put combat troops in space.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters on Friday: "Our reliance on space-based capabilities has grown dramatically, and today outer space has evolved into a warfighting domain of its own." Maintaining dominance in space, he said, will now be Space Force's mission.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Arlington, VA - 20 December 2019

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Esper, U. S. Secretary of Defense:

"Clearly, we think that the political solution is the best way forward to deep denuclearize the peninsula and to address North Korea's programs. I have two functions here, as I said before. One is to ensure that we are in a high state of readiness prepared to fight and win tonight if need be. And I'm confident in that. And secondly, to enable our diplomats. So I remain hopeful that we could again get the process started again and remain on the diplomatic path."

++WHITE FLASH++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff:

"Korea is one of those places in the world. We've always maintained very high levels of readiness. And today we have very high levels of readiness. And the motto for the U.S. forcing incurs 'Fight Tonight,' we stay shoulder to shoulder with our rock, our Republic of Korea counterparts militarily. And there's a close bond also with the military of Japan. So the tripartite alliance, if you will, between Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea is rock solid. And I think it's prepared to defend the interests, the United States, Japan and South Korea at a moment's notice. And it has been for quite some time. It is today."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Esper, U. S. Secretary of Defense:

"Importantly, the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) authorizes the establishment of the United States Space Force as the newest branch of the armed forces. I want to thank the president for his leadership of this historic initiative, which will posture us to effectively defend our national interests in space."

++WHITE FLASH++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Esper, U. S. Secretary of Defense:

"Our reliance on space-based capabilities has grown dramatically, and today outer space has evolved into a warfighting domain of its own. Maintaining American dominance in that domain is now the mission of the United States space force."

The United States' top Iran diplomat said Monday that the Middle East is 'one missile strike from a regional war."

Brian Hook told an audience at the Asia Society in New York that the Trump administration seeks to avoid a military conflict with Iran.

Hook called on the international community to come together and "restore deterrence against Iranian aggression."

Hook said the Trump administration left from the Iran nuclear deal because it only provided "modest and temporary non-proliferation."

He said the U.S. wants an agreement that deals with Iran's "missile proliferation, missile testing, regional aggression and hostage taking."

The envoy repeated the Trump administration's assertion that the recent attack on a Saudi oil facility was perpetrated by Iran.

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

New York - 23 September 2019

1. Wide of stage at Asia Society event in New York

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Brian Hook, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran:

"We are one missile strike away from a regional war and we are accumulating risk of a regional war if we do not re-establish deterrence. And if we accept a culture of largely inaction and accepting Iranian answers, sort of having it both ways, we are increasing the risk of a regional conflict and that's why this is a good week for us to be here, to be working with other countries so that we can make the case of the need to restore deterrence against Iranian aggression."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Brian Hook, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran:

"We are trying to challenge the status quo. We are rejecting the defeatist mentality that has creeped into the world's approach to Iran and tilted the balance in its favour. We are not only exposing the scale and the scope of Iran's malign activity, we are actively seeking to diminish its role in the region and reverse the gains that it made during the negotiation and implementation of the Iran nuclear deal."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Brian Hook, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran:

"We know based on intelligence and open source analysis that these attacks were conducted by Iran. We are confident in this assessment. The evidence including the complexity, scope, and impact of the attack indicates this is the case. Yet Iran from its president on down has maintained that the Houthis are responsible. Let me be clear, the attacks were more complex larger in scale and more precise than anything the Houthis are capable of executing. Accepting the Iranian version of events undermines international security and conveniently demands nothing of nations in response.

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Brian Hook, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran:

"Our pressure campaign is aimed at changing the regime's behavior and bringing Iran back to the negotiating table so that diplomacy can prevail.

We want Iran to end its support for terrorist groups and reject extremism. We want Iran to use diplomacy to meaningfully address and resolve conflicts, not as a sleight of hand to fuel and prolong them. We want Iran to respect the sovereignty of all nations whether they are a friend or an enemy. We want Iran to spend less time scheming on how to undermine its international obligations and more time figuring out how to live up to them."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Brian Hook, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran:

"Well the president (Donald Trump) now for a couple of years has said that he would meet with (Iranian) President (Hassan) Rouhani. Secretary (Mike) Pompeo said a number of months ago that he would meet with the Iranians without preconditions. This is a commitment that has been made many many times over the last few years. Iran has yet to accept our offer. That offer was made while we were still in the Iran deal and the offer was not accepted. And it's very clear to make you have to look at the history of this. We have offered to meet with the Iranians many times while we were in the deal and they refused. And so after the president got out of the deal we continued to offer diplomatic outcomes. The Iranians have not met diplomacy with diplomacy. They have met our diplomacy with military force. This is not the first time, when you put pressure on the regime it reaches for the usual playbooks of either nuclear extortion or threatening much higher levels of violence than we are accustomed to or that we've decided to accept as I said in my remarks. I do think that the attacks in Saudi Arabia. French foreign minister (Yves) Le Drian said today or yesterday that these attacks are a game-changer. Secretary Pompeo has talked with foreign ministers in Europe, in Asia in the Middle East. It is clear that Iran has crossed the line by this attack on another country's sovereignty."

++BLACK FRAMES++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Brian Hook, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran:

"We believe very strongly that the Iran nuclear deal, you have modest and temporary nonproliferation gains that have come at the expense of missile proliferation, missile testing, regional aggression and hostage taking. Being outside of the deal gives us a great deal of leverage to address the entire range of threats that Iran presents to the world. I know that for those who negotiated the deal at the time this was not supposed to be the last word on Iran's threats and they were supposed to be successive efforts to address the missile program and the regional aggression. We we seek a comprehensive deal, and this was announced 15,16 months ago by Secretary Pompeo. We seek a comprehensive deal that addresses the threats around Iran's nuclear program its missile program and its regional aggression and the hostage taking."

++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

President Donald Trump's national security adviser says North Korea could be added to the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The adviser, H.R. McMaster, says the administration is considering such a designation as part of Trump's overall strategy to counter the North Korean nuclear threat.

McMaster cites the killing earlier this year in a Malaysian airport of the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as an act of terror that would qualify. Malaysia has never directly accused North Korea, but South Korea's spy agency has claimed the attack was part of a plot by Kim to kill his relative.

McMaster commented while briefing reporters on Trump's five-nation tour of Asia, starting Friday.

North Korea will be a key focus of Trump's business in the region.

Washington, D.C. - 2 November 2017

1. Side, H.R. McMaster, White House National Security Adviser, walking to podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) H.R. McMaster, White House National Security Adviser:

"Tomorrow, President Trump embarks on his longest foreign trip to date and the longest trip to Asia by an American president in more than a quarter century. This trip is a great opportunity to demonstrate America's and the Trump administration's commitment to the Indo-Pacific and our efforts to strengthen long-standing American alliances and expand new partnerships."

3. Side, McMaster speaking

4. SOUNDBITE (English) H.R. McMaster, White House National Security Adviser:

"(Reporter: How much thought are you giving to putting that country back on the American list of state sponsors of terrorism?) That is an option that is under consideration and so, the president's Cabinet is looking at this as part of the overall strategy on North Korea. But a regime who murders someone in a public airport, using nerve agent and a despotic leader who murders his brother in that manner, I mean that is clearly an act of terrorism that fits in with a range of other actions. So, this is something that is under consideration."

5. Wide, McMaster speaking

6. SOUNDBITE (English) H.R. McMaster, White House National Security Adviser:

"The United States remains committed to the complete, verifiable and permanent denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. President Trump will reiterate the plain fact that North Korea threatens not just our allies South Korea and Japan and the United States. North Korea is a threat to the entire world. So all nations of the world must do more to counter that threat. That is happening, but the president recognizes that we're running out of time and will ask all nations to do more. In particular the president will continue to call on all responsible nations especially those with the most influence over North Korea to isolate the North Korean regime economically and politically to convince its leaders that the pursuit of nuclear weapons is a dead end and that is past time to denuclearize and he will remind friend and foe alike that the United States stands ready to defend itself and our allies using the full range of our capabilities."

7. Cutaway reporters

8. SOUNDBITE (English) H.R. McMaster, White House National Security Adviser:

" So, the president will use whatever language he wants to use obviously and what the president has done is clarified in all of his all of his discussions and his statements on North Korea, our determination to ensure that North Korea is unable to threaten our allies and our partners and certainly the United States. So he's done that with a great deal of clarity in the past and I'm sure he'll do that during the trip as well and that's been that's been a great reassurance to our allies, partners and others in the region who were under literally under the gun of this regime. (Reporter: Any modulation in the language in terms of where he is?) Well, I don't I don't think the president really modulates his language. Have you noticed him do that? I mean he's been he's been very he's been very clear, he's been very clear about it and just, just talk about this quickly. I've been aware of the discussions about is this inflammatory? No, what's inflammatory is the North Korean regime and what they're doing to threaten to threaten the world. I think there would be a grave danger if that regime didn't understand our resolve. The president's resolve to counter North Korean aggression and the president has made it very clear."

9. Cutaway reporters

The United States' top Iran diplomat said Monday that the Middle East is 'one missile strike from a regional war."

Brian Hook told an audience at the Asia Society in New York that the Trump administration seeks to avoid a military conflict with Iran.

Hook called on the international community to come together and "restore deterrence against Iranian aggression."

Hook said the Trump administration left from the Iran nuclear deal because it only provided "modest and temporary non-proliferation."

He said the U.S. wants an agreement that deals with Iran's "missile proliferation, missile testing, regional aggression and hostage taking."

The envoy repeated the Trump administration's assertion that the recent attack on a Saudi oil facility was perpetrated by Iran.

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

New York - 23 September 2019

1. Wide of stage at Asia Society event in New York

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Brian Hook, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran:

"We are one missile strike away from a regional war and we are accumulating risk of a regional war if we do not re-establish deterrence. And if we accept a culture of largely inaction and accepting Iranian answers, sort of having it both ways, we are increasing the risk of a regional conflict and that's why this is a good week for us to be here, to be working with other countries so that we can make the case of the need to restore deterrence against Iranian aggression."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Brian Hook, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran:

"We are trying to challenge the status quo. We are rejecting the defeatist mentality that has creeped into the world's approach to Iran and tilted the balance in its favour. We are not only exposing the scale and the scope of Iran's malign activity, we are actively seeking to diminish its role in the region and reverse the gains that it made during the negotiation and implementation of the Iran nuclear deal."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Brian Hook, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran:

"We know based on intelligence and open source analysis that these attacks were conducted by Iran. We are confident in this assessment. The evidence including the complexity, scope, and impact of the attack indicates this is the case. Yet Iran from its president on down has maintained that the Houthis are responsible. Let me be clear, the attacks were more complex larger in scale and more precise than anything the Houthis are capable of executing. Accepting the Iranian version of events undermines international security and conveniently demands nothing of nations in response.

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Brian Hook, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran:

"Our pressure campaign is aimed at changing the regime's behavior and bringing Iran back to the negotiating table so that diplomacy can prevail.

We want Iran to end its support for terrorist groups and reject extremism. We want Iran to use diplomacy to meaningfully address and resolve conflicts, not as a sleight of hand to fuel and prolong them. We want Iran to respect the sovereignty of all nations whether they are a friend or an enemy. We want Iran to spend less time scheming on how to undermine its international obligations and more time figuring out how to live up to them."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Brian Hook, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran:

"Well the president (Donald Trump) now for a couple of years has said that he would meet with (Iranian) President (Hassan) Rouhani. Secretary (Mike) Pompeo said a number of months ago that he would meet with the Iranians without preconditions. This is a commitment that has been made many many times over the last few years. Iran has yet to accept our offer. That offer was made while we were still in the Iran deal and the offer was not accepted. And it's very clear to make you have to look at the history of this. We have offered to meet with the Iranians many times while we were in the deal and they refused. And so after the president got out of the deal we continued to offer diplomatic outcomes. The Iranians have not met diplomacy with diplomacy. They have met our diplomacy with military force. This is not the first time, when you put pressure on the regime it reaches for the usual playbooks of either nuclear extortion or threatening much higher levels of violence than we are accustomed to or that we've decided to accept as I said in my remarks. I do think that the attacks in Saudi Arabia. French foreign minister (Yves) Le Drian said today or yesterday that these attacks are a game-changer. Secretary Pompeo has talked with foreign ministers in Europe, in Asia in the Middle East. It is clear that Iran has crossed the line by this attack on another country's sovereignty."

++BLACK FRAMES++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Brian Hook, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran:

"We believe very strongly that the Iran nuclear deal, you have modest and temporary nonproliferation gains that have come at the expense of missile proliferation, missile testing, regional aggression and hostage taking. Being outside of the deal gives us a great deal of leverage to address the entire range of threats that Iran presents to the world. I know that for those who negotiated the deal at the time this was not supposed to be the last word on Iran's threats and they were supposed to be successive efforts to address the missile program and the regional aggression. We we seek a comprehensive deal, and this was announced 15,16 months ago by Secretary Pompeo. We seek a comprehensive deal that addresses the threats around Iran's nuclear program its missile program and its regional aggression and the hostage taking."

++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

US President Donald Trump's national security adviser says North Korea could be added to the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The adviser, H.R. McMaster, says the administration is considering such a designation as part of Trump's overall strategy to counter the North Korean nuclear threat.

McMaster cites the killing earlier this year in a Malaysian airport of the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as an act of terror that would qualify.

Malaysia has never directly accused North Korea, but South Korea's spy agency has claimed the attack was part of a plot by Kim to kill his relative.

McMaster commented while briefing reporters on Trump's five-nation tour of Asia, starting Friday.

North Korea will be a key focus of Trump's business in the region.

Washington, D.C. - 2 November 2017

1. H.R. McMaster, White House National Security Adviser, walking to podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) H.R. McMaster, White House National Security Adviser:

"Tomorrow, President Trump embarks on his longest foreign trip to date and the longest trip to Asia by an American president in more than a quarter century. This trip is a great opportunity to demonstrate America's and the Trump administration's commitment to the Indo-Pacific and our efforts to strengthen long-standing American alliances and expand new partnerships."

3. McMaster speaking

4. SOUNDBITE (English) H.R. McMaster, White House National Security Adviser:

(Reporter: How much thought are you giving to putting that country back on the American list of state sponsors of terrorism?)

"That is an option that is under consideration and so, the president's Cabinet is looking at this as part of the overall strategy on North Korea. But a regime who murders someone in a public airport, using nerve agent and a despotic leader who murders his brother in that manner, I mean that is clearly an act of terrorism that fits in with a range of other actions. So, this is something that is under consideration."

5. McMaster speaking

6. SOUNDBITE (English) H.R. McMaster, White House National Security Adviser:

"The United States remains committed to the complete, verifiable and permanent denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. President Trump will reiterate the plain fact that North Korea threatens not just our allies South Korea and Japan and the United States, North Korea is a threat to the entire world. So all nations of the world must do more to counter that threat. That is happening, but the president recognizes that we're running out of time and will ask all nations to do more. In particular the president will continue to call on all responsible nations, especially those with the most influence over North Korea, to isolate the North Korean regime economically and politically to convince its leaders that the pursuit of nuclear weapons is a dead end and that it is past time to denuclearize and he will remind friend and foe alike that the United States stands ready to defend itself and our allies using the full range of our capabilities."

7. Cutaway reporters

8. SOUNDBITE (English) H.R. McMaster, White House National Security Adviser:

"So, the president will use whatever language he wants to use obviously and what the president has done is clarified in all of his discussions and his statements on North Korea, our determination to ensure that North Korea is unable to threaten our allies and our partners and certainly the United States. So he's done that with a great deal of clarity in the past and I'm sure he'll do that during the trip as well and that's been of great reassurance to our allies, partners and others in the region who were literally under the gun of this regime.

(Reporter: We shouldn't expect any modulation of the language in terms of where he is?)

"Well, I don't I don't think the president really modulates his language. Have you noticed him do that? I mean he's been very clear about it and just talk about this quickly. I've been aware of the discussions about is this inflammatory? No, what's inflammatory is the North Korean regime and what they're doing to threaten the world. I think there would be a grave danger if that regime didn't understand our resolve, the president's resolve to counter North Korean aggression and the president has made it very clear."

9. Cutaway of reporters

U.S. defense officials say they are closely watching North Korea for signs of a possible missile launch or nuclear test in the coming days. Something that officials are referring to as a "Christmas surprise."

A significant launch or test would mean the end of North Korea's self-imposed moratorium and raise tensions in the region.

It would also be a major blow to one of the Trump administration's major foreign policy initiatives: the drive to get North Korea back to negotiations to eliminate its nuclear weapons and missiles.

Earlier this month, the North conducted what U.S. officials say was an engine test.

North Korea described it as "crucial" and experts believe that it may have involved an engine for a space launch vehicle or long-range missile.

Officials worry that it could be a prelude to the possible launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile in the coming days or weeks.

Any test involving an ICBM would have the most serious impact on the diplomatic effort because it would be considered a move by North Korea to acquire the ability to strike the United States, or, even worse, to show they already have it.

The North Koreans warned of a possible "Christmas gift" in early December, saying the Trump administration was running out of time to salvage nuclear negotiations, and it was up to the U.S. to choose what "Christmas gift " it gets from the North.

President Donald Trump tweeted Friday that he discussed North Korea with China's President Xi Jinping.

Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters on Friday that the U.S., Japan and South Korea are ready to defend against any move by the North. "We always maintain very high levels of readiness," he said.

At a meeting in Singapore in June 2018, Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued a joint statement that said the North "commits to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

But negotiations stalled this year after the U.S. rejected North Korean demands for broad sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of the North's nuclear capabilities at Kim's second summit with Trump last February.

Since then, Pyongyang's testing and rhetoric has escalated.

During the briefing, responses were given by the military leaders to reports concerning the Afghanistan Papers, published by the Washington Post - that offered distressful assessments of leadership accounts in the Afghanistan war based on interviews collected by the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction (SIGAR).

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Arlington, VA- 20 December 2019

1.Wide of Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley walk into briefing

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Esper, U. S. Secretary of Defense:

"I want to start by thanking Congress for passing the F Y 20 National Defense Authorization Act. We appreciate this strong demonstration of bipartisan support from the House and from the Senate. This legislation is a big step forward and will enable the department to adapt to the challenges posed by great power competitors. I look forward to President Trump signing this into law later today. Importantly, the NDAA authorizes the establishment of the United States Space Force as the newest branch of the armed forces. I want to thank the president for his leadership of this historic initiative, which will posture us to effectively defend our national interests in space."

3. Wide of Esper and Milley

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Esper, U. S. Secretary of Defense:

"Our reliance on space-based capabilities has grown dramatically, and today outer space has evolved into a warfighting domain of its own. Maintaining American dominance in that domain is now the mission of the United States space force."

5. Wide of Esper and Milley

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Esper, U. S. Secretary of Defense:

"Clearly, we think that the political solution is the best way forward to denuclearize the peninsula and to address North Korea's programs. I have two functions here, as I said before. One is to ensure that we are in a high state of readiness prepared to fight and win tonight if need be. And I'm confident in that. And secondly, to enable our diplomats. So I remain hopeful that we could again get the process started again and remain on the diplomatic path."

7. Wide of Esper and Milley

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff:

"Korea is one of those places in the world we've always maintained very high levels of readiness. And today we have very high levels of readiness. And the motto for the U.S. forces incurs 'Fight Tonight,' we stay shoulder to shoulder with our, our Republic of Korea counterparts militarily. And there's a close bond also with the military of Japan. So the tripartite alliance, if you will, between Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea is rock solid. And I think it's prepared to defend the interests, the United States, Japan and South Korea at a moment's notice. And it has been for quite some time. It is today."

9. Wide of Esper and Milley

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff:

"I know there's an assertion out there of some sort of coordinated lie over the course of, say, 18 years. I find that a bit of a stretch. More than a bit of a stretch. I find that a mischaracterization from my own personal experience. You're looking at probably hundreds of general officers, State Department employees, CIA, Department of Defense folks. I just don't think that you can get that level of coordination to do that kind of deception."

11. Wide of Esper and Milley

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff:

"There's only one way that this is going to end and it's a negotiated solution with the Taliban and it's gonna have to be an Afghan to Afghan solution. That's what we've been saying for years. Militarily, this has been at a state of strategic stalemate if you will, where the Taliban cannot defeat militarily the regime, the government of Kabul. So long as the United States and its allies maintain some degree of military support and the regime is not going to militarily defeat the Taliban or the various other groups over there militarily, so long as they have sanctuary in Pakistan and then they have some small degree of popularity amongst the people, which is rated at about 10 to 15 percent or so in some of the rural areas."

13.Wide of Esper and Milley

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Mark Esper, U. S. Secretary of Defense:

"This has been a very transparent -- it's not like this war was hiding somewhere. And now all of a sudden that there's been a revelation. So I think between all the folks looking at this conflict over the years, some type of insinuation that there's been this large scale conspiracy is just, to me, ridiculous."

15. Wide as Esper and Milley leave briefing

LEADIN:

An Egyptian political analyst says that the surprise resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri would mostly affect Iran.

Hariri announced he was stepping down on Saturday in a televised address from the Saudi capital Riyadh, while on a visit to the Kingdom.

STORYLINE:

Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri resigned from his post in a televised address from the Saudi capital Saturday, accusing Hezbollah of taking the country hostage, in a surprise move that plunged the nation into uncertainty amid heightened regional tensions.

In his resignation speech, Hariri fired a vicious tirade against Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah group for what he said was their meddling in Arab affairs and said that "Iran's arms in the region will be cut off."

Egyptian analyst Atef Al -Saadawy predicts the move could herald a "trimming Iran's nails in the region".

"It happened at a time when his government was successful and in harmony with other political sects in Lebanon and its content was totally directed against Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah group."

Saadawy adds that the development also fits in with the latest moves by US President Donald Trump and his administration to cancel the international nuclear agreement with Iran.

He says it might even be a prelude to further sanctions on Iran and a possibly a military intervention.

Hariri was appointed prime minister in late 2016 and headed a 30-member coalition government that included members of Hezbollah.

But it has been an uneasy partnership between Hariri, who heads a Sunni-led camp loyal to Saudi Arabia, and Hezbollah, which represents a camp loyal to Shiite Iran.

After Hariri's resignation on Saturday, Saudi Arabia said its forces intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen toward one of the kingdom's major international airports on the outskirts of Riyadh.

A Saudi-led coalition launched a war against the Houthis and their allies in March 2015 that grinds on today, a campaign overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed.

Al-Saadawy says the missile attack attempt could be a direct response to Hariri's resignation.

Cairo, Egypt - 5 November 2017

1. Set up of Atef Al-Saadawy, Senior Researcher and Political analyst at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, arriving at his office

2. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Atef Al-Saadawy, Senior Researcher and Political analyst, Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies:

"It is a surprise resignation and was not expected by even his closest circle. And this sudden resignation raises question marks - its location, timing and content may reveal the reasons behind it. It happened during his visit to Saudi Arabia and not he did not resign while in Lebanon. And that it happened at a time when his government was successful and in harmony with other political sects in Lebanon and its (his resignation statement) content was totally directed against Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah group."

3. Cutaway of hands

4. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Atef Al -Saadawy, Senior Researcher and Political analyst, Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies:

"I think that Iran is the one concerned by this sudden resignation and maybe it marks the beginning of the preface of trimming Iran's nails in the region. And also it harmonises and fits with the latest moves by the Trump administration and its idea of cancelling the nuclear agreement with Iran or imposing further sanctions on Iran or perhaps as a prelude to a military intervention. So I think that the whole issue is about Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah group."

5. Cutaway of hands

6. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Atef Al-Saadawy, Senior Researcher and Political analyst, Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies:

"The idea of a ballistic rocket capable of reaching any place in the Saudi kingdom is a kind of strategy between the two rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, and it could be a direct response to Saad Hariri's resignation."

7. Wide of Al-Saadawy

LEAD IN:

Members of the Arab Forum on Disarmament and Nuclear Non-Proliferation gathered in Amman on Wednesday at the Global Security Colloquium to discuss global security and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

STORY-LINE:

Amid global tensions between the world's nuclear powers, members of the Arab Forum on Disarmament and Nuclear Non-Proliferation gathered at the Global Security Colloquium in Amman on Wednesday.

They discussed a range of issues related to the nuclear question and the conflicts in the Arab world.

The Special Representative of the President for Nuclear Non-Proliferation Adam Scheinman, Princess Sumaya bin Al Hassan, the president of the Royal Scientific Society, vice president of Iraq Iyad Allawi, Abdullah Gul and the former president of Turkey were among the key speakers.

The conversation revolved around non-nuclear proliferation, with speakers stressing the importance of collaboration between countries.

Adam Scheinman expressed surprise regarding the result of the American elections and said that although he cannot say what the new administration will do regarding the non-proliferation and arms control agenda, he hopes current policies will be continued by the new administration.

Iyad Allawi focused on the crisis in the Middle-East, and emphasised the importance of countries' sovereignty as well as non-intervention in others countries internal affairs.

Abdullah Gul's speech centred on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying that ending the occupation of the Palestinian territories is the fundamental condition for peace in the region. He also expressed concerns regarding the remarks President-elect Donald Trump made during his campaign regarding the Palestinian issue and the status of Israel and he added that he hopes these remarks will remain campaign material. He also focused on the current crisis in the Middle East.

"Although we were occupied with a vital but single focal problem like Palestine in the past, we are facing today civil wars in four important countries in the region, Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Direct or indirect effects of these conflicts spread over a wide geography and affect everyone. They are taking the shape of armament, terrorism, refugee issues, ethnic-religious-sectarian conflicts or rise of populist discourses, policies and anti-democratic and authoritarian tendencies," Gul said.

The colloquium also included two additional panels on weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East as well as additional remarks on the nuclear power status in the region.

The Global Security Colloquium will meet again on Thursday to further discuss nuclear non-proliferation and will also host a training workshop for students and young professionals on security and weapons of mass destruction.

Amman, Jordan - 16 November 2016

1. Wide of the audience

2. Mid of flag and logo

3. Close of Amman Security Colloquium logo

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Scheinman, Special Representative of President for Nuclear Non-Proliferation: ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++

"We have had some disappointments in the non-proliferation area under the time that President Obama has been in office but we have also seen some significant achievements not least of which is the US and Russian New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) Treaty which will push our strategic nuclear weapons down to levels not seen since the early days of the Cold War. And of course the conclusion of the JCPOA, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the negotiation between the P5+1 and Iran."

5. Mid of a cameraman

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Scheinman, Special Representative of President for Nuclear Non-Proliferation: ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++

"The Obama administration viewed the Iran agreement as among the most important wins, for the NPT and its future. Under the agreement we rely not on good intentions but on robust verification and constraints to demonstrate that Iran's nuclear programme is not directed toward the pursuit of a nuclear weapon. We understand the agreement is likely to face some implementation challenges but I think there is little doubt that it was and will remain the best available alternative to address a long standing problem."

7. Close of a member of the audience

8. Mid of the audience

9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Iyad Allawi, Vice President of Iraq:

"We need to protect Iran, we need to protect Turkey and Turkey and Iran should be protecting us. But this should happen with clarity from all sides in order to achieve this goal. Relations should also be based on respecting sovereignties and non-intervention in the internal affairs of the other countries as it is happening now."

10. Mid of the audience

11. Close of two members of the audience

12. SOUNDBITE (Turkish) Abdullah Gul, Former President of Turkey:

"Although we were occupied with a vital but single focal problem like Palestine in the past, we are facing today civil wars in four important countries in the region: Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen. Direct or indirect effects of these conflicts have spread over a wide geography and affect everyone. They are taking the shape of armaments, terrorism, refugee issues, ethnic-religious-sectarian conflicts and the rise of populist discourses, policies and anti-democratic and authoritarian tendencies."

13. Mid of logo

Bipartisan House members proposed legislation on Wednesday that introduced measures that insure President Donald Trump would remain committed to North Korea and Syria.

The bills are patterned from the legislation passed last week that would bar the United States from pulling out of NATO.

Rep. Tom Malinowski, (D) New Jersey and Mike Gallagher, (R) Wisconsin who led the coalition told reporters that one bill would prohibit funding to withdraw troops from the South Korean peninsula until there is transformational progress in talks with the North Koreans and evidence provided by the Secretary of  Defense that South Korea could defend itself without support from the United States.

A second bill would prevent pulling troops out of Syria until questions were answered relating to the United States upholding it's commitments to the region.

Malinowski, said "The second bill says that no funds can be used to withdraw our forces from Syria until the administration addresses a series of questions that any responsible leader would consider before taking such an action."

He said that due to the president's recent comments and actions in foreign policy the legislation is needed and that congress is the last check on an administration that has headed in the wrong direction.

"The common theme here is we take the president of the United States seriously. He has a world view that he's repeatedly expressed. Doesn't seem to see the enduring value of the alliances that we have used to keep our country safe."

During the press conference to announce the legislation questions about the Presidents recent comments on North Korea were addressed.

President Donald Trump lashed out at his intelligence chiefs on Wednesday after they told Congress that North Korea is unlikely to dismantle its nuclear arsenal and that the Iran nuclear deal is working.

"Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!" Trump tweeted.

On Tuesday, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said intelligence information does not support the idea that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will eliminate his nuclear weapons.

Trump insisted on Wednesday on Twitter that the relationship with North Korea "is the best it has ever been with the U.S." He pointed to a halt in nuclear and missile tests by North Korea, the return of some U.S. service members' remains and the release of Americans once detained there as signs of progress.

Republican Mike Gallagher said, "for someone to suggest that for example Kim Jong Un is not yet committed to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Which is obvious in my mind. It's not an attempt to undermine the president in any way."

Rep. Malinowski said, "In any other time, in any other administration there would be far greater alarm raised if a commander in chief were to express that attitude towards the conclusions of our intelligence community. "

++NO CUTAWAYS; SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

Washington - 30 January 2019

1. Wide as speakers enter room and come to podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep.Tom Malinowski, (D) New Jersey:

"Last week, as you know, the House passed legislation to ensure that our country will not withdraw from NATO. It was an overwhelming bipartisan vote. It said to the world that Congress will do everything in its power to uphold America's commitment to keep leading the trans-Atlantic alliance. And today we're introducing two more bills that deliver the same message about our leadership in Asia and the Middle East."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep.Tom Malinowski, (D) New Jersey:

"The first bill prohibits the use of funds to withdraw our forces from South Korea unless the secretary of defense certifies that our South Korean allies are fully capable of defending themselves and deterring a conflict without us."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep.Tom Malinowski, (D) New Jersey:

"We think it's important to establish before the next meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un that the United States is not about to leave South Korea at least not before there's transformational progress on the Korean Peninsula. Our presence there has prevented war for more than 60 years. It would be reckless we think to abandon this commitment on the basis of paper promises from the North Koreans while they continue to threaten the region with both nuclear and conventional weapons."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep.Tom Malinowski, (D) New Jersey:

"The second bill says that no funds can be used to withdraw our forces from Syria until the administration addresses a series of questions that any responsible leader would consider before taking such an action. For example: how do we prevent ISIS from regaining ground if we withdraw? How do we protect the allies who risk their lives to fight with us there? What happens to civilians and refugees in the areas that our forces have protected? What effect would our withdrawal have on Russian and Iranian power in the Middle East?"

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep.Tom Malinowski, (D) New Jersey:

"The common theme here is we take the president of the United States seriously. He has a world view that he's repeatedly expressed. Doesn't seem to see the enduring value of the alliances that we have used to keep our country safe. He's asked again and again why we can't leave NATO, why we're paying to keep our troops in South Korea, why it matters to win the peace after we've won a war. The advisers that have argued these points with him including Secretary Mattis have largely left the administration which leaves Congress as the main remaining check."

++BLACK FRAMES++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep.Tom Malinowski, (D) New Jersey:

"In any other time in any other administration there would be far greater alarm raised if a commander in chief were to express that attitude towards the conclusions of our intelligence community. And I think, I think I can speak for everybody here in saying that in the United States Congress Democrats and Republicans we take very very seriously the assessments that come from the nonpartisan professionals professionals who serve our country in the intelligence community."

++BLACK FRAMES++

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Michael Gallagher, (R) Wisconsin

"Obviously the intelligence community is not omniscient. That has always been the case as the old saying goes there are no intelligence successes only intelligence failures but they are doing a very difficult job and they are actually trying to advance the president's priorities. And so I just would say that for someone to suggest that for example Kim Jong Un is not yet committed to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, which is obvious in my mind, it's not an attempt to undermine the president in any way."

9. Medium as congressmen leave press conference

Bipartisan House members proposed legislation on Wednesday that introduced measures that insure President Donald Trump would remain committed to North Korea and Syria.

The bills are patterned from the legislation passed last week that would bar the United States from pulling out of NATO.

Rep. Tom Malinowski, (D) New Jersey and Mike Gallagher, (R) Wisconsin who led the coalition told reporters that one bill would prohibit funding to withdraw troops from the South Korean peninsula until there is transformational progress in talks with the North Koreans and evidence provided by the Secretary of  Defense that South Korea could defend itself without support from the United States.

A second bill would prevent pulling troops out of Syria until questions were answered relating to the United States upholding it's commitments to the region.

Malinowski, said "The second bill says that no funds can be used to withdraw our forces from Syria until the administration addresses a series of questions that any responsible leader would consider before taking such an action."

He said that due to the president's recent comments and actions in foreign policy the legislation is needed and that congress is the last check on an administration that has headed in the wrong direction.

"The common theme here is we take the president of the United States seriously. He has a world view that he's repeatedly expressed. Doesn't seem to see the enduring value of the alliances that we have used to keep our country safe."

During the press conference to announce the legislation questions about the Presidents recent comments on North Korea were addressed.

President Donald Trump lashed out at his intelligence chiefs on Wednesday after they told Congress that North Korea is unlikely to dismantle its nuclear arsenal and that the Iran nuclear deal is working.

"Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!" Trump tweeted.

On Tuesday, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said intelligence information does not support the idea that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will eliminate his nuclear weapons.

Trump insisted on Wednesday on Twitter that the relationship with North Korea "is the best it has ever been with the U.S." He pointed to a halt in nuclear and missile tests by North Korea, the return of some U.S. service members' remains and the release of Americans once detained there as signs of progress.

Republican Mike Gallagher said, "for someone to suggest that for example Kim Jong Un is not yet committed to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Which is obvious in my mind. It's not an attempt to undermine the president in any way."

Rep. Malinowski said, "In any other time, in any other administration there would be far greater alarm raised if a commander in chief were to express that attitude towards the conclusions of our intelligence community. "

++NO CUTAWAYS; SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

Washington - 30 January 2019

1. Wide as speakers enter room and come to podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep.Tom Malinowski, (D) New Jersey:

"Last week, as you know, the House passed legislation to ensure that our country will not withdraw from NATO. It was an overwhelming bipartisan vote. It said to the world that Congress will do everything in its power to uphold America's commitment to keep leading the trans-Atlantic alliance. And today we're introducing two more bills that deliver the same message about our leadership in Asia and the Middle East."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep.Tom Malinowski, (D) New Jersey:

"The first bill prohibits the use of funds to withdraw our forces from South Korea unless the secretary of defense certifies that our South Korean allies are fully capable of defending themselves and deterring a conflict without us."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep.Tom Malinowski, (D) New Jersey:

"We think it's important to establish before the next meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un that the United States is not about to leave South Korea at least not before there's transformational progress on the Korean Peninsula. Our presence there has prevented war for more than 60 years. It would be reckless we think to abandon this commitment on the basis of paper promises from the North Koreans while they continue to threaten the region with both nuclear and conventional weapons."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep.Tom Malinowski, (D) New Jersey:

"The second bill says that no funds can be used to withdraw our forces from Syria until the administration addresses a series of questions that any responsible leader would consider before taking such an action. For example: how do we prevent ISIS from regaining ground if we withdraw? How do we protect the allies who risk their lives to fight with us there? What happens to civilians and refugees in the areas that our forces have protected? What effect would our withdrawal have on Russian and Iranian power in the Middle East?"

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep.Tom Malinowski, (D) New Jersey:

"The common theme here is we take the president of the United States seriously. He has a world view that he's repeatedly expressed. Doesn't seem to see the enduring value of the alliances that we have used to keep our country safe. He's asked again and again why we can't leave NATO, why we're paying to keep our troops in South Korea, why it matters to win the peace after we've won a war. The advisers that have argued these points with him including Secretary Mattis have largely left the administration which leaves Congress as the main remaining check."

++BLACK FRAMES++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep.Tom Malinowski, (D) New Jersey:

"In any other time in any other administration there would be far greater alarm raised if a commander in chief were to express that attitude towards the conclusions of our intelligence community. And I think, I think I can speak for everybody here in saying that in the United States Congress Democrats and Republicans we take very very seriously the assessments that come from the nonpartisan professionals professionals who serve our country in the intelligence community."

++BLACK FRAMES++

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Michael Gallagher, (R) Wisconsin

"Obviously the intelligence community is not omniscient. That has always been the case as the old saying goes there are no intelligence successes only intelligence failures but they are doing a very difficult job and they are actually trying to advance the president's priorities. And so I just would say that for someone to suggest that for example Kim Jong Un is not yet committed to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, which is obvious in my mind, it's not an attempt to undermine the president in any way."

9. Medium as congressmen leave press conference

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden promised to end "forever wars" and reassert American leadership in combating the authoritarianism and global instability he says are proliferating under President Donald Trump.

Biden outlined his foreign policy vision on Thursday at the City University of New York Graduate Center.

Biden promised to "end the forever wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East" and end U.S. involvement in the Yemen civil war — nods to calls from the progressive international affairs community that has criticized the former vice president as a willing cog in the more hawkish, bipartisan establishment that has directed U.S. foreign policy for decades.

Biden also plans a defense of international trade, an emphasis on diplomacy and a promise for aggressive action to combat the climate crisis, with an explanation that all of those efforts can help curtail the worldwide flow of migrants highlighted by the current humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border .

Biden also said he wants to re-engage with Iran, but that it must start with Tehran coming back into compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.

New York - 11 July 2019

1. Joe Biden walks into

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Biden, US Democratic Presidential Candidate:

"It's long past time we end the forever wars, which have cost us untold blood and treasure. I have long argued that we should bring home the vast majority of our combat troops from the wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East and narrowly focus on our mission to deal with al-Qaida and ISIS in the region. And we should end our support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. It's hurting us."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Biden, US Democratic Presidential Candidate:

"Staying entrenched in un winnable conflicts drains our capacity to lead on so many other issues that require attention. It prevents us from rebuilding the other instruments of American power. So I'll make it my mission to restore American leadership, elevate diplomacy as a principal tool of our foreign policy. I will reinvest in a diplomatic corps that this administration has hollowed out. And put our diplomacy back in the hands of genuine professionals so you don't hear an echo on the 7th floor of the State Department any longer."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Biden, US Democratic Presidential Candidate:

"Above all, diplomacy requires credibility and Donald Trump is absolutely corroded our country's credibility."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Biden, US Democratic Presidential Candidate:

"In order to gain and regain the confidence of the world we have to prove again that America says what it means and means what it says, especially when it comes to the challenges that will define our time: the renewed threat of nuclear war, mass migration, disruptive technologies, climate change. We cannot be a credible voice on nuclear proliferation and nuclear security while we're abandoning the very deals that we had negotiated. From North Korea to Iran, Russia to Saudi Arabia Trump has made the prospect of nuclear proliferation a new nuclear arms race and even the use of nuclear weapons more likely, not less."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Biden, US Democratic Presidential Candidate:

"That's why as president I renew our commitment to arms control for a new era. The historic Iran nuclear deal we negotiated blocked Iran from gaining nuclear weapons with inspectors on the ground. International inspectors confirming that agreement was being kept. Yet Trump cast it aside. Prompting Iran to restart its nuclear program become more provocative and raising the risk of another disastrous war in the region. If Tehran returns to compliance with the deal I'd rejoin the agreement and work with our allies to strengthen and extended it while more effectively pushing back against Iran's destabilizing activities which under the agreement we are allowed to do and we had partners to do with us."

++BLACK FRAMES++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Biden, US Democratic Presidential Candidate:

"And the last example and with today is how the United States must lead the world to take on the existential threat we all face: climate change. If we don't get this right not much else will matter. I'll put us on a track to achieve a clean energy economy with zero emissions net zero emissions by 2050. And equally important because the United States makes up only 15 percent of global emissions I'll leverage our economic and our moral authority to put the world on a more urgent course by rejoining the Paris climate accord."

8. Biden exits stage

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden promised to end "forever wars" and reassert American leadership in combating the authoritarianism and global instability he says are proliferating under President Donald Trump.

Biden outlined his foreign policy vision on Thursday at the City University of New York Graduate Center.

Biden promised to "end the forever wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East" and end U.S. involvement in the Yemen civil war — nods to calls from the progressive international affairs community that has criticized the former vice president as a willing cog in the more hawkish, bipartisan establishment that has directed U.S. foreign policy for decades.

Biden also plans a defense of international trade, an emphasis on diplomacy and a promise for aggressive action to combat the climate crisis, with an explanation that all of those efforts can help curtail the worldwide flow of migrants highlighted by the current humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border .

Biden also said he wants to re-engage with Iran, but that it must start with Tehran coming back into compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.

New York - 11 July 2019

1. Joe Biden walks into

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Biden, US Democratic Presidential Candidate:

"It's long past time we end the forever wars, which have cost us untold blood and treasure. I have long argued that we should bring home the vast majority of our combat troops from the wars in Afghanistan and the Middle East and narrowly focus on our mission to deal with al-Qaida and ISIS in the region. And we should end our support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. It's hurting us."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Biden, US Democratic Presidential Candidate:

"Staying entrenched in un winnable conflicts drains our capacity to lead on so many other issues that require attention. It prevents us from rebuilding the other instruments of American power. So I'll make it my mission to restore American leadership, elevate diplomacy as a principal tool of our foreign policy. I will reinvest in a diplomatic corps that this administration has hollowed out. And put our diplomacy back in the hands of genuine professionals so you don't hear an echo on the 7th floor of the State Department any longer."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Biden, US Democratic Presidential Candidate:

"Above all, diplomacy requires credibility and Donald Trump is absolutely corroded our country's credibility."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Biden, US Democratic Presidential Candidate:

"In order to gain and regain the confidence of the world we have to prove again that America says what it means and means what it says, especially when it comes to the challenges that will define our time: the renewed threat of nuclear war, mass migration, disruptive technologies, climate change. We cannot be a credible voice on nuclear proliferation and nuclear security while we're abandoning the very deals that we had negotiated. From North Korea to Iran, Russia to Saudi Arabia Trump has made the prospect of nuclear proliferation a new nuclear arms race and even the use of nuclear weapons more likely, not less."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Biden, US Democratic Presidential Candidate:

"That's why as president I renew our commitment to arms control for a new era. The historic Iran nuclear deal we negotiated blocked Iran from gaining nuclear weapons with inspectors on the ground. International inspectors confirming that agreement was being kept. Yet Trump cast it aside. Prompting Iran to restart its nuclear program become more provocative and raising the risk of another disastrous war in the region. If Tehran returns to compliance with the deal I'd rejoin the agreement and work with our allies to strengthen and extended it while more effectively pushing back against Iran's destabilizing activities which under the agreement we are allowed to do and we had partners to do with us."

++BLACK FRAMES++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Biden, US Democratic Presidential Candidate:

"And the last example and with today is how the United States must lead the world to take on the existential threat we all face: climate change. If we don't get this right not much else will matter. I'll put us on a track to achieve a clean energy economy with zero emissions net zero emissions by 2050. And equally important because the United States makes up only 15 percent of global emissions I'll leverage our economic and our moral authority to put the world on a more urgent course by rejoining the Paris climate accord."

8. Biden exits stage