Marco Rubio BREAKS DOWN America’s GLOBAL GEOPOLITICS in MASTERFUL Press Conference

[0:00] Okay, let's just go to questions. [0:01] You ready? [0:02] Let's go. [0:03] Mr. Secretary. [0:04] Go ahead. [0:05] Hi. [0:06] Thanks for doing this. [0:07] I wanted to ask you first about your meetings yesterday with the Pope Leo. [0:10] President Trump has had very harsh language and words for the Pope. [0:14] I guess the backdrop of the war in that ran. [0:18] Did you make amends with the Pope yesterday? [0:20] No, we had a very good meeting. [0:22] I mean, ultimately, it's important. [0:24] First of all, there's a lot that we work together with, with the church, and we talked about [0:28] those areas that we're working together on, different parts of the world. [0:31] I know everyone's interested in, you know, the other aspects of it, but I expressed, you [0:35] know, updated them on the situation with Iran, expressed our point of view about why this [0:39] was an important, and the danger that Iran poses to the world, which is largely recognized. [0:43] So, obviously, the, you know, the Holy Father is a spiritual leader. [0:48] He's the first and foremost. [0:50] I mean, that's his role to play. [0:52] And, obviously, the church has always interacted on behalf of a mission for peace. [0:57] And a respect for all of humanity. [1:00] But, at the end, it was a very cordial and important meeting. [1:03] And it's important to share our points of view and an explanation and an understanding [1:08] of where we're coming from. [1:09] And I thought it was very positive. [1:11] Secretary Rubio, you also mentioned talking about the Western Hemisphere with the Pope. [1:17] And, of course, the Catholic Church is instrumental in delivering humanitarian aid to Cuba. [1:23] I wondered if you discussed that and whether there was any disagreements on U.S. [1:28] policy towards Cuba. [1:30] Well, we discussed, I mean, we've provided $6 million of humanitarian aid, U.S. [1:35] humanitarian aid that was distributed by Caritas, the Catholic Church agency. [1:39] We're prepared to do more. [1:40] In fact, we've offered the regime there $100 million of humanitarian aid that, unfortunately, [1:45] so far they have not agreed to distribute to help the people of Cuba. [1:48] We did the hurricane relief, but we're offering more. [1:51] And it's the regime that's not accepting it. [1:53] It's the regime that's standing in the way of it. [1:55] So we discussed that. [1:56] And we hope we can do it, because we do want to help the people of Cuba who are being, [2:00] you know, hurt by this incompetent regime that's destroyed the country and the economy. [2:04] Secretary, can I ask about the meeting with the Pope? [2:07] I mean, after this meeting with the Pope, which you've described as cordial and productive, [2:11] are you going to recommend to the President that he stops criticizing the Pope and social media? [2:16] Why would I tell you what I'm going to recommend to the President? [2:18] But beyond that, the President will always speak clearly about how he feels about the U.S. [2:22] and U.S. policy. [2:23] The President of the United States is always going to act in what's in the best interest of the United States. [2:27] I think we can do that and continue to also have a very productive and fruitful and important relationship [2:33] with the church, because it plays an important role in the world as well. [2:37] Secretary Rubio, were there any themes from your conversation yesterday with Pope Leo that resonated with you personally? [2:47] Well, if it was personal, why would I tell you? [2:51] No. [2:52] Here's the bottom line on that, is that the church is an important global institution. [2:56] It has a presence all over the world. [2:57] I know you guys are fixated on who said what about who at what time. [3:00] I understand all that, okay? [3:02] You guys have media. [3:03] You guys have headlines. [3:04] You have editors. [3:05] You have people that want you to post. [3:06] And these are interesting stories. [3:07] But at the end of the day, the Pope just returned from Africa, right? [3:09] A very important continent with growing Christian populations, many of whom are, who are threatened [3:13] or feel threatened by the spread of radical Islamic terrorism. [3:18] So we care about that. [3:19] The Pope and the church has an interest in Christian communities in Lebanon, a place that we're [3:23] very involved in trying to establish a peace between Israel and Lebanon. [3:27] The church obviously has a very important presence in Latin America. [3:30] The bishops from Venezuela had just been here a few days earlier. [3:33] So we shared thoughts about those sorts of things. [3:36] I think it's an opportunity to personally express our point of view from the standpoint of foreign [3:40] policy and the areas we're involved in and share insights, but also to gain insights because [3:45] the church has a unique role in many of these countries in terms of the insights and information [3:49] that they're receiving. [3:50] In some cases in the past, the church has been an important interlocutor, not just with governments, [3:54] but with societies. [3:55] And then, of course, on the practical level, the church plays an important role in humanitarian [4:00] efforts in different parts of the world and in many places has served as a facilitator [4:04] of U.S. humanitarian assistance, such as I highlighted a moment ago when it comes to [4:08] Cuba. [4:09] Yes? [4:10] Go ahead. [4:11] I'll get to that problem. [4:12] Go ahead. [4:13] Mr. Secretary, can you say in your meeting with Prime Minister Maloney whether you talked [4:14] about the possibility of withdrawing U.S. troops from Italy as well as the possibility [4:17] of the United States withdrawing from NATO altogether? [4:19] Well, we didn't discuss any specifics like that, and that's a decision for the president [4:23] to make. [4:24] It's a decision every president makes. [4:26] The fact of the matter, though, is, and I said publicly and I've said repeatedly, I've [4:32] been a strong supporter of NATO throughout my career in the Senate and even now. [4:36] One of the advantages of being in NATO is that it allows us to have forces deployed in [4:41] Europe and bases that allow us a logistical ability to project power in the case of contingencies. [4:46] Well, we had a contingency, and some countries in Europe, some countries in Europe, like [4:51] Spain as an example, denied us the use of those bases for a very important contingency [4:55] that in some ways the denial of those bases actually impeded the mission, not severely, [5:00] but had a cost and in fact even created some unnecessary dangers. [5:05] So if one of the main reasons why the U.S. is in NATO is the ability to have forces deployed [5:11] in Europe that we could project to other contingencies, and now that's no longer the case, at least when [5:16] it comes to some NATO members, that's a problem, and it has to be examined. [5:20] But ultimately that's a decision for the president to make. [5:22] His team and people like myself and others will provide him what those potential options [5:26] are, but ultimately he'll have to make that decision. [5:28] He hasn't made those decisions yet. [5:30] As far as recent news of deployments, like for example, those were all already ongoing. [5:35] For example, in Germany, the troops that were withdrawn, which represent less than [5:39] 14 percent of our total troop presence there, that's already pre-programmed. [5:43] And in fact, all it did is take us back to where we were in 2022. [5:46] And so there was always a plan to do some shifting within NATO. [5:51] As far as broader changes, I don't have an announcement for you on that today, but that's [5:56] a decision for the president to make. [5:58] Certainly we'll present both options and perspectives, but I don't have anything new to announce on [6:02] that today. [6:03] Yes, Mr. Secretary. [6:04] Your former colleagues on the Hill, Republican senators, believe that troops will embolden Putin [6:10] and will benefit Russia. [6:11] Do you agree with that? [6:12] We'll do what? [6:13] I'm sorry? [6:14] Troops' withdrawal will embolden Putin and benefit Russia. [6:16] Do you agree with that assessment? [6:17] Well, in the end, the United States is always — the president is always going to [6:20] always do what's in the national interest. [6:21] We have global obligations all over the world. [6:23] We have troop deployments all over the world. [6:26] And those are constantly shifting and changing. [6:27] For example, we increased troop presence in NATO in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine. [6:33] So we're always making these decisions, and there were some already previewed before any [6:38] of this had happened in terms of the base denials. [6:41] But in the end, look, here — the bottom line is we always — you know, while we may be [6:45] the most powerful country in the world and we may have the most resources, our resources [6:49] are not unlimited. [6:50] We have to always assign resources around the world, including military resources, on the [6:55] basis of what serves the national interest. [6:57] That's a decision the president has to make, especially within the context of recent developments [7:01] by some countries within NATO and the stance they've taken towards the United States. [7:06] But you know, no decision has been made on that yet. [7:09] That's something the president is still working through. [7:11] Have you managed to bridge differences on Iran, both with Rome and with that matter? [7:16] Yeah, I mean, I don't — I think everybody agrees that Iran having a nuclear weapon is [7:20] unacceptable. [7:21] I mean, I don't know of anyone who thinks it's a good idea for Iran to have a nuclear weapon [7:25] except the Ayatollah. [7:27] So I think the question is, what do you do about it? [7:30] And the president's actually trying to do something about it. [7:33] And so, I mean, that's — I don't know what the — I don't think there's any disagreement [7:37] that they can't have a nuclear weapon. [7:39] I think the question is, what do you do about it? [7:41] And you know, we've had — every American president says, oh, they can't have a nuclear [7:44] weapon. [7:45] This is the first American president that's actually trying to do something concrete about [7:48] it. [7:50] I don't know who would disagree with that. [7:51] I mean, it's an important thing that has to be confronted. [7:53] Can we give us — [7:54] Can you give us — [7:55] — update on the — on the status of negotiations with Iran right now? [7:58] Well, we should know something today. [7:59] I mean, we're expecting a response from them. [8:01] We'll see what the response entails. [8:03] The hope is that it's something that it can put us into a serious process of negotiation. [8:07] Obviously, we've seen the reporting overnight that Iran has established or trying to establish [8:12] some agency that's going to control traffic in the Straits. [8:15] That would be very problematic. [8:17] That would actually be unacceptable. [8:18] I mean, we're — the normalizing of their controlling of an international waterway is [8:23] both illegal and it's just something that's unacceptable. [8:25] And the world has to start asking itself, what is it willing to do if Iran tries to [8:29] normalize a control of an international waterway? [8:33] I think that's unacceptable. [8:34] So — but we're — we're expecting a response from them today at some point. [8:38] We have not received that yet as, you know, in the last hour, but perhaps that will come. [8:43] Their system is still highly fractured and a bit dysfunctional as well. [8:46] So that may be serving as an impediment. [8:49] I hope it's a serious offer. [8:50] I really do. [8:52] Can you confirm — can you confirm there's a resume of talks between Israel and Lebanon [8:57] next week? [8:58] Do you expect — [8:59] We expect talks. [9:00] I can't — I don't know if we've set the exact date yet, but we expect that there'll [9:03] be additional talks. [9:04] Look, the — it's one of the areas that I think we can work with Italy on. [9:08] They can play a very productive role and a constructive role in providing resources to the Lebanese [9:13] government. [9:14] In the end, we all share the same goal. [9:15] And by all I mean including the Lebanese government and the Israeli government, that we want the [9:19] relations between Israel and Lebanon, its legitimate government, to be very strong. [9:24] The impediment to that is Hezbollah — again, an Iranian agent, Hezbollah, who is victimizing [9:30] not just Israelis, but Hezbollah is also victimizing Lebanon. [9:33] The reason why Lebanon faces bombings, the reason why Lebanon faces violence is because [9:38] of Hezbollah. [9:39] It is Hezbollah that's imposing this on them. [9:41] So I think we all share the same goal, which is a strong Lebanese government that doesn't [9:45] have an armed Hezbollah operating within its national territory, imposing a threat to any [9:49] of its neighbors. [9:50] And to do that, we have to empower and equip the Lebanese government to be able to confront [9:54] that threat. [9:55] I think Italy and other countries, but Italy in particular, can play an important role in [9:59] not just helping equip the government, but in cutting off the illicit financing that supports, [10:03] helping them to cut off the financing that supports Hezbollah and the danger they pose. [10:07] Is it possible to get a peace deal on Lebanon without first solving the conflict with Iran? [10:15] How linked are those two conflicts right now? [10:16] Well, I mean, Hezbollah is an Iranian agent, 100 percent. [10:18] I mean, Hezbollah wouldn't exist without Iran's support. [10:22] So, but I think it's possible. [10:24] I mean, Hezbollah has been both weakened, but still capable of inflicting damage and doing [10:30] terroristic activities, as we've seen. [10:32] So I think the way I would phrase it is we're not going to negotiate with Iran over Hezbollah, [10:36] because Hezbollah is a dangerous — other than if they're willing to stop funding them [10:41] and supporting them. [10:43] I think our negotiations with the Lebanese — our role is with the Lebanese government. [10:47] Lebanon should be governed by the Lebanese government. [10:48] It should not have a terrorist group operating within its national territory that poses a threat [10:53] both to its own people, including the Shia population, and to the government, and to Israel, [10:58] and to its other neighbors. [11:00] So that's what we're going to focus on. [11:01] Mr. Secretary, can we come back to Cuba a little bit? [11:04] The United States, including yesterday, are ramping up sanctions against Cuba, the regime [11:11] and all that. [11:12] With the exchange with the Pope, did you feel any convergence of views on that and on the [11:19] U.S. policy? [11:20] Let me clarify something for you. [11:21] Our sanctions are against a company named Gaisa. [11:23] Yeah. [11:24] Okay? [11:25] This is a holding company set up by generals in Cuba that has generated billions of dollars [11:29] of revenue, none of which benefits the Cuban people. [11:31] Not one cent of it benefits the Cuban people. [11:33] You understand this, right? [11:34] I don't know if you know this. [11:36] There's the Cuban government, and they have a budget. [11:39] And then there's this private company that has more money than the government does. [11:43] None of the money in that company goes to build a single road, a single bridge, provide [11:47] a single grain of rice to a single Cuban, other than the people that are part of Gaisa. [11:52] So that's what we're sanctioning, is a company that basically is taking anything that makes [11:56] money in Cuba and illegally putting it into the pockets of a few regime insiders. [12:02] So that's not sanctions on the Cuban people, because the Cuban people don't benefit from [12:04] Gaisa. [12:05] It's a sanction against this company that is stealing from the Cuban people to the benefit [12:09] of a few. [12:10] And we didn't discuss those sanctions yesterday, but we imposed them yesterday. [12:14] And we're going to be doing more, by the way. [12:16] Many people thought that Europe was a mission impossible after the Trump's attacks, heavy [12:24] attacks. [12:25] Which mission? [12:26] I'm sorry. [12:27] Mission impossible. [12:28] Yes. [12:29] What's your judgment at the end of the visit mission accomplished? [12:33] We work with the Vatican on a lot of things. [12:35] Our relationship between, for example, our mission here in the Vatican, like I told you, we're [12:39] working together on humanitarian issues, we're focused on other issues as well. [12:44] The president's perspective is clear. [12:46] He thinks that Iran is a threat and it needs to be addressed. [12:50] And that position remains unchanged. [12:52] And I think we're capable of having that position and expressing that position clearly and also [12:57] working cooperatively and as we have for centuries, as we have for decades, with the Vatican [13:04] and with the Catholic Church, who has a global presence. [13:06] Did you explicitly ask the Pope to stop his criticism of the Iran war? [13:11] I'm not going to discuss when I talk about the Pope, but I'm not going to ask him, that's [13:15] not the purpose of the, I told you guys before I even came here. [13:18] And that is that we have a very strong relationship with the Vatican, we work with them on a lot [13:22] of things around the world. [13:23] This was a trip that had been planned even before all these things that happened. [13:26] So why, just as an example, why would I not want to hear the perspectives of the most important, [13:34] in many cases, a far-reaching religious leader in the world, on his perspectives about what [13:38] he saw on his trip to Africa? [13:40] Or what his bishops and others and agencies are hearing in the Western Hemisphere? [13:44] Or the plight of Christians in Africa but also those in Lebanon, a place that, so of course [13:50] we're going to engage with them on these things. [13:51] That was the purpose of our meeting and in that realm it was very, very productive and it was [13:55] a good meeting because we were able to talk about these different areas of the world where [13:58] they have a presence, where they are engaged, and we are as well, and of course find opportunities [14:03] to either continue cooperating where that already exists, like in Cuba, or expand our cooperation [14:08] in other places where it makes sense. [14:09] Is it fair to expect a phone call between the President and the Pope any time soon? [14:13] I don't know, maybe. [14:15] I don't know. [14:16] I mean, it could happen. [14:17] Mr. May I ask you about Iran, if possible. [14:19] You declared that Operation Epic Future was over, given all these military actions that we're seeing [14:25] on the ground. [14:27] What does opera mean, militarily? [14:29] Mr. No, no. [14:30] Operation Epic Fury was an offensive operation designed to destroy their missile launches, [14:34] their Navy, their Air Force, and it achieved that, and their factories, and it achieved that. [14:38] What you saw yesterday was U.S. destroyers moving through international waters being fired [14:42] upon by the Iranians, and the U.S. responded defensively to protect itself. [14:47] That's what you saw. [14:48] I mean, that's separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury. [14:56] If you fire a drone or a missile at our destroyer, what are we supposed to do? [14:59] Let it hit it? [15:00] We have to respond to it. [15:01] We have to knock down the missile, and we have to knock out whatever it is that launched [15:04] that missile. [15:05] The alternative is to let it sink one of our ships. [15:07] That's crazy. [15:08] So, of course, we responded to it. [15:09] Well, I guess, but the point is, if there's not much seizing in the firing, because we've [15:15] seized on these attacks. [15:16] Well, you should ask that of the Iranians. [15:17] Don't ask me. [15:18] We didn't fire. [15:19] They fired on us. [15:20] My point is, if you fire at a U.S. Navy ship, what are we supposed to do? [15:22] Say, oh, there's a ceasefire. [15:23] We're not going to shoot down your drone. [15:24] That's a stupid question. [15:26] That's a stupid position to take. [15:27] Of course we fired back at them. [15:29] They were shooting at us. [15:30] That's what I would expect to do. [15:32] Only stupid countries don't shoot back when you're shot at, and we're not a stupid country. [15:36] Do you expect that there, or have you conveyed any red lines to Iran where, you know, if [15:41] the ceasefire, or whatever you call it, if they cross certain red lines? [15:44] No, the red line is clear. [15:45] If they threaten Americans, they're going to get blown up. [15:47] I mean, that's how much clearer can you be than that? [15:51] If you are a missile launching guy, whatever they call that job, and you're sitting there, [15:54] and you fire a missile at the United States, and we saw you fire it, we're going to hit [15:58] you. [15:59] Of course we are. [16:00] Who doesn't do that? [16:01] Unless you want to get your ship sunk. [16:02] I mean, we're not going to let our ships get sunk by the Iranians with their little, [16:06] you know, their drones that they're firing. [16:08] You know, they don't have a Navy anymore. [16:10] But they bring out these little Boston whaler fishing boats, and they try to swarm you. [16:13] We're going to blow those boats up if they're coming towards our boats. [16:15] I don't know if that's a red line, but I hope they know it is by now. [16:19] So if I were one of these Iranians on a fast boat, and they tell you, hey, your mission [16:22] is to go after a U.S. destroyer, you're probably not going to survive. [16:26] I think that's a red line. [16:27] Okay? [16:28] What about the European reaction? [16:29] Does anybody have any questions? [16:30] This guy is like a monopoly over here. [16:33] The President has expressed disappointment in support, or lack thereof, in Europe. [16:41] Was there any discussion today in your meeting with Prime Minister Maloney or Foreign Minister [16:44] Tahani about them providing escorts in the Strait of Hormuz or— [16:47] No, we didn't get to that level of specificity about what they—here's the bottom line, okay? [16:51] Everybody says Iran is a threat. [16:53] Everybody says that Iran can't have a nuclear weapon. [16:55] Okay. [16:56] But you've got to do something about it. [16:58] The President's trying to do something about it. [17:00] And I don't understand why anybody would not be supportive of that. [17:03] And he doesn't understand, and rightfully so are, somebody would be supportive of that. [17:06] But here's a more fundamental problem. [17:07] Iran now claims that they own, that they have a right to control an international waterway. [17:13] They claim that they have a right to control it. [17:15] What is the world going to do about that? [17:17] Is the world going to accept that Iran now controls an international waterway? [17:21] Because if the world is prepared to accept that, then be ready, because there's like [17:24] ten other countries that are going to start doing the same thing in their international [17:27] waterways or in international waterways near their countries. [17:31] That's an unacceptable thing that they're trying to normalize. [17:34] So if the answer is no, we don't think Iran should be able to control the Straits of Hormuz, [17:39] then the next question is going to be for everyone, well, what are you going to do about it? [17:42] What is the world prepared to do about it? [17:44] And we're trying to do something about it diplomatically. [17:46] We have a resolution at the United Nations that we're trying to move forward in which the [17:50] world and the UN will have an opportunity through the Security Council to vote and say, [17:55] we are not going to allow them to mine the Straits, we're not going to allow them to try to control [17:59] the Straits, and by the way, you have a bunch of humanitarian aid that's trapped inside [18:03] the Persian Gulf and needs to be released and has not been able to move. [18:07] We're going to give the world a chance to pronounce itself on it, and if Russia or China or some [18:11] other country decide to veto it, then you know what the impediment is. [18:14] But the fundamental question every country, not Italy, every country needs to ask themselves [18:17] is, are you going to normalize a country claiming to control an international waterway? [18:23] Because if you normalize that, you set a precedent that's going to get repeated in a dozen other [18:26] places. [18:27] And if the answer is, no, we don't want to normalize it, then you better have something [18:30] more than just strongly worded statements to back it up. [18:33] And that's the point I've made in all of my visits, not just here. [18:36] I didn't come to Italy just to make that point. [18:38] I would say that to any country that complains about the Straits, because that's what we [18:42] potentially are facing unless we get a good deal from the Iranians, and we're waiting [18:46] to hear that today. [18:47] Mr. Secretary, can I move to Taiwan actually, sorry to geographically go around the world. [18:55] Parliament just approved a pretty big massive defense bill today or last night. [19:03] There was a little bit less than what the president of Taiwan was asking for, but nonetheless, [19:07] it's a big bill, including money to buy U.S. arms. [19:13] What is your reaction to that, if any, and specifically in the context of the trip you [19:17] will be doing with the president next week in China? [19:20] Well, all I would say in context of the trip next week, in Taiwan in specific, is the United [19:24] States, our policy remains unchanged. [19:28] We don't want to see any forced or compelled change in the situation now. [19:32] I think we'll be destabilizing to the world. [19:35] Our position on that has been, we've heard obviously the Chinese position, but we've made [19:39] our position on that clear as well, and I imagine that will be discussed in the trip, but I don't [19:47] think it'll be a feature of our trip, but it'll certainly be an item that's discussed. [19:50] We think it's to the benefit of China, the United States, and the world writ large that [19:54] there'll be stability in the straits there, and that continues to be our position. [19:57] That's the one we'll continue to stand by and advocate for. [19:59] All right, I have time for one more. [20:01] We've got to leave. [20:02] Before you go. [20:03] You spoke with Lavrov recently, and they targeted kindergarten in Ukraine even after they advocated [20:08] for ceasefire. [20:09] Where does the negotiations stand from now? [20:12] Well, right now, the negotiations aren't, we're not, we've played, we've tried to play [20:15] a mediator role in that. [20:18] So far, it has not led to a fruitful outcome for a variety of reasons. [20:23] We remain prepared to play that role if it can be productive. [20:26] We don't want to waste our time and invest time and energy in an effort that's not moving forward. [20:30] But if we see an opportunity to act as a mediator that brings both sides closer to a peace deal, [20:35] we'd like to see it. [20:36] Our position at the end of the day is that this war is a tragedy. [20:39] Both sides are paying a very heavy price for it, both economic and obviously at a human [20:43] level. [20:44] It's destructive. [20:45] We're against it. [20:46] And any time you tell me about strikes and people, every time I hear about these things, [20:50] it just reminds us of why this war needs to end. [20:52] And while we're prepared to play whatever role we can to bring it to a peaceful diplomatic resolution, [20:58] unfortunately, you know, right now those efforts have stagnated, but we always stand ready [21:02] if those circumstances change. [21:03] Can I just ask one on Africa? [21:04] Okay, guys? [21:05] Yeah, and then I got to go and I apologize. [21:06] One on Africa. [21:07] I mean, the President committed last year to personally intervening to help try to end the [21:11] war in Sudan. [21:12] The Pope, in one of his addresses, called this one of the world's greatest tragedies. [21:18] Did this come up at all in your discussions and do you see any movement toward- [21:21] Well, we discussed Africa broadly and, of course, Sudan being an incredible tragedy. [21:26] We've been heavily engaged through that quad process. [21:28] Obviously, Sudan has become in some ways sort of a proxy engagement between multiple countries [21:33] who are behind some of the elements that are fighting. [21:35] There are other countries that are not directly involved but have allowed their national territories [21:39] to be used as a way to ship weaponry. [21:42] We recently had a pretty positive announcement for the first time on a statement of principles, [21:46] but we have to give it some action. [21:48] What we've really been focused on in Sudan is sort of establishing a humanitarian ceasefire [21:53] that allows us to provide aid to people that are suffering tremendously there, but not doing [21:57] so at the expense of a broader deal. [21:58] So we do want the humanitarian ceasefire where we can identify a number of communities that [22:03] are safe havens for the distribution of humanitarian aid for what is one of the world's worst humanitarian [22:08] crises ever. [22:09] But you can't do that unless you have the security to be able to provide the aid. [22:13] But we don't want that to be the final outcome. [22:17] In addition to the humanitarian corridors and the humanitarian sites, we need to bring [22:23] this conflict to an end. [22:24] And the way to bring this conflict to an end is for the countries and the parties who are [22:27] supporting the fighting elements to force these elements toward a peace deal that ends [22:33] this conflict. [22:34] And as I said, we've been very involved in that quad process, invested a lot of time [22:37] in it, continue to be engaged on a daily basis, and in fact have people in our bureau in Africa, [22:42] as well as our special envoy, Saad Boulos, involved almost daily on this topic. [22:47] So, okay guys, I've got to run. [22:48] I apologize. [22:49] Thank you. [22:50] Were you surprised by your Italian origins? [22:51] Oh. [22:52] Mr. Secretary, were you surprised by your Italian origins? [22:54] Well, I'm not surprised today. [22:57] I learned about it in 2017 when PBS did a Finding Your Roots special. [23:02] Oh.