On April 20, 2021, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg spoke with his U.S. counterpart Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. It was the first extended exchange of views between the two foreign ministers, who already met earlier this year when Secretary Blinken virtually attended a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union.

Duing the the call, the U.S. Secretary of State emphasized the “excellent relations with Austria, the value of the U.S.-EU partnership in meeting shared challenges, and the importance of raising global ambition to tackle the climate crisis”.  He also thanked Austria for hosting U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley and the JCPOA talks in Vienna.

“There is broad consensus in joint values and common interests,” said Foreign Minister Schallenberg, underlining the excellent conversation with Secretary Blinken. “Our Goal is to revitalize our strategic partnership by reconnecting our societies, relaunching our economies and reshaping our multilateral engagement. A strong transatlantic partnership is crucial to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. We need transatlantic leadership in the fight against climate change, promoting security and prosperity in the Western Balkans and preserving the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, known commonly as the Iran nuclear deal).”