Embedded Files
https://history.state.gov/countries/france Dec 6, 2022 "France is one of the oldest U.S. allies, dating to 1778 when the French monarchy recognized the independence of the United States. French military and economic assistance during the American War of Independence (1775-81) was crucial to the American victory." United States Department of State
https://history.state.gov/countries/spain Dec 6, 2022 "The Continental Congress of the United States of America sent John Jay to Spain in 1779 in an attempt to convince the Spanish Court to recognize the new nation. Jay spent two years there to no success. Madrid was unwilling to risk relations with the Congress in Philadelphia until it became apparent that Britain and the United States were actually going to sign a treaty to end the war and recognized U.S. independence. Since 1783, when Spain did eventually recognize the United States, the two countries have broken relations just once, when they went to war against each other in the Spanish-American War of 1898. Currently Spain is a constitutional monarchy, a member of the European Union and NATO." United States Department of State
https://history.state.gov/countries/united-kingdom Dec 6, 2022 "The United States of America declared its independence from the United Kingdom of Great Britain on July 4, 1776. However, the American Revolutionary War continued until the British General Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington on October 19, 1781. Aside from a break in relations over the War of 1812, and strains over the possibility of British recognition of the Confederacy during the Civil War, the United States and the United Kingdom have enjoyed generally cordial and consistent relations since American independence." United States Department of State
https://history.state.gov/countries/russia Dec 6, 2022 "Francis Dana, a prominent member of the Continental Congress and secretary to the American legation at Paris, was appointed Minister to Russia in 1780; however, the Russian Government refused to accept his credentials when he arrived in St. Petersburg in August 1781. Dana nevertheless remained in Russia as a private citizen for two years to promote the American revolutionary cause. In 1795, the Russian Government again declined to receive officially an appointed representative of the United States, when it refused to accept the credentials of John Miller Russell as American Consul at St. Petersburg." United States Department of State
https://history.state.gov/countries/mexico Dec 6, 2022 "Diplomatic relations between the United States and Mexico have been intimate and often contentious. At the outset, the issue of granting recognition to an independent Mexico divided American leaders such as Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams. After finally recognizing Mexico in 1822, the U.S. push for territorial expansion led to a war between the two countries (1846-48)." United States Department of State
https://history.state.gov/countries/canada Dec 6, 2022 "After the American Revolution ended, a Philadelphia financier in 1784 sent the ship Empress of China for the first voyage of direct trade between the United States and China. In the 60 years following the Empress of China’s voyage, relations among U.S. citizens and Chinese were private and largely commercial. Nevertheless, Sino-American trade grew under the Chinese system that limited foreign traders’ access to a single port city, Guangzhou (Canton)." United States Department of State
https://history.state.gov/countries/texas Dec 6, 2022 "Colonized in the eighteenth century by the Spanish, the Republic of Texas declared its independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836. The Republic of Texas was not recognized by the United States until a year later in 1837. The question of incorporating Texas into the United States was an issue that strained U.S. relations with Mexico during the 1840s. Although Texas was annexed by the United States in late December 1845, the formal transfer ceremony occurred on February 19, 1846, thus officially ending diplomatic relations between the Republic of Texas and the United States." United States Department of State
https://history.state.gov/countries/china Dec 6, 2022 "The Dominion of Canada formed in 1867, but as an integral part of the British Empire its foreign relations remained under the control of London. Over the next six decades Canada gradually won greater control over its external affairs, spurred in part by the demands of managing its relationship with the United States. American and Canadian government officials increasingly interacted through joint commissions and military cooperation, and the two governments even negotiated a bilateral fisheries treaty in 1923. It was not until 1926, however, that the United Kingdom acknowledged that Canada was fully autonomous in the conduct of its foreign affairs." United States Department of State
https://history.state.gov/countries/hawaii Dec 6, 2022 "The Hawaiian Islands were first discovered by the West in 1778 by Captain James Cook. At the time, Cook named the island chain the Sandwich Islands after the British Earl of Sandwich. Hawaiian King Kamehameha I placed the not-yet-united Hawaiian Kingdom under British protection during the British naval expeditions led by George Vancouver from 1792 to 1794. However, the British government took no formal action to enforce its sovereignty over Hawaii. In 1810, Kamehameha I united the Hawaiian Islands under his rule when the island of Kauai came under his suzerainty." United States Department of State
https://history.state.gov/countries/cuba Dec 6, 2022 "After Spain’s defeat by U.S. and Cuban forces during the War of 1898, Spain relinquished sovereignty over Cuba. Following the war, U.S. forces occupied Cuba until 1902, when the United States allowed a new Cuban government to take full control of the state’s affairs. As a condition of independence, the United States forced Cuba to grant a continuing U.S. right to intervene on the island in accordance with the Platt Amendment. The amendment was repealed in 1934 when the United States and Cuba signed a Treaty of Relations. The United States and Cuba cooperated under the rule of Fulgencio Batista through the 1950s. Following the revolution of 1959 and the rise of Fidel Castro to power, relations steadily deteriorated. As a result of Castro’s reforms and the Cuban government’s increased cooperation with the Soviet Union, the United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba in January 1961." United States Department of State
https://history.state.gov/countries/bahamas Dec 6, 2022 "As a close neighbor of the United States, The Bahamas has historically enjoyed good diplomatic relations with the United States. Since achieving full independence from the United Kingdom in 1973, The Bahamas has closely cooperated with the United States to reduce drug trafficking and illegal immigration issues." United States Department of State
https://history.state.gov/countries/philippines Dec 6, 2022 "The United States recognized the Republic of the Philippines as an independent state on July 4, 1946, when President Harry S. Truman did so in a proclamation. The United States and the Philippines signed a treaty on the same date whereby the United States renounced all claims to the Philippines, which had previously been under American sovereignty." United States Department of State
https://history.state.gov/countries/japan Dec 6, 2022 "Beginning in the early 19th century, American merchants in China became interested in extending their activities to Japan. At this time, however, the shoguns that ruled Japan had implemented a policy of closed borders that made it very difficult for U.S. citizens and the Japanese to interact. There were, however, isolated cases of interaction. By the 1850s, a combination of growing U.S. interests in expanding a regional presence and internal shifts in Japan brought about a dramatic opening in U.S.-Japanese relations." United States Department of State
https://history.state.gov/countries/korea-south Dec 6, 2022 "The United States recognized the Republic of Korea, with its capital at Seoul, as an independent state on January 1, 1949, in a White House statement. Diplomatic relations between the United States and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) were established on March 25, 1949, when Ambassador Dr. John Myun Chang, presented his credentials to President Truman." United States Department of State
Military and Political Links
Military and Political Links
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/13/tech/taiwan-tsmc-us-investment-reactions-intl-hnk/index.html Mar 13, 2025 "China’s ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan as part of its territory despite having never controlled it and has vowed to take control of the self-governing island, by force if necessary. Beijing has in recent years escalated its military activities around Taiwan, regularly flying fighter jets and conducting exercises in waters near the island.... Taiwan relies on US military and political support. Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the US is legally obligated to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself against a possible attack by China." CNN
Foreign Relations Video Links
Foreign Relations Video Links
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfDahxIIp6g Feb 27, 2025 In his Oval Office meeting with UK PM Keir Starmer, President Trump spoke about the participation of the U.S. in a post-war security guarantee, and joked about the EU taking on Russia by themselves. Forbes Breaking News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxnjKyZmDuY Jul 17, 2017 This is an archive of a Trump Administration account maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For more information please visit https://www.trumplibrary.gov Trump White House Archived
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P8P6V6EOYQ Feb 26, 2015 American history isn’t always just about America – sometimes, it’s about Japan. On July 8, 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry sailed into Tokyo Bay with four American ships and a mission from the U.S. Government to open Japan to American trade. In this episode of “Founding Fragments,” host Tory Altman talks with the National Portrait Gallery's Wendy Wick Reaves about an object that shows how the Japanese saw their new visitors. The "Founding Fragments" video series gets up close and personal with historical treasures in the collection of the National Museum of American History. Subscribe to our channel to find out about future episodes, or learn more at http://bit.ly/1iKbqQa. Written, directed, and edited by Kent Chadwick. National Museum of American History
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jL0CG68554 Apr 21, 2021 President Putin has warned countries in the West not to cross what he called a “red line” with Russia, stating that it would trigger an "asymmetrical, rapid and harsh" response. Mr Putin's comments during his state of the nation address came at a time of increased tensions with the West and as supporters of the jailed opposition figure Alexei Navalny staged more protests against Mr Putin's rule. Huw Edwards presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Moscow correspondent Steve Rosenberg. BBC News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paJYubl2daM Apr 15, 2021 This is the specially modified Land Rover which will transport the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin during his funeral. Prince Philip designed the Land Rover Defender 130 Gun Bus himself. The vehicle will carry his coffin from a private chapel at Windsor Castle to the separate St George's Chapel. His coffin will be draped with his personal flag, which reflects his Greek heritage and his British titles, and his naval cap and sword will be laid on top of it. The Duke of Edinburgh always been a Land Rover driver and had a passion for the four-wheel drive vehicles. In 2016 he surprised Barack and Michele Obama when he jumped into the driver’s seat of a Range Rover. Prince Philip acted as chauffeur for both them and the Queen during an engagement at Windsor Castle. #PrincePhilip #DukeOfEdinburgh #LandRover The Royal Family Channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VSZ4TGZtKU Apr 22, 2016 The Queen and Prince Philip meet Barack and Michelle Obama from their helicopter as they arrive for lunch at Windsor Castle. The Royal Family Channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9I46AM2F6Q Jun 3, 2019 President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump join the Queen and members of the Royal Family ahead of a special lunch inside Buckingham Palace. President Trump and Melania previously joined The Queen for tea at Windsor Castle in July 2018. Her Majesty The Queen is joined by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall as they officially welcome The President and Mrs Trump at Buckingham Palace. The President is welcomed in the Palace Gardens before inspecting the Guard of Honour, formed of Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards. The Royal Family Channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhnhQ67tWf4 Jun 3, 2019 The banquet opens with the Queen making a speech to welcome the US president. She says state visits always serve as a reminder of the "close and longstanding relationship" between the United States and the UK. She makes reference to D-Day, when she says British and American soldiers fought together to defend democracy. She says the UK owes an "immeasurable debt" to the American soldiers who began the liberation of Europe towards the end of World War II. BBC News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBTLlAKhcEM Apr 26, 2018 Song First Flight Artist Bradley James Farmer, PRS Album 2FM-0020 ORCHESTRAL LANDSCAPES & VISTAS Trump White House Archived
The Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) series presents the official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activity. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments
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