US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Monday (local time) declined to comment on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom’s (USCIRF) annual report, which recommends placing India on the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list.
No Comment on India’s CPC Recommendation
When questioned about the USCIRF’s request to impose sanctions on Indian intelligence agency RAW, Bruce stated:
“Well, I will not discuss negotiations or diplomatic considerations in that manner at all.”
She further added:
“We will take a look at where that stands and the reference to that. But that’s not something that is – I’m going to be commenting on.”
The USCIRF report lists Burma, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan under the CPC designation.
Bruce on Trump’s Global Influence
Bruce was also asked about former President Donald Trump’s role in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Afghanistan, where people are reportedly seeking his help.
She acknowledged Trump’s influence, stating:
“Well, I support President Trump, and I think that the majority of Americans who gave him this mandate understand that that’s what is possible. We saw that happen in the first term.”
Highlighting Trump’s leadership and economic policies, she added:
“Clearly, a financially stable America, a strong America, for as long as we’ve been here, has made the difference in the safety and security of the rest of the world. That is the kind of dynamic that the world wants and expects. President Trump embodies the nature of our original founding about what America is for and the nature of what it can accomplish when it comes to sticking with its values and making sure that we’re safe and secure and that we respect ourselves and implement our values.”
Bruce’s remarks reflect ongoing discussions on US foreign policy, religious freedom concerns, and Trump’s global leadership role.