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The United States of America in Austria | American Expats in Vienna
Austria and the U.S. - Read the latest headlines about bilateral relations in the areas of economy, business, investment, diplomacy, culture and tourism


Russo-Ukrainian War: First Effects of Western Sanctions on Russian Economy

The Russian economy is already beginning to feel the effects of the Western sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine. Read what effects the sanctions are having on the economy.
February 28, 2022


Iranian Foreign Minister and Iran's Chief Negotiator in Vienna Optimistic on Nuclear Talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says Tehran is serious about reaching an agreement, but the West must be realistic. Earlier, Iran's chief negotiator at the nuclear talks in Vienna, Ali Bagheri Kani, also expressed optimism about the progress of negotiations.
February 23, 2022


Sony DADC Austria AG Tightens Production Program

The decline in the production program of optical storage media (CDs and DVDs) forces Sony DADC Austria to terminate and redeploy towards BioSciences and digital services.
February 22, 2022

Viennese Museum Returns Looted Colonial Artifacts to the USA
The Natural History Museum in Vienna is returning looted items from the colonial era to the United States. Read more about the two artifacts and why they are being returned.
February 14, 2022

Disinformation and Propaganda: How Russia Reverses Reports of International Media
The Russian Foreign Ministry has claimed that Western media is spreading disinformation to unfairly paint Russia as an aggressor towards Ukraine. Read how Russia manipulates Western media sources to create its own narrative.
February 14, 2022

Ukraine Crisis: OSCE Special Monitoring Mission Obstructed in Ukraine
The United States and European Union have expressed concern that the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine continues to face restrictions to its freedom of movement in Ukraine. Read about the latest impediment to the SMM's monitoring ability and what the US and EU said about it.
February 11, 2022


Blinken Lifts Sanctions on Iran's Civilian Nuclear Program to Advance Vienna Negotiations

The U.S. has lifted sanctions reimposed by Trump on Iran's civilian nuclear program as part of negotiations in Vienna.
February 6, 2022


Sergei Lavrov Expects Clarifications from Individual Western Countries on Russia's Security

The Russian foreign minister's remarks raise hopes for further diplomatic efforts in the Ukraine crisis.
February 2, 2022


U.S. Ambassador Laura Holgate Presented Her Credentials to the United Nations Office at Vienna

Professional U.S. diplomat with expertise in nonproliferation, nuclear deterrence, nuclear security, disarmament, nuclear energy and other related areas becomes ambassador at a time when Europe is facing the greatest threat of war since World War II.
February 1, 2022


Mandatory Covid Vaccination in Austria: Foreign Diplomats Not Covered

The vaccination requirement in Austria does not generally apply to foreign diplomats who live in Austria and are exempt from the registration requirement under the Registration Act. Details in the following article.
February 1, 2022



How Close Are We to War Between Russia and the Ukraine?


Tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain very high, and some have called a Russian invasion imminent. Read what Nina L. Kruscheva, an expert on Russia and international affairs, said about the likelihood of a war between Russia and Ukraine.
January 31, 2022


Austrian Airlines Relaunches Non-stop Flights to Los Angeles in Summer 2022

Starting in mid-May, Austrian Airlines will once again offer a direct flight between Vienna and Los Angeles to the U.S. West Coast. From 20 May, Austrian Airlines will fly five times a week to L.A.
January 31, 2022


Vienna Nuclear Talks: Direct Contacts between Tehran and Washington Possible

Iranian leadership has suggested that Iran may be open to meeting directly with U.S. officials for negotiations to revive the Iran Nuclear Deal. Read about this significant stance change and what it means for the JCPOA.
January 27, 2022


United Nations: Guterres Appoints Volker Türk of Austria Under-Secretary-General for Policy in His Executive Office

Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of Austrian lawyer and UN official as Under-Secretary-General for Policy in his Executive Office.
January 26, 2022



Brussels: Schallenberg Attends Ukraine Crisis Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers


Foreign Minister Schallenberg attended a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. The meeting, which U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also attended virtually, focused on the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine. Read about the meeting and watch an interview with Foreign Minister Schallenberg.
January 26, 2022

European Leaders Take Unified Position Against Russian Aggression Against Ukraine
Several heads of state - including Ursula von der Leyen, Jens Stoltenberg, Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Mario Draghi, Charles Michel and Polish President Andrzej Duda, representing the Chairmanship of the OSCE - took part in a virtual meeting organised by the President of the United States Joe Biden, on Russia’s continued military build-up in and around Ukraine and its implications for European and international security.
January 24, 2022


C.I.A. Review Finds Mysterious "Havana Syndrome" Unlikely Caused by Enemies

A CIA assessment has found that most of the cases of the "Havana Syndrome" that has been affecting hundreds of diplomats around the world are not likely the result of actions of a foreign power. Read about the CIA's findings and what they believe the cause of Havana Syndrome is.
January 24, 2022

Austria's Position on the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain high as Russia still has thousands of troops stationed on the Ukrainian border. Read Austria's position on the issue.
January 22, 2022

Schallenberg on Russia's Aggression Toward Ukraine: "Dialogue where possible. Clear lines where necessary."
Foreign Minister Schallenberg gave a speech in the Austrian National Council in which he addressed the current tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Read what the foreign minister warned about the situation.
January 21, 2022


Meet Dr. Michael R. Carpenter, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the OSCE

Ambassador Michael Carpenter, an American diplomat, was nominated by President Biden to serve as the Permanent Representative of the USA to the OSCE - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and was confirmed by the United States Senate in November, 2021. On November 29, 2021, he assumed office as ambassador after presenting his credentials at the OSCE in Vienna.
January 20, 2022

Russian Arms Control Delegation in Vienna: Contradictions Related to U.S. Social Media Account Outages
According to reports by Russian news agencies TASS and RT, the Facebook account of the Russian Arms Control Delegation, a division of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the OSCE in Vienna, was blocked last Friday and unblocked on Monday, after intervention by Russia's telecommunications watchdog Roskomnadzor. A fact check of the relevant Russian media reports reveals a tangle of allegations and exaggerations.
January 19, 2022


Schallenberg Cautions "Ukraine's Sovereignty Is Not Negotiable Under Any Circumstances"

Foreign Minister Schallenberg recently discussed the current tensions between Ukraine and Russia at a meeting with his counterparts from the EU in Brest, France. Read more about Schallenberg's stance on Ukraine and dealing with Russia in the context of Russia's troop buildup and a recent cyberattack on Ukraine.
January 17, 2022


Meet the Reappointed U.S. Ambassador to the U.S. Mission in Vienna, Laura S.H. Holgate

Laura Susan Hayes Holgate, an American diplomat who was already accredited as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations International Organizations in Vienna and to the IAEA for six months between 2016 and 2017, is back under President Joe Biden.
January 16, 2022



Vicki Kennedy Accredited as U.S. Ambassador to Austria


Victoria Kennedy presented her credentials to Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, officially making her the new Ambassador of the United States to Austria. Learn more about the new ambassador.
January 12, 2022



NATO and Russian Leaders Say Differences "Will Be Hard to Bridge"


Representatives from NATO and Russia met in Brussels at the NATO-Russia Council to try to de-escalate the tensions between Russia and Ukraine and NATO. Read what each side is demanding and why the leaders say the differences "will be hard to bridge."
January 12, 2022


Joint Statement of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear-Weapon States: Austria's Foreign Minister Calls for Concrete Action

"We finally need concrete progress towards nuclear disarmament according to the obligations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but unfortunately the development is going in the wrong direction", says Alexander Schallenberg.
January 10, 2022


United States Ambassador Designate to Austria Kennedy Landed in Vienna: "Good morning, Austria!"

Ambassador-designate Victoria Kennedy has landed in Vienna to assume her role as ambassador of the United States to Austria. Read about Ambassador-designate Kennedy's arrival, her plans for her ambassadorship, and her background.
January 10, 2022

Omicron Coming: New Entry Rules for Austria since December 20.
With immediate effect and thus before Christmas, new stricter entry rules apply for travel to Austria. This applies to both foreigners and locals. Please find the details as follows.
December 19, 2021


Austrian Government Opposes Boycott of the China Winter Olympics

The Austrian government has expressed its opposition to a boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in China. Read which countries support the boycott and what the Austrian government has said about it.
December 16, 2021


Priorities of Austrian Foreign Policy in the Face of Numerous Global Challenges in 2022

The Foreign Policy Committee of the Austrian National Council recently met to discuss some of the major global challenges going into 2022. Read which issues they discussed and Austria's stance on them.
December 15, 2021


Austrian Foreign Ministry: New Appointments to 28 Senior Diplomatic Posts Worldwide

The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten) has decided in its last meeting of the Council of Ministers the new appointments of several (28) Austrian diplomats - as follows.
December 15, 2021




Portrait: Who Is Robert Malley, the Old and New U.S. Lead Negotiator of the Iran Nuclear Talks?




In 2021, Robert Malley was appointed U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, which means he is once again the lead negotiator for the U.S. in the Iran nuclear talks. Read about Mr. Malley's career and his efforts to limit Iran's nuclear activities.
December 15, 2021


Austria Offers to Build Bridges in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

In the EU Main Committee in the Austrian Parliament, Chancellor Nehammer offered for Austria to be a "bridge-builder" in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Read about the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine and Austria's efforts at de-escalation.
December 14, 2021


Who Is Kazem Gharib Abadi, Iran's Former Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna?

After serving for over three years as Iran's Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna, Kazem Gharib Abadi is now the Vice-President of Iran’s Judiciary for International Affairs and Secretary-General of Iran's High Council for Human Rights. Read more about Mr. Gharib Abadi's career path.
December 13, 2021


After Pandemic Shock, Strong Upturn in Foreign Trade: China +26.4 %, USA +18 %

New data for January to September 2021 shows that Austria's foreign trade is returning to pre-pandemic levels. Read about Austria's improving trade figures.
December 10, 2021


Vienna Opera Ball 2022: Canceled Twice in a Row

The Austrian government has announced that the 2022 Vienna Opera Ball has been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. However, the Viennese Opera Ball in New York City is still scheduled to take place. Read more about the two popular events.
December 9, 2021


Iran Nuclear Talks In Vienna To Be Continued

Negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program and a return to compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) are set to continue in Vienna. Read about the ongoing effort to save the Iran Nuclear Deal.
December 9, 2021


OSCE Summit in Stockholm: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Meets Austria's Linhart

Amid growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is meeting with Foreign Minister Linhart at the annual Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Stockholm, Sweden. Read about their meeting as well as Linhart's agenda for the summit.
December 2, 2021



Blinken Thanks Austria for Hosting Iran Nuclear Deal Talks


U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken thanked Austria for hosting the Iran nuclear deal talks on his first call with his Austrian counterpart, Foreign Minister Linhart. Read about this and what else Blinken and Linhart talked about on their first call.
December 1, 2021

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the America House in Vienna
The America House in Vienna is a beautiful mix of architecture and history. Learn more about the exquisite building at Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 2 and the historical America House inside.
November 26, 2021


Meet Leslie Hayden the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna

The Acting Deputy Chief of the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna is currently Leslie Hayden. Ms. Hayden has had a distinguished career as a member of the foreign service. Learn more about her and her impressive accomplishments.
November 25, 2021


U.S. Senate Confirmed Victoria Kennedy to Be Ambassador to Austria

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Victoria Reggie Kennedy (67), the widow of the late senator Edward M. Kennedy, to be the US ambassador to Austria, sending her to Vienna to continue a Kennedy family diplomatic tradition. Read about Ms. Kennedy's memories as a descendant of Lebanese immigrants, about her first trip to Austria as a college student in the 1970s, and about what she wants to do to further strengthen and deepen U.S.-Austrian relations.
November 24, 2021



High-level Belarus Conference in Vienna


Chancellor Schallenberg participated in a video conference to discuss the situation in Belarus and the worsening humanitarian crisis at the EU's external border with numerous representatives from other EU member states and Belarusian opposition politicians. Read what was discussed at the meeting and watch a joint press conference with Schallenberg and Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
November 23, 2021


US Embassy: Visit of the Chargé d'affaires Strengthens Economic Ties between USA and Upper Austria

The Chargé d'affaires of the US Embassy in Vienna Mario Mesquita visited Linz and met with Upper Austrian Governor Thomas Stelzer and Voestalpine CEO Herbert Eibensteiner. Read about Mesquita's visit and what was discussed.
November 11, 2021

Travel: Vaccinated Austrians Allowed to Enter the U.S. Again
Fully vaccinated foreign nationals, including Austrians, are now allowed to enter the United States again without requiring a "national interest exemption." Read about the latest update to US entry requirements and find out who qualifies for an exception.
November 9, 2021

Travel: Airlines Bring Foreign Nationals to the U.S. Again
After more than one and a half years, the US has ended the entry ban for travelers from the European Union on Monday, 8 November. This also allows for Austrians to finally fly to the United States again.
November 9, 2021


Iran Nuclear Talks to Resume November 29 in Vienna

The Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) talks between China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and Tehran on reviving the Iran nuclear deal will convene in a physical format on 29 November 2021 in Vienna, the EU says.
November 5, 2021

Tourists Return to Vienna
Vienna saw a notable increase in overnight stays in September compared to September of last year. This is a positive sign for the tourism industry in Austria, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read about the changes in tourism levels in the Austrian capital.
October 28, 2021

ReFocus Austria: Roundtable in New York as First Initiative in the U.S.
On his stay at the 76th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Foreign Minister Schallenberg held a roundtable event with Austrian and U.S. entrepreneurs to exchange ideas. This was the first of the ReFocus Austria initiative events in the U.S. aimed at strengthening the Austrian economy. Read more about ReFocus Austria and what was discussed at this event.
September 30, 2021


Combating Anti-Semitism in Austria: Representatives of US Jewish Organizations Briefed on New Measures

While in New York for the 76th UNGA, Foreign Minister Schallenberg and Chancellor Kurz met with representatives of various Jewish organizations and briefed them on new measures being taken to combat anti-Semitism. Read about their meetings and some of the steps they are taking to address this issue.
September 29, 2021