The Trump administration is preparing to expand travel restrictions to include 36 additional countries—among them key U.S. allies like Egypt and Djibouti—according to an internal State Department memo obtained by The Washington Post.

Signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the memo was circulated to U.S. diplomats over the weekend. It gives the listed countries a 60-day deadline to comply with new requirements set by the State Department.

According to the document, some nations failed to meet specific benchmarks, including the inability to provide reliable identity documents or having a significant number of citizens who overstayed U.S. visas. In some cases, the memo cites the absence of a competent or cooperative central government as a concern.

However, the memo also offers a potential reprieve: countries willing to accept deported third-country nationals from the U.S. may receive more favorable consideration.

The countries facing possible visa restrictions, travel bans, or other penalties include 25 African nations: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The list also names Caribbean countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia; as well as four Asian countries—Bhutan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, and Syria—and three Pacific nations: Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

Each country has until Wednesday at 8 a.m. to submit an initial plan to meet the new criteria. It remains unclear whether restrictions will be immediately enforced after the deadline passes.

This internal memo surfaces just a week after President Trump reintroduced elements of his first-term travel ban, announcing full bans on 12 countries and restrictions on seven others.

In January, the president signed an executive order directing the State Department to evaluate and flag countries with inadequate security vetting processes for possible suspension of travel.

These moves are part of Trump’s broader immigration agenda, which includes aggressive deportation efforts within the U.S. and sweeping international travel limitations. While his hardline immigration stance was anticipated in a second term, the speed and extent of these actions have raised concerns among lawmakers and the public.

The State of Israel has expressed disappointment with the Government of Ghana for abstaining from a critical vote at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which declared Iran to be in breach of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.

On Thursday, June 12, 2025, the IAEA’s 35-member Board of Governors—chaired by Ghana—passed a resolution condemning Iran’s lack of cooperation regarding its nuclear program. It was the first such resolution in nearly two decades and could pave the way for Iran’s referral to the United Nations Security Council.

The resolution, seen by Reuters, states that Iran has repeatedly failed since 2019 to provide the IAEA with timely and full disclosure about undeclared nuclear material and activities at multiple locations. This, it said, constitutes a violation of Iran’s Safeguards Agreement with the agency.

Tensions between the IAEA and Iran have escalated since the collapse of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, following the United States’ withdrawal under then-President Donald Trump in 2018. The vote comes amid renewed global concerns, with the U.S. recently evacuating personnel from parts of the Middle East and issuing warnings about growing regional threats.

The resolution—sponsored by the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany—passed with 19 votes in favor, 11 abstentions, and 3 votes against, cast by Russia, China, and Burkina Faso.

Israeli Ambassador Criticizes Ghana’s Position

Reacting to Ghana’s abstention, Israel’s Ambassador to Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, Mr. Roey Gilad, expressed regret, noting that Israel had counted on Ghana, a longstanding ally, to back the resolution.

“Ghana abstained from voting on Iran’s non-compliance with its nuclear program. We lobbied Ghana strongly, hoping for its support, but we were disappointed,” Ambassador Gilad told journalists during a press briefing at his residence in Accra.

He described Iran’s nuclear ambitions as a global security threat and criticized Ghana’s continued adherence to its traditional non-aligned foreign policy in such matters.

“Iran has openly called for the destruction of the Jewish State of Israel—a country Ghana has considered a friend since 1957. This vote was an opportunity for Ghana to show support, and we hoped for a different outcome,” he said.

Although Ghana’s abstention aligns with IAEA convention—where the Chair typically refrains from voting—Ambassador Gilad suggested this situation warranted an exception.

“Yes, Ghana chairs the Board, but this issue is of such vital importance to Israel that we believe it should have voted,” he added.

Call to Rethink Non-Alignment

While acknowledging Ghana’s sovereign right to make its own decisions, Ambassador Gilad encouraged a review of its long-standing non-alignment stance, especially in matters affecting global peace and security.

“We fully respect Ghana’s independent policy-making. However, as a friend, I believe it’s time to reconsider the non-aligned posture that dates back to Nkrumah’s era. In Israel, we constantly re-evaluate our policies—we believe it would be healthy for Ghana to do the same,” he said.

Relations Remain Strong

Despite the disagreement, the Ambassador emphasized that the incident would not damage the strong ties between Ghana and Israel.

“This will not overshadow our relationship, but it is a point of concern. We value mature partnerships, and mature partners must be able to discuss disagreements openly. We’ve done so in the past and will continue to do so,” Ambassador Gilad concluded.

The IAEA, established in 1957, is the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, mandated to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and prevent its use for military purposes.

The National Anti-Piracy Committee of the Copyright Office of Ghana wishes to issue a strong warning to all television stations across the country regarding the unauthorised use, broadcasting, or distribution of copyrighted content for which they do not possess the legal rights.

It has come to the attention of the Committee that some television stations are engaging in the illegal practice of downloading films, series, documentaries, sports broadcasts, and other creative works from streaming platforms and subsequently airing them on their networks without proper authorisation or licensing from the rights holders.

We wish to remind all stakeholders in the broadcasting sector that this practice constitutes copyright infringement and is a criminal offence under the Copyright Act, 2005 (Act 690), as amended. The law prohibits the unauthorised use of protected works, and any individual or entity found in violation is liable to face severe legal consequences, including fines, imprisonment, or both.

The Committee emphasises that copyright is a legal right that protects the creative works of authors, producers, and rights holders. The unauthorised reproduction or public performance of such works undermines the creative industry, deprives creators of their rightful earnings, and contravenes Ghana’s national and international obligations.

All television stations are therefore advised to:

1. Cease from broadcasting any content they do not have express rights or licenses to use.

2. Obtain proper authorisation from the appropriate rights holders or licensing agencies before airing any third-party content.

3. Maintain clear records of their content acquisition and licensing agreements for inspection when required.

The National Anti-Piracy Committee, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, will not hesitate to take legal action against any station found culpable. Surveillance and enforcement activities have been intensified nationwide to clamp down on such infringements.

We call on all broadcasters to uphold the principles of intellectual property rights and support the growth of Ghana’s creative economy by respecting the law.

Signed,

William Bonsu

PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY

Copyright Office of Ghana

For further information, contact:

Mr. Sammy Awuku Gyeketey

0242571982