On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order at the White House authorizing the government to designate any country that engages in the illegal detention of American citizens as a “Supporter of Improper Detention Countries” and impose sanctions and travel restrictions on them. This move is seen as a significant step in Washington’s comprehensive escalation to combat “hostage diplomacy”.
In the executive order, Trump emphasized that the United States must use all available means to deter hostile countries from detaining American citizens for political purposes. He stated, “No American should be a pawn of rogue regimes.” Such actions not only challenge the rule of law but also directly impact U.S. sovereignty, which the U.S. “will not tolerate”.
According to the executive order, the Secretary of State can list relevant countries under the “Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act,” also known as the “Levinson Act.”
Once labeled as a “Supporter of Improper Detention Country,” the U.S. can impose punishment measures such as economic sanctions, travel restrictions, reduction of diplomatic aid, control of weapon and technology exports, and visa bans on officials involved, under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and related regulations.
The executive order also stipulates that if the country releases unlawfully detained American citizens and demonstrates policy changes, the Secretary of State may recommend removing its designation, but the final decision still lies with the President.
Trump stressed that these measures aim to prevent foreign countries from using “hostage diplomacy” as a political bargaining chip.
Secretary of State Rubio, in a statement, said, “Any country that uses Americans as negotiation chips will pay a price. This government not only prioritizes America but also prioritizes Americans.”
Reuters cited senior White House officials stating that the U.S. will target countries currently detaining American citizens and engaging in “hostage diplomacy,” such as China, Iran, and Afghanistan. Officials revealed that these countries will undergo review for listing.
The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, a U.S. human rights organization, released a statement following Trump’s signing of the executive order, praising the firm stance Washington has shown against “hostage diplomacy” and urging the government to continue safeguarding the safety of U.S. citizens detained abroad through various means. The foundation noted that at least 40 American citizens are currently unlawfully detained or subjected to “hostage diplomacy” in 14 countries worldwide.
In a press release last November, the foundation mentioned that despite the release of American businessmen Mark Swidan, American-Chinese Kai Li, and dual U.S.-Chinese national John Leung through U.S.-China prisoner exchanges, at least seven Americans remain unlawfully detained by China, with three unable to leave due to exit bans.
The most recent case occurred in July this year when an employee of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office under the Department of Commerce was prohibited from leaving China upon traveling there privately and remains banned from departing to this day.
Since returning to the White House in January, the Trump administration has prioritized rescuing American citizens detained abroad. The White House stated that to date, they have successfully rescued 72 American citizens, including cases of release from Russia and Afghanistan.
Regarding this presidential executive order, White House counterterrorism adviser Sebastian Gorka posted on the social platform X, stating that the U.S. has officially launched actions to take tougher measures on overseas hostage issues.