Riley M. Barnes Designated U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues During Losar

Overview

• U.S. Senator Marco Rubio marked Losar by extending greetings and announcing Riley M. Barnes as the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.
• The coordinator’s portfolio includes aligning U.S. policy on Tibet with support for human rights, religious freedom, and cultural preservation.
• The Central Tibetan Administration thanked President Donald Trump and Senator Rubio, congratulated Barnes, and voiced hopes for renewed talks with China.
• Tibetan communities in Himachal Pradesh opened the three-day Losar festival with prayers at monasteries, including Tsuglagkhang and Thupten Dorje Drak, for peace and the Dalai Lama’s long life.
• Sikyong Penpa Tsering condemned Chinese policies he said target Tibetan identity and called for unity among exiles, underscoring Tibet’s sensitivity in U.S.–China relations.