The Deputy Secretary, William J. Burns serves as the principal deputy, adviser, and alter ego to the Secretary of State; serves as Acting Secretary of State in the Secretary's absence; and assists the Secretary in the formulation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy and in giving general supervision and direction to all elements of the Department. Specific duties and supervisory responsibilities have varied over time.
Second Meeting of the Afghanistan-U.S. Bilateral Commission
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U.S. Assistance in SomaliaDeputy Secretary Burns (May 7): "Ultimately, it is up to the people of Somalia to ensure that reform succeeds. But we all have a responsibility to support their efforts." Full Text» More» |
Community of Democracies Ministerial Deputy Secretary Burns (Apr. 29): "The calls for dignity, freedom, and democracy we have heard from Tunis to Sana’a are no different from those we heard two decades ago in Warsaw or Ulaanbaatar." Full Text» Fact Sheet» |