Bureau Home Bureau Home About Us Leadership Key Topics Remarks and Releases Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets Contact Us HomeBureaus & Offices > Under Secretary for Political Affairs ...Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs hide Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Subscribe Our Mission Everyone working in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs is dedicated to helping keep Americans safe and increasing our economic prosperity. We do that through partnerships with the governments and people of the Americas. Our engagement advances fair and reciprocal trade, sustainable economic development, and poverty reduction; combats drug trafficking, transnational crime, and illegal immigration; and supports democracy, the rule of law, and good governance to strengthen our national security and our economy. We do this because we know that a hemisphere whose countries and citizens are secure and prosperous will in turn help keep Americans safe, create markets for U.S. products, and support opportunities for U.S. businesses. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols Follow Us: Twitter The Latest Summit of the Americas The Ninth Summit marks the first time the United States has hosted the event since the inaugural meeting in Miami in 1994. December 7, 2023 Economic Health Dialogue of the Americas Advances Through a Strategic Summit in Uruguay December 6, 2023 Secretary Blinken’s Call with Guyanese President Ali December 6, 2023 Remarks at the Economic Health Dialogue of the Americas Strategic Summit See All Key Topics Protecting U.S. Citizens at Home and Abroad Fostering Inclusive Economic Growth Defending Freedom The Caribbean Protecting U.S. Citizens at Home and Abroad We rely on strong partnerships with governments, civil society, and the private sector throughout the Americas to fight transnational criminal organizations. When we disrupt illicit networks and cut off trafficking routes that lead to the United States, we keep Americans safe at home. By providing governments training and technical assistance to deny transnational criminal organizations, gangs, and terrorists the permissive environment they need to operate, we help protect our own borders and keep Americans safe and secure while abroad. In addition, we work with partners to counter threats posed by external state and non-state actors. Learn more about our work to protect U.S. citizens Protecting U.S. Citizens at Home and Abroad Fostering Inclusive Economic Growth We advance the U.S. government’s fair and reciprocal trade agenda and foster growth by seeking to level the playing field and ensure access to foreign markets for U.S. firms. We promote transparent, fair business practices and good governance to eliminate corruption. Education, English-language access, and people-to-people exchanges are at the core of our economic-related public diplomacy engagement in the Americas, because educated workers invest in their local communities, stimulate economic growth, and foster entrepreneurship and innovation. Countries with strong economies and educated citizens provide opportunities for U.S. businesses, which create more jobs for American workers. Learn more about our work to grow the U.S. economy Fostering Inclusive Economic Growth Defending Freedom Working through regional forums like the Organization of American States and alongside leaders throughout the hemisphere, we defend freedom and democracy and seek to end impunity. We champion the Inter-American Democratic Charter and support the democratic aspirations of people oppressed by the authoritarian regimes in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Learn more about our work defending freedom in the region Defending Freedom The Caribbean The United States maintains diplomatic relations with nations across the Caribbean. Building on the successful U.S.-Caribbean 2020 Engagement Strategy, the United States continues to work with our Caribbean neighbors through the pillars of prosperity, health, resilience, security, energy, diplomacy and education. Learn More The Caribbean Countries & Areas Countries & Areas of the Western Hemisphere Antigua and Barbuda Argentina The Bahamas Barbados Belize Bolivia Brazil Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Suriname Trinidad and Tobago Uruguay Venezuela