Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs

Updated on Nov 04, 2023

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Employees 244 (As of 2009)		Annual budget $254 million (FY 2009)

Jurisdiction Executive branch of the United States Headquarters Harry S. Truman Building, Washington, D.C., United States Bureau executive Francisco Palmieri, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs (Acting) Parent department U.S. Department of State

In the United States government, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) is a part of the U.S. Department of State, charged with implementing U.S. foreign policy and promoting U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere, as well as advising the Under Secretary for Political Affairs. It is headed by the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, who is currently Acting Assistant Secretary Francisco Palmieri.

Organization

The offices of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs direct, coordinate, and supervise U.S. government activities within the region, including political, economic, consular, public diplomacy, and administrative management issues.

Office of Andean Affairs – Coordinates policy on Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela

Office of Brazil and Southern Cone – Coordinates policy on Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay

Office of Canadian Affairs – Oversees Canada–United States relations

Office of Caribbean Affairs – Coordinates policy on the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Aruba, and the Netherlands Antilles

Office of the Coordinator for Cuban Affairs – Oversees Cuba–United States relations

Office of Central American Affairs – Coordinates policy on Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize

Office of Economic Policy and Summit Coordination – Oversees policy related to trade, energy, finance, and the Summit of the Americas

Executive Office – Responsible for human resources and management support services for the bureau's overseas missions

Office of Mexican Affairs – Oversees Mexico–United States relations

Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs – Oversees public diplomacy activities at WHA's overseas posts

Office of Policy Planning and Coordination – Responsible for the bureau's strategic planning and evaluation

The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs also oversees the United States Mission to the Organization of American States.

References

Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Wikipedia

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