Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs

Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs

Seal of the United States Department of State
Bureau overview
Jurisdiction	Executive branch of the United States
Headquarters	Harry S. Truman Building, Washington, D.C., United States
Employees	244 (As of 2009)
Annual budget	$254 million (FY 2009)
Bureau executive	Roberta S. Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
Parent department	U.S. Department of State
Website	www.state.gov/p/wha/

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 Roberta S. Jacobson.

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.

External links

• Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs