U.S. Assistant Secretary Thomas Shannon Highlights the Hemisphere's Sweeping Changes

In the opening remarks at the 2008 Washington Conference, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas Shannon emphasized the “ultimately positive and hopeful” transformations that are occurring across the Americas and the importance of the U.S. to build policies around these changing dynamics. Shannon outlined hemispheric goals that extend well beyond democracy to include social justice and development. To maintain presence in a changing environment, the U.S. government—both the current and next administrations—must continue to reach out to partners and exhibit a steadfast commitment.

Passage of the Colombia and Panama free-trade agreements are “important for showing commitment to the region.” Colombia is one of the best allies in the region and continuously works in tandem with the U.S. to move forward on key, common issues. President Uribe has ushered in a distinct, positive shift in Colombian democracy to a system that is no longer dependent upon agreements among elites. “We need to be a part of Colombia’s success” as that success is important for the region and a new era of integration. “To turn away from Colombia now is a huge mistake.”

Among other points, Shannon also noted the historic significance of the Merida Initiative—a 3-year, $1.4 billion-proposed common security policy in Mexico and Central America. This is the first time for such an initiative, which has the possibility to transform relationships and build new ones. Looking at U.S.-Brazil relations, the Economic Partnership Dialogue has exhibited the concrete results that two important partners can achieve notwithstanding slow progress in the Doha Round.

A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Shannon served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council from 2003 to 2005. He previously served as Director of Andean Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and as a foreign service officer in a number of countries, including Brazil and Guatemala.

For nearly four decades, the annual Washington Conference on the Americas has served as the top forum for government, industry, and policy leaders to engage in substantive analysis on timely themes affecting the Western Hemisphere.