Guatemala–United States relations

Guatemala-United States relations are bilateral relations between Guatemala and the United States.

History

Relations between the United States and Guatemala traditionally have been close, although at times strained by human rights and civil/military issues. U.S. policy objectives in Guatemala include:
* Supporting the institutionalization of democracy and implementation of the peace accords;
* Encouraging respect for human rights and the rule of law, and implementation of the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG);
* Supporting broad-based economic growth and sustainable development and maintaining mutually beneficial trade and commercial relations, including ensuring that benefits of CAFTA-DR reach all sectors of the Guatemalan populace;
* Cooperating to combat money laundering, corruption, narcotics trafficking, alien-smuggling, and other transnational crime; and
* Supporting Central American integration through support for resolution of border/territorial disputes.

The United States, as a member of "the Friends of Guatemala," along with Colombia, Mexico, Spain, Norway, and Venezuela, played an important role in the UN-moderated peace accords, providing public and behind-the-scenes support. The U.S. strongly supports the six substantive and three procedural accords, which, along with the signing of the December 29, 1996 final accord, form the blueprint for profound political, economic, and social change. To that end, the U.S. Government has committed over $500 million to support peace implementation since 1997.

Violent criminal activity continues to be a problem in Guatemala, including murder, rape, and armed assaults against persons of all nationalities. In recent years the number of violent crimes reported by U.S. citizens has steadily increased, though the number of Americans traveling to Guatemala has also increased.

Most U.S. assistance to Guatemala is provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) offices for Guatemala. USAID/Guatemala's current program builds on the gains of the peace process that followed the signing of the peace accords in December 1996, as well as on the achievements of its 1997-2004 peace program. The current program works to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives by focusing on Guatemala's potential as Central America's largest economy and trading partner of the United States, but also recognizes the country's lagging social indicators and high rate of poverty. The three areas of focus for USAID/Guatemala's program are modeled after the Millennium Challenge Account areas--ruling justly, economic freedom, and investing in people.

Staff

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials include:
* Ambassador--James Derham
* Deputy Chief of Mission--David Lindwall
* Political and Economic Counselor-- Drew Blakeney
* Management Officer--Leo Hession
* Defense Attache--Col. Humberto Rodriguez
* Military Assistance Group--Col. Linda Gould
* Consul General--John Lowell
* Regional Security Officer--John Eustace
* Public Affairs Officer--David J. Young
* Drug Enforcement Administration--Michael O'Brien
* Agricultural Attache--Robert Hoff
* Commercial Attache--Patricia Wagner
* USAID/G-CAP Director--Wayne Nilsestuen

There is a U.S. Embassy in Guatemala located in Guatemala City.

See also

* Foreign relations of the United States
* Foreign relations of Guatemala

References

StateDept [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2045.htm#relations]