Liberia–United States relations

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

History

U.S. relations with Liberia date back to 1819 when the US Congress appropriated $100,000 for the establishment of Liberia. [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/6618.htm State Department Profile of Liberia] ] . The United States officially recognized Liberia in 1862 and the two nations shared very close diplomatic, economic, and military ties until the 1990s. During World War II, Liberia joined the Allied Forces and Monrovia was host to important Allied logistics bases. Liberia was also home to Firestone's rubber plantation, which was established shortly after World War I. This plantation was a large arms manufacturer for the Allied Forces during World War II. [http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-adv/specialsales/international/spotlight/liberia/article2.html "Liberia: America's impoverished orphan in Africa", Washington Post, Retrieved October 2, 2006] ] [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/liberia/essays/uspolicy/index.html "Liberia and the United States: A Complex Relationship", PBS Global Connections, Retrieved October 2, 2005] ]

Liberian and United States relationships became strained between 1971 and 1980 due to Liberian president William R. Tolbert's establishment of diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries. [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/liberia/timeline/time4.html http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/liberia/timeline/time4.html] ] In 1978, United States president Jimmy Carter made the first official presidential visit to Liberia.

During the 1980s, the United States forged especially close ties with Liberia as part of a Cold War effort to suppress socialist and Marxist movements in Africa. Samuel Doe's government was seen by American strategists as being especially important to their Cold War policies in Africa and his government took actions to protect American interests in the region. Liberia received between $500 million and $1.3 billion dollars during the 1980s from the United States government through direct and indirect channels. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/liberia/monrovia-usemb.htm "Monrovia - US Embassy", http://globalsecurity.org, Retrieved October 2, 2006] ] Furthermore, Liberia was home to a relay station for Voice of America, a large navigation tower, and the CIA's main African base for the majority of this period.

The rise of Charles Taylor's government, the Liberian Civil War, regional instability and human rights abuses interrupted the previously close relations between Liberia and the United States. Although Charles Taylor's election in 1997 was monitored by the Economic Community of West African States and Jimmy Carter, the United States officially held that Taylor was illegitimately elected due to the violent circumstances leading up to his election. [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/08/02/liberia.ecowas/ "Taylor sets date to step down", CNN, August 2, 2003] ] During Taylor's presidency, the United States cut direct financial and military aid to the Liberian government, withdrew Peace Corps operations, imposed a travel ban on senior Liberian Government officials, and frequently criticized Charles Taylor's government. [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/30/liberia.un/ "U.S. offers U.N. resolution on Liberia", CNN, Friday, August 1, 2003] ] Much of the Liberian-American tension from this period stems from the Liberian government's acknowledged support for the Revolutionary United Front, a rebel group in Sierra Leone and surrounding region. Due to intense pressure from the international community and the United States, Charles Taylor resigned his office on August 11, 2003.

The resignation and exile of Charles Taylor in 2003 brought changes in diplomatic ties between the United States and Liberia. On July 30, 2003, the United States proposed a UN Security Council draft resolution to authorize the deployment of a multi-national stabilization force. [http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/liberia/history.html "Liberia's Historic Ties to America", Zachary K. Johnson, May 2005] ] Despite stated concerns about prosecution in the International Criminal Court, United States president George W. Bush sent 200 marines to Monrovia's airport to support the peace-keeping effort. The United States also deployed warships along Liberia's coast as part of the stabilization effort. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3097405.stm "Welcome for US Liberia deployment", BBC News, 26 July, 2003] ] The United States committed $1.16 billion to Liberia between the years of 2004 and 2006. [http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/08/11/liberia/ "Liberian president invites rebels into government", CNN, August 12, 2003] ]

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) implements the U.S. Government's development assistance program. USAID's post-conflict rebuilding strategy focuses on reintegration and is increasingly moving towards a longer-term development focus. Rehabilitation efforts include national and community infrastructure projects, such as building roads, refurbishing government buildings, and training Liberians in vocational skills. USAID also funds basic education programs, improving education for children, focusing on girls, and training teachers. In the health area, USAID programs include primary health care clinics, HIV/AIDS prevention, and a large malaria program. USAID supports rule of law programs, establishing legal aid clinics and victim abuse centers, training judges and lawyers, community peace building and reconciliation efforts, and anti-corruption projects to promote transparency and accountability in public sector entities. USAID is also providing support to strengthen the legislature and other political processes. USAID is strengthening civil society's role in delivering services and advocating good governance. Total USAID funding program for these programs in FY 2007 was $65.9 million.

Principal U.S. Officials include:
* Ambassador--Donald E. Booth
* Deputy Chief of Mission--Brooks A. Robinson
* Management Counselor--Michael Bajek
* Political/Economic Counselor--Steven Koutsis
* Economic Officer--Lucy Abbott
* Public Affairs Officer--Meg Riggs
* Consular Officer--Alma Gurski
* Acting USAID Director--Rick Scott
* Chief, Office of Security Cooperation--Colonel Al Rumphrey
* Defense Attache--Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Stansfield

The U.S. Embassy is located in Monrovia.

See also

* Foreign relations of the United States
* Foreign relations of Liberia

References

External links

* [http://www.embassyofliberia.org Embassy of Liberia in the United States]