- Saint Kitts and Nevis–United States relations
Saint Kitts and Nevis-United States relations are
bilateral relations betweenSaint Kitts and Nevis and theUnited States .History
Since St. Kitts and Nevis attained full independence in 1983, relations with the United States have been friendly. The United States seeks to help St. Kitts and Nevis develop economically and to help strengthen its moderate, democratic, parliamentary form of government. St. Kitts and Nevis is a beneficiary of the U.S.
Caribbean Basin Initiative . U.S. assistance is primarily channeled through multilateral agencies such as theWorld Bank and theCaribbean Development Bank (CDB), as well as theUSAID office inBridgetown, Barbados . In addition, St. Kitts and Nevis benefits from U.S. military exercises and humanitarian civic action construction projects.St. Kitts and Nevis is strategically placed in the
Leeward Islands , near maritime transport lanes of major importance to the United States. St. Kitts and Nevis' location close toPuerto Rico and theU.S. Virgin Islands makes the two-island federation attractive tonarcotics traffickers. To counter this threat, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis cooperates with the United States in the fight against illegal narcotics. In 1995, the Government signed a maritime law enforcement treaty with the United States, later amended with an overflight/order-to-land amendment in 1996. St. Kitts and Nevis also signed an updatedextradition treaty with the United States in 1996, and a mutual legal assistance treaty in 1997.St. Kitts and Nevis is a popular American tourist destination. In the aftermath of the
September 11, 2001 attacks , tourism declined, but the islands have seen growing numbers of visitors in recent years. Fewer than 1,000 U.S. citizens reside on the island, although students and staff ofRoss University Veterinary School and theMedical University of the Americas - Nevis constitute a significant population of U.S. citizens.Principal U.S. Embassy Officials include:
* Ambassador--Mary M. Ourisman
* Deputy Chief of Mission--O.P. Garza
* Political/Economic Counselor--Ian Campbell
* Consul General--Clyde Howard Jr.
* Regional Labor Attaché--Jake Aller
* Commercial Affairs--Jake Aller
* Public Affairs Officer--John Roberts
* Peace Corps Director--Kate RafteryEmbassies
The United States maintains no official presence in St. Kitts and Nevis. The ambassador and embassy officers are resident in
Barbados and frequently travel to St. Kitts and Nevis. A U.S. consular agent residing in nearbyAntigua , however, assists U.S. citizens in St. Kitts and Nevis.ee also
*
North American Union
*North American Free Trade Agreement
*Free Trade Area of the Americas
*Third Border Initiative
*Caribbean Community
*Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI)
*Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act
*Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
*Foreign relations of the United States
*Foreign relations of Saint Kitts and Nevis References
StateDept [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2341.htm]
External link
* [http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1026.html The United States Department of State] - Saint Kitts and Nevis
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