FOREIGN
RELATIONS
FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Antigua and Barbuda maintains diplomatic relations with the United
States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the People's Republic
of China, as well as with many Latin American countries and neighboring
Eastern Caribbean states. It is a member of the United Nations,
the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of American States,
the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, and the Eastern
Caribbean's Regional Security System (RSS).
U.S.-ANTIGUA
AND BARBUDA RELATIONS
The United States has maintained friendly relations with Antigua
and Barbuda since its independence. The United States has supported
the Government of Antigua and Barbuda's effort to expand its economic
base and to improve its citizens' standard of living. However,
concerns over the lack of adequate regulation of the financial
services sector prompted the U.S. Government to issue a financial
advisory for Antigua and Barbuda in 1999. The advisory was lifted
in 2001, but the U.S. Government continues to monitor the Government
of Antigua and Barbuda's regulation of financial services. The
U.S. also has been active in supporting post-hurricane disaster
assistance and rehabilitation through the U.S. Agency for International
Development's (USAID) Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and
the Peace Corps. U.S. assistance is primarily channeled through
multilateral agencies such as the World Bank, the Caribbean Development
Bank (CDB), and through the newly opened USAID satellite office
in Bridgetown, Barbados. In addition, Antigua and Barbuda receives
counter-narcotics assistance and benefits from U.S. military exercise-related
and humanitarian civic assistance construction projects.
Antigua and Barbuda is strategically situated in the Leeward Islands near maritime transport lanes of major importance to the United States. Antigua has long hosted a U.S. military presence. The former U.S. Navy support facility, turned over to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda in 1995, is now being developed as a regional Coast Guard training facility.
Antigua
and Barbuda's location close to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto
Rico makes it an attractive transshipment point for narcotics
traffickers. To address these problems, the U.S. and Antigua and
Barbuda have signed a series of counter-narcotic and counter-crime
treaties and agreements, including a maritime law enforcement
agreement (1995), subsequently amended to include overflight and
order-to-land provisions (1996); a bilateral extradition treaty
(1996); and a mutual legal assistance treaty (1996).
In 2005, Antigua and Barbuda had 239, 804 stay-over visitors, with nearly 28% of Antingua and Barbuda’s visitors coming from the United States. It is estimated that 4,500 Americans reside in the country.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
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 Raftery
The United States maintains no official presence in Antigua. The Ambassador and Embassy officers are resident in Barbados and travel to Antigua frequently. However, a U.S. consular agent resident in Antigua assists U.S. citizens in Antigua and Barbuda.
The U.S. Embassy in Barbados is located in the Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael. (tel: 246-436-4950; fax: 246-429-5246).
