27 May 2008
U.S. and Summit of the Americas: Securing Our Citizens’ Future
Fact sheet outlines the U.S. commitment to the Summit of the Americas
(begin fact sheet)
U.S. Department of State
May 20, 2008
Fact Sheet
The United States and The 2009 Summit Of The Americas: Securing Our Citizens’ Future
“We have great opportunities to work together to improve the quality of life for all the people of this hemisphere. To realize our common vision, we must set goals that are specific and measurable. In doing so, we will affirm our determination to succeed and to give hope to millions.” —President George W. Bush
• The United States remains committed to the Summit of the Americas process. The next Summit, which convenes the region’s 34 democratically elected leaders, will take place in April 2009 in Trinidad and Tobago. It will be the first Summit of the Americas held in the Caribbean region.
• By next year, the United States will have a new President. The 2009 Summit will be an opportunity for the new Administration to show that the United States continues to be a reliable partner, committed to working with our neighbors to promote security and prosperity in the region.
• The U.S. commitment to the Summit of the Americas is bipartisan. President Bill Clinton hosted the first Summit in Miami in 1994 and attended the second Summit in Chile in 1998. President George W. Bush has attended three Summits – in Canada in 2001, Mexico in 2004, and Argentina in 2005.
• The theme of the next Summit is “Securing Our Citizens’ Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy Security, and Environmental Sustainability.”
Human Prosperity
• The United States is a partner in building the region’s prosperity. In 2007, total bilateral trade between the region and the United States topped $1 trillion. At the 2005 Summit, President Bush launched the Infrastructure Development Program of the Americas, which will leverage $2.6 billion in private investment, bringing improved basic services to half a million people. The United States funds three Centers of Excellence for Teacher Training, reaching over 18,300 teachers and roughly 600,000 students in the region through 2007.
• The United States is also addressing the rise in global food prices. On May 1, 2008, President Bush called on Congress to provide an additional $770 million to support food aid and development programs.
Energy Security
• More than half of U.S. oil imports come from our neighbors. We expect that the next Summit of the Americas will foster joint regional action on energy security. Last December, President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which will increase renewable fuel use by five times.
Environmental Sustainability
• The next Summit of the Americas will address a broad range of environmental sustainability issues, including natural disasters, water resource management, biodiversity protection, and climate change. In the area of climate change, President Bush advanced a new national goal to stop the growth of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.
He said: “We’re willing to include this plan in a binding international agreement, so long as our fellow major economies are prepared to include their plans in such an agreement.”
Citizen Security and the Rule of Law
• The next Summit will also address the rule of law and crime, which is now one of the two top concerns of citizens. The United States Government is working with countries of the Caribbean region to address mutual concerns including illegal weapons, deportees, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and pandemics. Working together with our partners throughout the Hemisphere, we can make our citizens’ futures more secure.
(end fact sheet)
