Will also visit Ecuador and Colombia

American Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Victoria Nuland visits Jamaica later today as part of a four-day tour ending November 18 to Jamaica and South America to lead strategic dialogues and bilateral engagements.

Nuland is being accompanied by a number of State Department colleagues.

The US Department of State reports that Nuland will meet with Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade.

They will participate in the US-Jamaica Strategic Dialogue to highlight bilateral opportunities for enhancing trade and investment, strengthening regional security, combating transnational criminal organisations, and tackling climate change. In addition, Nuland, Canadian, and CARICOM leaders will convene a virtual meeting to discuss Haiti.

ENGAGEMENTS TO FOCUS ON SHARED PRIORITIES

On November 16, Nuland will be in Quito, Ecuador, meeting with President Guillermo Lasso and Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Holguin and sign an Open Skies Agreement, paving the way for more bilateral travel, trade, job creation, and economic growth.

She will also lead the US delegation participating in the US-Ecuador Bilateral Expanded Political Dialogue to reaffirm US support for democratic governance, regional security, human rights, migration management, and support for vulnerable populations.

On November 17-18, she travels to Bogotá and Cartagena, Colombia to meet with President Gustavo Petro and Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva and participate in the closing ceremony for the visit of the hospital ship USNS Comfort.

These engagements will focus on shared priorities including regional security, strong democratic institutions, the socioeconomic and political inclusion of Afro-Colombian and indigenous persons, and the continued importance of implementing the 2016 Peace Accord.