US State Department Objectives for Western Hemisphere

The US State Department recently published their policy objectives and intiatives for the Western Hemishpere for 2010.

Citizen safety tops the list on the security side. The high profile programs include:
1. Merida Initiative and its follow on programs in Mexico and Central America
2. The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative focus on the spill over of violence into the susceptible areas in Caribbean
3. Emergency Mangement Agreements with Candad and Mexico to facilitate cross border assistance in pandemic situtations. The US-Canada agreements now allow for cross border deployment of military forces in civil support roles. First demonstrated with Canadian aircraft providing airlift in Gulf Coast Huricane Felix in 2008.
4. Colombia Strategic Development Initatitive. The folow on to Plan Colombia to build upon the success of that effort.

Key things to watch over the coming year:

1. Does Congress provide the money? And how quickly is it spent? The recent issues with the Merida intiative are key indicators that what is promised is not always delivered in a timely manner
2. What "balloon effects" from increased clamp downs in Central America appear elsewhere in the region>