Bianca WrightFrancisco Palmieri, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Caribbean and Central America in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the US State Department, told delegates at Nexus 2015 that “we are at a historic moment in the Americas.” The keynote speaker unpacked the changing face of US foreign policy towards the region and highlighted the opportunities that such changes have and will continue to create.
Palmieri emphasized the significant role the Western Hemisphere plays in the US economy, noting that “our trading partners in the hemisphere buy 40% of US exports.”
He also highlighted the need for small and medium-sized businesses in the region to “think globally” and outlined some of the initiatives that the US has embarked upon to assist these types of businesses in places such as Jamaica.
Palmer’s address is significant because it exemplifies the evolving nature of the relationship between the USA and the rest of the Western Hemisphere. As the USA evolves its approach to countries such as Cuba, the region cannot but benefit.
Add comment