Namibia-United States relations
Encyclopedia
Namibia – United States relations are bilateral relations between Namibia
and the United States
.
, commitment to rule of law, and respect for human rights
, the bilateral relationship has been strengthened through trade
ties and U.S. assistance programs. Namibia has seized opportunities created by AGOA. Currently the SACU
countries and the U.S. are negotiating a Trade, Investment and Development Cooperation Agreement, scheduled to be signed in 2008. Namibia has been included in President Bush's International Mother and Child HIV
Initiative and the Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief. The U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) bilateral presence in Namibia has been extended until 2010. In addition to the Embassy, the Centers for Disease Control, Peace Corps
, and the Defense Department have offices in Windhoek
. Namibia is also in the process of negotiating a Compact agreement with the Millennium Challenge Corporation
with a target signing date of mid-2008.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
U.S.-Namibian relations are very good and continue to improve. Characterized by shared democratic valuesDemocracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, commitment to rule of law, and respect for human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, the bilateral relationship has been strengthened through trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
ties and U.S. assistance programs. Namibia has seized opportunities created by AGOA. Currently the SACU
Sacu
Sacu is a commune in Caraş-Severin County, western Romania with a population of 1681 people. It is composed of three villages: Sacu, Sălbăgelu Nou and Tincova.-References:...
countries and the U.S. are negotiating a Trade, Investment and Development Cooperation Agreement, scheduled to be signed in 2008. Namibia has been included in President Bush's International Mother and Child HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
Initiative and the Emergency Plan for AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
Relief. The U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) bilateral presence in Namibia has been extended until 2010. In addition to the Embassy, the Centers for Disease Control, Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
, and the Defense Department have offices in Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
. Namibia is also in the process of negotiating a Compact agreement with the Millennium Challenge Corporation
Millennium Challenge Corporation
The Millennium Challenge Corporation is a bilateral United States foreign aid agency created by the George W. Bush administration in 2004, applying a new philosophy towards foreign aid.-Background and formation:...
with a target signing date of mid-2008.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
- AmbassadorAmbassadorAn ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
--Dennise Mathieu - Deputy Chief of Mission--Eric D. Benjaminson
- Public Affairs Officer--Ray Castillo
- Political Officer--Mark J. Cassayre
- Economic/Commercial Officer--Adrienne Galanek
- Consular Officer--John La Rochelle
- USAID Director--Gary Newton
- Defense Attache--LTC Michael Kelley, USAF
- Peace Corps Country Director--Hannah Baldwin