The U.S. and the Organization of American States

The Organization of American States (OAS) is the premier multilateral forum in the Western Hemisphere.   Its 35 members are countries from North, South, and Central America, the Caribbean, and Canada. The charter of the OAS states that its basic objectives are to:

• strengthen peace and security;
• promote the effective exercise of representative democracy;
• ensure the peaceful settlement of disputes among members;
• provide for common action in the event of aggression;
• seek solutions to political, juridical, and economic problems that may arise;
• promote, by cooperative action, economic, social, educational, scientific, and cultural development; and
• limit conventional weapons so as to devote greater resources to economic and social development.

As a member of the OAS, the United States is committed to strengthening and working with the organization. This reflects the U.S. Government's determination to make optimal use of multilateral diplomacy to resolve regional problems and to engage its neighbors on topics of hemispheric concern.  The U.S. has a Permanent Mission to the OAS, and  Ambassador John F. Maisto has served as the Permanent Representative to the OAS since July 31, 2003.