UNITED STATES-US, Suriname hold Third Strategic Dialogue in ‘strengthening bilateral relations’

WASHINGTON, CMC – The United States Department of State announced on Friday that Washington and Paramaribo held their Third Strategic Dialogue here “in the spirit of strengthening bilateral relations.”

Earlier this week, the Office of the Spokesperson in the Department of State said that senior officials from the Governments of the United States and Suriname explored ways to promote inclusive growth, foster innovation, combat climate change, and collaborate on capacity building and training.

“The dialogue underscored the urgent need to address the climate crisis, accelerate the clean energy transition, promote sustainable development, foster economic resilience, and strengthen democracy,” the statement said.

Regarding security cooperation, the United States and Suriname said they support completing negotiations on the Air Intercept Assistance Agreement.

The statement said both sides discussed other options to enhance information sharing, including a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement.

The United States said it supports Suriname’s efforts to address shared security challenges, including transnational organized crime, narcotics and human trafficking, money laundering, and corruption, by enhancing the capacity of police and security services, including through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).

“The United States commends Suriname for its endorsement of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection; both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promote safe, orderly, and humane migration in the Americas,” the statement said.

“We welcome Suriname to the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation, a White House priority launched in September 2023,” it added, stating that the Partnership is a platform for Atlantic coastal states to work together “to address common challenges to realize interconnected goals of advancing a peaceful, stable, prosperous, open, safe, and cooperative Atlantic region, and promote a healthy, sustainable, and resilient Atlantic for generations to come.”