U.S. Strategic Communication Policy Toward the South American Andean Ridge

The United States Government and its people have a long relationship with the other Western Hemisphere nations. Over the centuries the strength of bilateral relations and the relations between the United States and various regions of the Americas have vacillated. Security issues, economic prosperity, and immigration are among the key aspects of those relationships. The challenge has been for the United States and its partners to clearly and consistently communicate on these matters. At the end of the Cold War, President George H. W. Bush claimed that there was a new world order. The United States has been at the forefront of that new order and has occasionally transmitted confusing messages to other nations. This paper outlines U.S. policy concerning Strategic Communication and uses examples from the U.S. interaction with the Andean Ridge countries of South America to show gaps between policy formulation, implementation, and the perceptions of regional partners. Though the President has designated the State Department to coordinate Strategic Communication, the process of coordinating and executing Strategic Communication is informal and frequently ineffective. The paper concludes with recommendations for formalizing Strategic Communication efforts with the Andean Ridge countries. Read Paper