Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy R. Sherman will visit Chile, October 20-21, and Peru, October 21-22, to advance the strong bilateral and multilateral partnerships which the United States enjoys with both countries.

In Chile and Peru, Under Secretary Sherman will meet with senior government officials as well as civil society and education leaders, alumni from Department of State exchange programs, journalists, and private sector representatives. The visit will emphasize U.S. foreign policy priorities on a range of issues that require regional cooperation, including climate change, health, economic integration, security threats, improved governance, academic exchanges, and the strengthening of democratic institutions.

In Chile, Under Secretary Sherman will head the U.S. delegation to the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Chile Political Consultative Mechanism, which will serve to deepen bilateral cooperation and dialogue on a range of issues important to both countries. Other members of the delegation include Deputy Assistant Administrator Mark Lopes in the Bureau for Latin America and Caribbean at the U.S. Agency for International Development; Deputy Assistant Secretary Tori Holt, Bureau of International Organizations; Deputy Assistant Secretary Scott Busby, Bureau of Democracy, Labor, and Human Rights; Deputy Assistant Secretary Alex Lee, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs; Deputy U.S. Permanent Representative to the OAS Michael Fitzpatrick; Director Michael Smith of the Office of Plans and Initiatives, Bureau of Political and Military Affairs; Acting Director Chris Davy of the Office of Energy Diplomacy in the Bureau of Energy Resources; and Deputy Director W. David Sohier of the Office of Oceans and Polar Affairs in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

In Peru, Under Secretary Sherman will engage with Ministry of Education officials, academic leaders, and students, focusing on President Obama’s 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative. The Under Secretary will also meet with senior government officials to discuss Peru’s leadership role in the region, in particular through Peru’s hosting of the 20th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 20) which will bring together representatives from more than 190 countries and organizations.