Washington, DC - Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. will travel to Ecuador, Colombia, and Chile February 25-March 3. The Under Secretary will underscore long-standing U.S. support for bilateral priorities and reaffirm U.S. engagement to promote a safe, prosperous, and democratic hemisphere.

In Quito, Ecuador on February 25-27, Under Secretary Shannon will meet with Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno to discuss the strengthening of the bilateral relationship and expanded collaboration in areas of mutual interest. In meetings with other Ecuadorian officials, he will discuss trade and investment, counter-narcotics cooperation, and regional and international issues.

Under Secretary Shannon will then travel to Bogotá, Colombia on February 28, where he will meet with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Vice President Oscar Naranjo to discuss the U.S. partnership with Colombia to combat narcotics trafficking and transnational crime, support sustainable peace, and improve regional security.

On March 1, Under Secretary Shannon, with U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Ricky Waddell, will co-lead the U.S. delegation to the United States-Colombia High Level Dialogue, where he will discuss initiatives to achieve increased stability, prosperity, and opportunities for the citizens of both countries. Under Secretary Shannon will meet in this context with Foreign Minister María Ángela Holguín.

The Under Secretary will then travel to Santiago, Chile on March 2 to meet with President Michelle Bachelet and Foreign Minister Heraldo Muñoz. During these meetings, he will discuss the United States’ strong partnership with Chile on bilateral and regional efforts to advance security, prosperity, and democratic governance.