Washington, DC - Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo: "On behalf of the Government of the United States, I offer my congratulations to the people of Suriname on the anniversary of your independence.

"Over the past 43 years, our nations have enjoyed a strong tradition of working together toward a safer, more secure region. This year, we mark the 12th anniversary of the State Partnership Program between the Surinamese military and the South Dakota National Guard, a model of mutual security cooperation through which we have advanced shared objectives, including combatting transnational crime and building natural disaster response capacity. As U.S. investment in Suriname continues to expand, especially in the resurgent gold and oil sectors, the United States is committed to working together to advance our countries’ mutual prosperity and forge a more productive, globally competitive Caribbean region through the U.S.-Caribbean 2020 Strategy.

"I wish the people of Suriname a happy Independence Day celebration and a prosperous year ahead."