The United States, a major contributor to the finances of the Organisation of American States (OAS), now convening the 55th Regular Session of its General Assembly in Antigua and Barbuda, has announced that it is currently reviewing its membership of several international organisations, including the OAS.
The announcement was made by the US Deputy Secretary of States, Christopher Landau, as he addressed the OAS Plenary session on Thursday.
“As you may be aware, President Trump issued an executive order in the first days of this administration directing the Secretary of State within six months to review all international organizations of which the United States is a member to determine whether such membership is in the interests of the United States and whether such organizations can be reformed. Upon the conclusion of that review, the Secretary must report his findings to the President and recommend whether the U.S. should withdraw from any such organization. That review remains ongoing, and the OAS is obviously one of the organizations we’re reviewing,” he revealed.
Deputy Secretary of State, Landau, speaking frankly, said he was not sure that he is able to predict how that review will turn out. “That’s certainly something I’m open to discussing at this meeting so no one can say they’re surprised,” he added.
The Senior US government official raised several concerns noting that members must ask themselves ‘how the organization remains relevant today, and whether its achieving its lofty and noble goals’.
He questioned the legitimacy of the recent elections in Venezuela and that country’s ongoing dispute with Guyana as well as the near total control that gangs have over parts of Haiti as areas of concern for both he and Secretary and State, Marco Rubio.
He did not indicate just how soon that review will be concluded.
