Bureau of Political-Military Affairs

Assistant Secretary John Hillen

The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs is an agency within the United States Department of State that bridges the Department of State with the Department of Defense. It provides policy in the areas of international security, security assistance, military operations, defense strategy and policy, military use of space, and defense trade. It is headed by the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, who is currently John Hillen.

According to the Department of State website, the Bureau secures military base access and overflight permission to support the deployment of U.S. military forces. It negotiates the status of U.S. military forces and ICC non-surrender agreements. It is also responsible for coordinating the participation of coalition combat and stabilization forces, and assisting other countries in reducing the availability of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), which are shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles.

The Bureau seeks to create and manage defense relationships with allies of the United States, regulate arms transfers, control access to military technology, and combat the illegal traficking of small arms or light weapons. It also is responsible for training and equipping international peacekeepers and other military personnel.

The Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement within the Bureau of Political Affairs manages the Humanitarian Mine Action Program and publishes the SAFE PASSAGE: A Newsletter for the Humanitarian Mine Action and Small Arms/Light Weapons Communities. The office also publishes To Walk The Earth In Safety a publication that summarizes the current U.S. effort to rid the world of the most pressing landmine and ordnance problems in a country-by-country format. Finally they have published a number of Press Releasesthat describe ongoing efforts within those communities and the Office's efforts in support of these aims. The United Nations Mine Action Centre defines "mine action" as removing land mines from the ground, assisting victems, and also teaching people how to protect themselves from danger in environments affected by land mines. In addition to promoting public and private mine action partnerships, the Bureau works with the Department of Defense to provide assistance in the event of natural disasters.

Current offices within the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs include the Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers, the Office of Plans, Policy and Analysis, the Office of International Security Operations, the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, the Office of the POLAD Coordinator, the Office of Security Negotiations and Agreements.

External links

• The Bureau of Political Affairs website
• The Humanitarian Mine Action Program website
• The United Nations Mine Action Centre website

Agencies under the United States Department of State

Secretary of State Deputy Secretary of State Executive Secretariat • Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism • Office of the Coordinator For Reconstruction & Stabilization • National Foreign Affairs Training Center • Office of International Information Programs • Office of the Legal Adviser • Office of Management Policy • Office of Protocol • Office of the Science and Technology Adviser • Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons • Office of War Crimes Issues • Bureau of Intelligence and Research • Bureau of Legislative Affairs • Bureau of Resource Management Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Bureau of African Affairs • Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs • Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs • Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs • Bureau of International Organization Affairs • Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs • Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs • Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Under Secretary of State for Management Bureau of Administration • Bureau of Consular Affairs • Bureau of Diplomatic Security • Bureau of Human Resources • Bureau of Information Resource Management • Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs • Bureau of Public Affairs • Bureau of International Information Programs Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation • Bureau of Political-Military Affairs • Bureau of Verification, Compliance, and Implementation Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor • Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs • Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Counselor

Donate to Wikimedia