A Message From Assistant Secretary of State R. Clarke Cooper
What does it mean to you “To Walk the Earth in Safety"? As Eagle Scouts, my brother and I explored the great American outdoors without once having to worry about placing a foot on a landmine or disturbing a deadly explosive. All youth should be able to spend their days with this same freedom to roam and play. Yet today many children in post-conflict areas cannot enjoy the open exploring my brother and I did during our years in the Boy Scouts. Instead, they must worry about landmines or improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or other explosive hazards-threats that may be from a recent conflict or one that ended decades ago. This is why the United States is steadfastly committed to conventional weapons destruction (CWD). Our CWD assistance programs provide the United States with a powerful and flexible tool to help partner countries protect their populations through better management of stockpiles of munitions, destruction of excess small arms and light weapons (SA/LW), and clearance of explosive hazards such as landmines, IEDs, and unexploded ordnance (UXO). Our assistance also helps countries reduce threats to civilian aviation and public safety from illicit or poorly-secured man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS).
The United States is at a crossroads for American partnerships, not just on CWD, but across the spectrum of security cooperation. Many nations look at partnering with the United States on matters of defense and security not as an imperative, but as one of several options. Through the essential work carried out by the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA), the United States proves time and again it can be relied upon to improve the lives and livelihoods of people around the world. Our CWD assistance is an integral part of our friendships, which are an integral part of U.S. security, and helps to make the case the United States is and should remain the global security partner of choice.
My previous security cooperation experiences, be it active duty military or diplomatic service, continuously reinforced the importance of securing weapons so they do not fall into the hands of nefarious actors. Stockpiles of excess, poorly- secured, or otherwise at-risk conventional arms and ammunition remain a serious challenge to peace and prosperity in many countries. Poorly-secured munitions are easily diverted to terrorists and other destabilizing actors. Explosive hazards continue to kill and maim civilians long after conflicts end, preventing the safe return of displaced people and suppressing economic opportunities crucial to prosperity and political stability. While these dangers persist, it is difficult for communities to recover from conflict.
U.S. CWD programs help pave the way for post-conflict stabilization assistance and lay a solid foundation for long-term sustainable economic development. In June 2019, on one of my first overseas trips as Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, I saw firsthand how the government of Sri Lanka successfully manages its post-war remediation efforts as they work towards their goal of becoming landmine free by 2025. Programs like these are helping to improve the livelihoods of local peoples.
The United States is a strong and historic partner for affected states and a leader in donor assistance. Since 1993, the United States has provided more than $3.7 billion in CWD assistance to over 100 countries. These programs are implemented by commercial contractors, nongovernmental organizations (NGO), and international organizations. In 2019, the United States had active CWD programs in 58 countries, spanning Africa, the Middle East, South and Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. This 19th edition of To Walk the Earth in Safety catalogs the U.S. government’s achievements in CWD in each country and highlights the important partnerships building the foundation of a more secure world, in which children have the freedom to explore.
The Trump Administration’s CWD programs support key U.S. foreign policy priorities and play a direct role in keeping U.S. citizens and our allies safe, while also clearing the way for a stable, secure, and prosperous future in countries that are central to U.S. security interests. Thanks to the bipartisan support of the U.S. Congress and the generosity of the American people, we continue to work toward a future in which all may walk the earth in safety.
R. Clarke Cooper
Assistant Secretary
Political-Military Affairs
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Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
