From May 27-30, UN Member States will gather in Antigua and Barbuda for the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS). U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland will lead the U.S. delegation. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard R. Verma, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Michele J. Sison, and U.S. Representative to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations Lisa Carty will serve as alternate heads of delegation.

This once-in-a-decade conference will address the theme of “Charting the course toward resilient prosperity,” aiming to help SIDS address their unique development challenges and accelerate their sustainable development. SIDS is a group comprised of 39 UN member nations and 18 associate members of regional commissions facing unique challenges related to geography. The SIDS Conference is an opportunity to discuss how the world can help SIDS address their development challenges and accelerate their sustainable development. Members of the U.S. delegation will participate in formal conference sessions and side events, emphasizing the importance of partnership with SIDS to achieve shared goals.

Other members of the U.S. delegation include:

- Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular and International Affairs Carmen Cantor

- Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols

- Ambassador to the U.S. Embassy to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Roger Nyhus

- Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum Frankie Reed

- Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management Nicole R. LeBoeuf

- Ambassador to the Republic of the Maldives Hugo Yon

- Senior Coordinator for Atlantic Cooperation Ambassador Jessye Lapenn

- Lieutenant Governor of Guam Joshua Franquez Tenorio