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 Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security > Bureau of Political-Military Affairs

Bureau of Political-Military Affairs

Date: 01/20/2009 Description: Blue envelope icon, used for email subscriptions. State Dept Photo

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The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM), headed by Assistant Secretary Andrew J. Shapiro, is the Department of State's principal link to the Department of Defense. The PM Bureau provides policy direction in the areas of international security, security assistance, military operations, defense strategy and plans, and defense trade.

Date: 08/18/2009 Description: Safeguarding the Seaways: Political-Military Affairs leads diplomatic engagement with America's international partners against piracy in the Horn of Africa. Click photo to learn more. © AP Image

Date: 08/10/2009 Description: U.S. Department of State seal © State Dept Image

Security. Partnerships. Political-Military Affairs.
Promoting peace and stability worldwide.

PM's activities are central to four of the Department of State's strategic goals:

  • Achieving Peace and Security: PM plays a key role in achieving peace and security around the world by:

    • managing and regulating defense trade and arms transfers to reinforce the military capabilities of friends, allies, and coalition partners, and to ensure that the transfer of U.S.-origin defense equipment and technology supports U.S. national security interests;

    • promoting regional security through bilateral and multilateral cooperation and dialogue, as well as through the provision of security assistance to friendly countries and international peacekeeping efforts;

    • providing diplomatic support to U.S. military operations, including the negotiation of status of forces, defense cooperation, cost-sharing, and base access;

    • countering the destructive effects of conventional weapons by clearing landmines and reducing the availability of at-risk small arms and light weapons to include man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS); and

    • countering terrorism and responding to crises by managing and sustaining coalitions, working with the Department of Defense on strategic and contingency planning to include counterinsurgency policy, and reinforcing the capabilities of friends and allies to respond to respond to humanitarian and natural disaster.

  • Governing Justly and Democratically: PM promotes American values of democracy, respect for human rights, and civilian control of military forces by funding training that exposes the armed forces and civilian personnel of other countries to these values and to the professionalism of the U.S. military.

  • Providing Humanitarian Assistance: PM manages humanitarian mine action programs around the world, promotes public-private mine action partnerships, and works with the Defense Department to provide assistance in the event of natural disasters and other crises abroad.

  • Strengthening Consular and Management Capabilities: PM continues to develop, refine, and maintain information technologies that support defense trade and diplomatic support for U.S. military operations.

Humanitarian Mine Action Promotes Post-Conflict Recovery in Angola
Date: 09/15/2000 Description: An Angolan boy carries firewood while walking next to a minefield outside the city of Kuito, central Angola, Sept. 15 2000. © AP Image During visit to Angola, Secretary Clinton found a nation working to emerge from nearly 40 years of conflict. Angola's wars have left behind a deadly legacy: abandoned landmines and unexploded munitions. Full Text

Partnership for Peace—Working With African Nations To Strengthen Peacekeeping
Date: 03/14/2008 Description: A Nigerian soldier with the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) stands guard at a checkpoint to the Mission's Western Sector headquarters, on the outskirts of the state capital of West Darfur, El Geneina, Sudan, Friday, March 14, 2008. © AP ImageDuring travel to Africa, Secretary Clinton reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to building new partnerships to promote responsible governance, economic opportunity, and shared responsibility. Full Text

Protecting Civil Aviation from MANPADS Attacks: New Milestone Reached
Date: 06/01/2009 Description: A foreign affairs officer in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs displays a foreign Man-Portable Air Defense System missile in its tube that has been prepared carefully for destruction--one of the 30,000 MANPADS that the U.S. has helped other countries destroy since 2003. © Photo by Dave Diaz, Office of Weapons Removal and AbatementThe United States in close cooperation with 29 countries has destroyed over 30,000 foreign, at-risk Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) since 2003. Full Text

State Department Surpasses Target of 75,000 Trained Peacekeepers by 2010
Date: 02/03/2001 Description: Nearly 800 Portuguese United Nations peacekeepers, leaving from East Timor, line up to receive their U.N. service medals in Dili, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001. © AP ImageThe United States has surpassed its commitment, adopted at the 2004 G-8 Sea Island Summit, to train and equip 75,000 new peacekeepers to be able to participate in peacekeeping operations worldwide by 2010. Full Text

United States Marks International Small Arms Destruction Day
Date: 07/10/2002 Description: Members of the Diplomatic Corps watch as a road roller runs over more than 1,000 confiscated rifles and handguns in a ceremony Wednesday July 10, 2002 at the Philippine National Police Headquarters in suburban Quezon city highlighting the international observance of The United States joined in observing International Small Arms Destruction Day, initiated by the United Nations in 2001, as part of the United States’ ongoing efforts to reduce armed violence and support the rule of law around the world. Full Text

Spirit of Soccer Wins Beyond Sport Award for Mine Risk Education Program
Date: 07/19/2002 Description: Afghan children play soccer on a dusty street in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, July 19, 2002. © AP ImageThe State Department saluted Spirit of Soccer on receiving the Most Courageous Use of Sport Award from Beyond Sport, a non-governmental organization that seeks to celebrate and support positive change through sport. Full Text

2009 To Walk The Earth In Safety
Date: 07/07/2009 Description: 2009 To Walk The Earth In Safety Report © State Dept ImageWelcome to the 8th edition of To Walk The Earth In Safety. Although we have seen real progress in combating the threat of mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), conflicts persist, and the destabilizing effects of other weapons threaten peace and stability around the world. Report | Media Note

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