U.S. Relations With Saint Lucia
More information about Saint Lucia is available on the Saint Lucia Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.
U.S.-SAINT LUCIA RELATIONS
The United States and Saint Lucia have a cooperative relationship. The United States supports the Saint Lucian Government's efforts to expand its economic base and improve the lives of its citizens. Saint Lucia has cooperated with the United States on security concerns. Saint Lucia and the United States share an interest in combating international crime and narcotics trafficking. Because of Saint Lucia's geographical location, it is an appealing transit point for narcotics traffickers. In response to this threat, Saint Lucia has concluded various bilateral treaties with the United States, including a maritime law enforcement agreement (subsequently amended to include overflight and order-to-land provisions), a mutual legal assistance treaty, and an extradition treaty.
U.S. Assistance to Saint Lucia
St. Lucia is an active participant in the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, a partnership between the United States and the countries of the Caribbean dedicated to increasing citizen security throughout the region. The Peace Corps, whose Eastern Caribbean regional headquarters is located in Saint Lucia, has volunteers in Saint Lucia working in education. In addition, Saint Lucia benefits from U.S. military exercises and humanitarian civic action construction projects.
Bilateral Economic Relations
Saint Lucia's economy depends primarily on revenue from tourism. More visitors to Saint Lucia are from the United States than any other country. Saint Lucia is a beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin Initiative, which aims to facilitate the economic development and export diversification of the Caribbean Basin economies by providing beneficiary countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for most goods. The single most significant foreign investment in Saint Lucia is U.S.-based Buckeye Partners Limited large petroleum storage and transshipment terminal. Saint Lucia does not have a bilateral investment treaty with the United States.
Saint Lucia's Membership in International Organizations
Saint Lucia's foreign relations emphasize mutual economic cooperation and trade and investment. The country seeks to conduct its foreign policy chiefly through its membership in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. Saint Lucia and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, Organization of American States, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.
Bilateral Representation
The U.S. Ambassador to Saint Lucia is Larry L. Palmer; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List. The Ambassador and Embassy officers are resident in Barbados but travel regularly to Saint Lucia.
Saint Lucia maintains an embassy in the United States at 3216 New Mexico Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20016 (tel. 202-364-6792).
More information about Saint Lucia is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:
Department of State Saint Lucia Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook Saint Lucia Page
U.S. Embassy: Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean
USAID Eastern Caribbean Page
History of U.S. Relations With Saint Lucia
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports
Trafficking in Persons Reports
Narcotics Control Reports
Investment Climate Statements
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Travel and Business Information