The United States of America has called into question the continued relevance of the Organisation of American States in addressing regional issues.
Delivering his remarks during the first plenary session of the OAS, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau leveled strong criticism at the regional body, asking whether the OAS is achieving its fundamental charter goals of promoting peace, justice and territorial integrity across the hemisphere.
The US top diplomatic official at the conference referred to US President Donald Trump’s February executive order to review the US’ involvement in multilateral organisation which have included the UN, World Health Organisation, and several development banks.
“We must ask ourselves how the organisation remains relevant today and whether it’s achieving its lofty and noble goals,” Landau told the assembly. “Can we really say that the organisation is succeeding in these goals today?”
Landau was particularly critical of the OAS response to crises in Venezuela and Haiti, describing them as examples where the organisation has failed to take meaningful action despite what the US called clear violations of democratic principles and territorial integrity.
He noted that after what he characterized as a “brazenly stolen election” in Venezuela, the OAS has done nothing of substance.
“The regime didn’t even bother seriously to dispute the validity of the actas or the electoral fraud,” Landau said.
He said that Venezuela has transformed from “one of the most prosperous nations in our hemisphere to one of the most wretched.”
The Deputy Secretary also criticised the organisation’s handling of Haiti’s security crisis, where armed gangs control streets and ports in the capital and public order has largely collapsed.
While acknowledging US financial support of nearly one billion dollars for a Kenyan-led multilateral security force, Landau said America cannot continue shouldering this burden alone.
“If the OAS is unwilling or unable to play a constructive role in Haiti, then we must seriously ask ourselves why the OAS exists,” he said.
Despite his sharp criticism, Landau emphasised that the US wants to work constructively with the organisation and extend “a hand of friendship” to member states willing to engage meaningfully on regional challenges.
“I’m not bringing up Venezuela and Haiti to point a finger of blame. Rather, I’m here to extend a hand of friendship to this organisation and anyone who will take it,” he told the assembly.
However, he warned that some member states appear to view the OAS as “a forum to needle the United States” rather than work collaboratively on improving conditions across the hemisphere.
Landau concluded his address by calling for the organisation to demonstrate results through action rather than rhetoric, particularly in supporting the people of Venezuela and Haiti.
“This is not a time for mere words and slogans about hemispheric solidarity. It’s time for the OAS to show results,” he said. “The bottom line is that the United States is uniquely positioned at this juncture to be an active partner in the hemisphere.”
