US and Djibouti Hold 3rd Annual Binational Forum

Photo: US Embassy Djibouti

Press Releases: United States and Djibouti Open Third Annual Binational Forum of Cooperation

05/19/2017 03:00 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson
Department of State
Washington, DC
May 19, 2017

On May 18, U.S. and Djiboutian officials met in Washington, D.C. on the occasion of the third annual U.S.-Djibouti Binational Forum.

Under Secretary for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon opened the strategic dialogue for the U.S. delegation. Bureau of African Affairs Acting Assistant Secretary Peter Barlerin and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Eric Whitaker led the U.S. delegation’s discussions on areas of shared interests and opportunities for increased cooperation with Djibouti Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Defense Ali Hassan Bahdon, Minister of Interior Hassan Omar Mohamed, Minister of Labor and Administrative Reform Hassan Idriss Samrieh, Chairman of Djibouti Ports and Free Zone Authority Aboubaker Omar Hadi, the President of the Chamber of Commerce Youssouf Moussa Dawaleh, and Djiboutian Ambassador to the United States Mohamed Siad Doualeh.

The Binational Forum was created to enhance strategic cooperation and strengthen the U.S.-Djibouti bilateral relationship. The Djiboutian and U.S. delegations addressed a range of political, economic, development, and security issues. This year’s forum was also notable with the Djiboutian delegation’s announcement that Djibouti will join the Coalition to Defeat ISIS. Members of both the U.S. and Djiboutian delegations spoke of the positive “extraordinary moment” in bilateral relations following the recent visit by U.S. Secretary of Defense Mattis to Djibouti and discussed ways to further enhance the bilateral relationship and strategic cooperation.