Savannah Council on World Affairs Lecture Series

Ambassador Thomas A. Shannon presents, “Why U.S. Relationships in the Americas Matter to the Well-Being of the United States.

The importance of our Hemisphere to U.S. prosperity and well-being cannot be exaggerated. In a world defined by expanding security challenges, we often overlook the strategic reserve we have in our own Hemisphere. It is a region defined by peace among nations, democracy, open markets, and regional trade and investment. It is also the world’s major food and energy producer, and will play a central role defining the global economy of the 21st century. Come hear one of America’s most distinguished and experienced career diplomats enlighten us about the contributions our relations with the rest of the Americas can make to US prosperity and stability and progress in the region. Former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Thomas Shannon will share his insights on how we can make the most of our political, economic, energy and people-to-people relations with the other states of the Americas, and how these relationships can help the Americas meet today’s broader international challenges.

Ambassador Thomas A. Shannon, Jr., spent nearly 35 years in the Foreign Service, serving 6 US presidents and 11 secretaries of state. Most recently, Ambassador Shannon served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, the third highest ranking position at the State Department. He was in charge of bilateral and multilateral foreign policymaking and implementation, managed the State Department during the 2017 presidential transition, led bilateral and strategic stability talks with Russia, worked with our allies to oversee Iranian compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and expanded US engagement in Central Asia, among other things.
Prior to that appointment, he served as Counselor of the Department, where he acted as a troubleshooter and roving envoy for the Secretary of State. In 2016, he was appointed by President Obama as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Ambassador Shannon was the United States Ambassador to Brazil. Prior to this appointment, Ambassador Shannon served as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the Department of State, and Director of Andean Affairs, and US Deputy Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States. Retired from government service, Ambassador Shannon is now a Senior International Policy Advisor at the firm of Arnold and Porter in Washington, D.C.