From November 29 to December 8, 2023, William Russo, assistant secretary of global public affairs, will travel to Belgium, Brunei, Thailand, and Laos on a diplomatic mission. His travel plans place a high priority on working with informational partners and collaborating with U.S. embassies on messaging and policy priorities. Meetings with government representatives, regional and international media outlets, students, journalists, non-governmental organizations, and U.S. embassy staff are all included in the trip.
Belgium:
The American delegation to the 2023 NATO Senior Communicators Conference in Belgium will be led by Assistant Secretary Russo. The conference’s main topics will be discussions of Alliance communications initiatives, the challenges of foreign information manipulation and interference, and messages related to the July 2024 NATO Washington Summit. He will interact with tri-mission staff and meet with counterparts from NATO Allies during his visit.
Brunei:
Assistant Secretary Russo will speak with Bruneian officials there, including the tourism and primary resource minister. He also intends to interact with Bruneian journalists and alumni of U.S. exchange programs as he gets ready for the 2024 celebration of the country’s 40th diplomatic anniversary.
Thailand:
Meetings with Thai government representatives, a trip to the Asia Pacific Media Hub, and interactions with embassy staff are all part of Assistant Secretary Russo’s visit to Thailand. In order to discuss contemporary communications and the changing media landscape, he will also speak with journalists and media partners.
Laos:
Assistant Secretary Russo will meet with Lao PDR representatives, go to the embassy, and interact with media representatives while he is there. The Lao PDR government’s plans and media preparations for the 2024 ASEAN Chair Year, as well as tactics for preventing misinformation, will all be covered in the discussions.
The United States ‘dedication to effective global public affairs is emphasized by this diplomatic mission, which also improves ties with important allies in Europe and Asia.
