International Relations Division

The Department of the Interior (DOI) works around the world to advance the Department's mission and United States foreign affairs objectives. The International Relations Division of DOI’s Office of International Affairs (INT) serves as a central point of contact and coordination for DOI on international matters. The division is organized into five geographic teams: 

  • Africa Team
  • Arctic/Europe Team
  • Central Asia/Middle East Team
  • Indo-Pacific Team
  • Western Hemisphere Team

Team functions include:

Interagency Coordination: Consistent interagency coordination ensures the Department of the Interior is strategically represented in interagency and international policy discussions that impact its mission. INT's International Relations Division coordinates inputs from across Interior bureaus, vets them for political and technical alignment, and communicates unified positions to external partners. It also takes in position papers and talking points from agencies such as State, NSC, USTR, and Energy for consideration and comment before positions are communicated externally and abroad. By doing so, INT protects Interior's operational authorities, prevents policy conflicts, and ensure the Department's expertise shapes nationally- and globally significant decisions. Ultimately, INT safeguards Interior's interests on topics like energy security, wildlife crime, trade, and resource governance.

International Engagements: International engagements enhance the Department of the Interior's ability to advance U.S. priorities, protect natural resources, and maintain strong diplomatic and scientific partnerships. Through high-level briefings, working-level meetings, and participation in multilateral bodies like the Arctic Council and International Joint Commission, Interior ensures its expertise and equities are reflected in global decision-making. These engagements allow Interior to anticipate and shape foreign policy developments that affect domestic operations -- such as critical minerals policy, environmental enforcement, and transboundary water management -- while also reinforcing U.S. leadership in areas like Arctic conservation. 

Foreign Technical Assistance. Interior bureaus and offices advance the Department's mission and complimentary U.S. foreign policy objectives through financial and technical assistance. The consolidated Office of International Affairs streamlines technical assistance by developing objectives and strategy complementarity with other U.S. foreign assistance programs and alignment with the Department's international engagement strategy.

The consolidated Office of International Affairs also manages and implements international technical assistance projects to provide training, scientific exchange, and other support to partner countries on subjects of Departmental expertise on a reimbursable basis. It liaises with the State Department and other relevant agencies, negotiates interagency agreements, develops work plans with comprehensive monitoring and evaluation systems, selects and prepares multi-bureau, multi-disciplinary teams of technical experts, partners with in-country organizations to support Interior teams, arranges logistics, provides reporting, and oversees on-time, on-budget, and strategy-aligned activity implementation.

Additional information:

 

 

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