Introduction

• Author: Winston, Andrew M.
• Pages: 1-3

Ratification of international treaties

United States of America

1

I. Introduction

I.1. The role of the United States in the international community

The United States is an active participant in numerous international organizations around the

world. According to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook, the United States

currently participates in 87 international organizations.1 Among others, the United States is a

founding member of the United Nations2 and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.3

The United States provides significant funding to the international organizations in which it

participates. The Department of State submits reports annually to Congress regarding the

United States’ contributions to international organizations; these reports illustrate the scope

of U.S. involvement in international organizations, as well as certain other multilateral entities.

The most recently-available report indicates total contributions of more than $11.9 billion

dollars for fiscal year 2018.4

I.2. United States’ relations with the European Union

I.2.1. Early diplomatic ties

The United States has engaged in cooperative diplomatic and economic relations with the

European Union and the European institutions that preceded it since the 1950s.5 This

relationship began in 1953 when the United States first sent observers to the European Coal

and Steel Community (ECSC), followed in 1956 by the opening of the U.S. Mission to the ECSC.6

The Delegation of the European Commission to the United States was established in 1954 in

Washington, D.C.7 Seven years later, the U.S. Mission to the European Communities was

established in Brussels.8

I.2.2. Formalized relationship

The U.S. relationship with the European Community was formalized in 1990 by the

Transatlantic Declaration.9 The Transatlantic Declaration began regular dialogue between the

1 The World Factbook: United States, CENT . INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, https://www.cia. gov/library/publications/the-

world-factbook/geos/us.html (expand “Government” ta b) (last updated June 26, 2020).

2 Founding Member States, DAG HAMMARSKJÖLD LIBRARY, https://research.un.org/en/unmembers/founders (last

visited July 3, 2020).

3 Member Countries, NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZAT ION, https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_52044.htm

(last updated Mar. 24, 2020).

4 U.S. DEP’T OF STATE, UNITED STATES CONTRIBUTIO NS TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIO NS: SIXTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT TO THE

CONGRESS FISCAL YEAR 2018 (2018), https://www.state.gov/u-s-contributions-to-international-organizations-

2018/ (follow “Summary Tab 1b” hyperlink)

5 History of the U.S. and the EU, U. S. MISSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNIO N, https://useu.usmission.gov/our-

relationship/policy-history/io/ (last visited July 3, 2020).

6 Id.

7 Id.

8 Id.

9 Id.