The U.S. should also increase its public diplomacy efforts to convince the Japanese and Okinawan legislators, media, and public that the U.S. military presence is critical to the security of Japan and regional stability.

...coming at a difficult time for US and South African relations, the first lady’s trip to South Africa is a chance for the Obama White House to use a bit of what Washington analysts call “soft power,” or the power to persuade by focusing on shared positive aspirations and goals.

When students study in the United States, they return to their homes with a greater understanding of the United States and our people. And very often, they return to become government officials or business leaders in their home countries. This helps solidify the relationship between our nations and pays dividends of friendship and partnership for decades.

Study abroad programs are not only a chance for students to expand their cultural and linguistic horizons, but are important in promoting long-term international stability, according to U.S. State Department Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale.

Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. left the country Monday night, bound for Turkey on a weeklong trip seeking a "sister city" relationship with the municipality of Kahramanmaras....The cultural exchange trip is sponsored and paid for by the Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians, city spokesman Chris Mims said.

Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will make a rare appearance in Congress on Wednesday, testifying via video at a hearing in the House. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate spent years under house arrest by the military junta ruling Burma, also known as Myanmar. And so, when the invitation to testify came, she was reluctant to leave the country for fear that she would not be allowed back in.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced today a partnership with USA Volleyball that will bring 50 volleyball coaches to the United States from Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Trinidad and Tobago. The delegation will will meet with their U.S. counterparts and participate in coaching seminars and clinics.

Three members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, Dana Perino, Susan McCue, and Michael Meehan, will visit Ethiopia, South Sudan and Nigeria to broaden the Voice of America's reach and impact in Africa. Board members will meet with high-ranking government officials, VOA journalists and broadcasting affiliates to address challenges and opportunities in the region.