The U.S. General Accounting Office and International Affairs

The International Division of GAO conducts audits, studies, reviews, investigations, and evaluations of the international programs carried out by all the agencies of the executive branch. The Division is composed of about 250 professionals knowledgeable in many disciplines. Overseas offices have been established in Frankfurt, Germany; Honolulu, Hawaii; Bangkok, Thailand; and Panama City, Panama. Priority attention is given to such problem areas as the following: a multipolar world with reduced United States influence; proliferation of military weapons; the growing gap between rich and poor; maintaining U.S. economic strength in the competitive international trade environment; the changing U.S. military role; increased influence in international business; revitalizing organization operations; world financial system instability; global natural resource issues; the increased need for cooperative international law enforcement; the uncertain status of detente; the oversight of U.S. foreign intelligence operations; and the interrelationship of domestic and international concerns.