Government offices seek advice about American mess on a regular basis (10)
I believe the answer is:
consulates
'government offices' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'seek advice about american mess on a regular basis' is the wordplay.
'seek advice' becomes 'consult' (I've seen this in another clue).
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'american' becomes 'a' (common abbreviation - e.g. in organisation names).
'on a regular basis' indicates alternate letters.
The alternating letters of 'mess' are 'es'.
'consult' enclosing 'a' is 'consulat'.
'consulat'+'es'='CONSULATES'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for consulates that I've seen is " diplomats in these".)