CARICOM, US restore relations as Foreign Ministers meet US National Security Advisor

St Kitts and Nevis: Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Foreign Ministers met with the US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Friday, April 7. The discussions, to which the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, participated, was considered introductory, as well as an opportunity to exchange views on issues of mutual interest.

Emphasis was placed on the importance of addressing the Covid 19 pandemic and its economic consequences through access to vaccines and financing of economic recovery. Issues regarding safety and climate change were also discussed.

Ministers were particularly pleased with the restoration of CARICOM-US relations, as it was the second high-level interaction under the Biden-Harris government, which took office in January. Last month, the Secretary of State met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

At Friday’s meeting, they stressed the need for the relationship to be placed in an institutional framework to facilitate a regular and patterned meeting schedule. Sullivan has proposed regular high-level meetings, including a summit between CARICOM heads of government and the US president.