BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) — The Philippines Foreign Affairs Minister, Enrique Manalo, has arrived in St Kitts for talks with his counterparts from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries as his country seeks to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2027.
“It is an honour for me to be the first Philippine Foreign Secretary to attend this conference. This milestone engagement with the Caricom foreign ministers is in keeping with the Philippines’ foreign policy thrust of expanding diplomatic engagements beyond our traditional partners,” Manalo said.
He said that the Philippines and Caricom “share contemporary challenges and common aspirations for the future, and have engaged actively in advancing global action on climate justice, oceans governance, disaster resilience, biodiversity and sustainable development”.
Manalo said that his visit coincides with “milestones in the ties between the Philippines and several Caricom members,” noting that this year, “we commemorate 25 years of bilateral relations with Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, St Kitts- Nevis and St Vincent and the Grenadines”.
He noted that in 2026, the Philippines will mark the 80th anniversary of bilateral relations with Haiti, the 75th anniversary with Jamaica, the 45th and 10th anniversaries with The Bahamas and St Lucia, respectively.
“Furthermore, I look forward to establishing formal diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Grenada, through the signing of a Joint Communique with Grenadian Foreign Minister Joseph Andall on May 8,” he added.
The Guyana-based Caricom Secretariat said that the two-day Caricom foreign affairs meeting, being chaired by St Kitts-Nevis Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Denzil Douglas, will also discuss relations with third states, candidatures and developments in hemispheric and multilateral bodies.
It said that the 28th Regular Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) will also engage with representatives of the governments of Mexico, Germany, and Portugal.