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Foreign relations of Antigua and Barbuda

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  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs
    Minister: E.P. Chet Greene

Antigua and Barbuda maintains diplomatic relations with the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the People's Republic of China, as well as with many Latin American countries and neighbouring Eastern Caribbean states. It is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of American States, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas, Petrocaribe and the Eastern Caribbean's Regional Security System (RSS).

As a member of CARICOM, Antigua and Barbuda supported efforts by the United States to implement UN Security Council Resolution 940, designed to facilitate the departure of Haiti's de facto authorities from power. The country agreed to contribute personnel to the multinational force which restored the democratically elected government of Haiti in October 1994.

In May 1997, Prime Minister Bird joined 14 other Caribbean leaders and President Clinton for the first-ever US-regional summit in Bridgetown, Barbados. The summit strengthened the basis for regional co-operation on justice and counter-narcotics issues, finance and development, and trade.

Antigua and Barbuda is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military (as covered under Article 98).

Disputes – international: none

Illicit drugs: considered a minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; more significant as a drug-money-laundering center.

Diplomatic relations[]

Countries which Antigua and Barbuda maintains diplomatic relations with.
List of countries which Antigua and Barbuda has diplomatic relations with:[1]
# Country Date
1  Bahamas Unknown
2  Dominica Unknown
3  Grenada Unknown
4  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Unknown
5  Trinidad and Tobago Unknown
6  Canada[2] 1 November 1981
7  South Korea[3] 1 November 1981
8  United Kingdom[4] 1 November 1981
9  United States[5] 1 November 1981
10  India[6] 1981
11  Malaysia[7] 1981
12  Brazil[3] 2 February 1982
13  Guyana[8] 3 February 1982
14  Colombia[9] 18 March 1982
15  Germany[3] 4 May 1982
16  France[3] 6 May 1982
17  Netherlands[3] 11 May 1982
18  Sweden[3] 11 June 1982
19  Venezuela[3] 11 June 1982
20  Iraq[3] 14 September 1982
21  Japan[3] 4 October 1982
22  China[3] 1 January 1983
23  Belize[10] 4 February 1983
24  Jamaica[11] 8 February 1983
25  Portugal[12] 20 March 1983
26  Syria[3] 18 April 1983
27  Israel[3] 22 June 1983
28  Barbados[13] 19 September 1983
29  Saint Kitts and Nevis[14] 19 September 1983
30  Switzerland[3] 14 December 1983
32  Saint Lucia[15] 1983
33  Costa Rica[3] 16 January 1984
34  Mexico[16] 14 September 1984
35  Argentina[17] 7 December 1984
36  Austria[3] 25 March 1985
37  Greece[3] 10 June 1985
38  Peru[3] 24 June 1985
39  Italy[3] 20 August 1985
40  Bolivia[3] 26 August 1985
41  Norway[3] 14 October 1985
42  Denmark[3] 27 October 1985
43  Belgium[3] 30 October 1985
–   Holy See[18] 15 December 1986
44  Uruguay[3] 27 April 1987
45  Spain[3] 27 June 1988
46  Suriname 10 October 1989
47  Algeria 1 November 1989
48  Russia 5 January 1990
49  Chile[3] 10 August 1990
50  North Korea 27 November 1990
51  Guatemala 3 February 1992
52  Nicaragua[3] 20 February 1992
53  Ukraine[3] 17 March 1993
54  El Salvador[3] 18 March 1993
55  Latvia 19 March 1993
56  Estonia 4 June 1993
57  Slovenia[3] 15 June 1993
58  Armenia[3] 25 August 1993
59  Cuba 6 April 1994
60  North Macedonia[3] 21 February 1995
61  Azerbaijan[3] 5 April 1995
62  Panama[19] 27 September 1996
63  Czech Republic 31 January 1997
64  Haiti[3] 11 June 1997
65  Kuwait[3] 9 July 1998
66  Croatia 15 June 1999
67  Slovakia 21 June 1999
68  Turkey[20] June 1999
69  Belarus 18 May 2000
70  Ireland 19 May 2000
71  Bulgaria 7 June 2001
72  Maldives 25 March 2002
73  South Africa[21] 17 February 2004
74  Iceland 11 March 2004
75  Cyprus 22 July 2004
76  Malta 23 July 2004
77  Lithuania[22] 23 September 2004
78  Hungary 16 May 2005
79  Poland[23] 13 September 2005
80  Thailand[24] 7 July 2006
81  Oman 5 October 2006
82  Qatar 9 October 2006
83  Bahrain 20 October 2006
84  Singapore 12 December 2006
85  Saudi Arabia 12 February 2007
86  United Arab Emirates 4 May 2007
87  Libya 31 August 2007
88  Luxembourg 26 September 2007
89  Dominican Republic[25] 5 October 2007
90  Kazakhstan 16 November 2007
91  Botswana 6 December 2007
92  Finland 26 September 2008
93  Ecuador[26] 10 August 2009
94  Brunei 21 December 2009
95  Cambodia 28 April 2010
96  Egypt 7 July 2010
97  Philippines 16 July 2010
98  Georgia 7 April 2011
99  Montenegro 11 April 2011
100  Tajikistan 12 April 2011
101  Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 June 2011
102  Andorra[27] 3 June 2011
103  Indonesia[28] 23 September 2011
104  Moldova 18 November 2011
105  Mongolia 19 June 2013
106  Vietnam 8 November 2013
107  Fiji 20 February 2015
108  Iran 1 October 2015
109  Paraguay 21 September 2016
109  Pakistan 23 September 2016
110  Lebanon[29] April 2017
111    Nepal 25 July 2017
112  Jordan 27 September 2017
113  Morocco[30] Before 10 October 2017
–  Cook Islands[31] 9 November 2017
114  Romania[32] 5 April 2018
115  Liechtenstein 25 September 2018
116  Serbia 28 September 2018
117  San Marino[33] 12 December 2018
118  Monaco[34] 28 February 2019
–  Kosovo[35] 24 July 2019
119  Rwanda 10 December 2019
120  Ethiopia[36] Before March 2020
121  Ghana[36] Before March 2020
122  Kyrgyzstan[37] 3 June 2021
123  Uzbekistan[38] 14 June 2022
124  Kenya[39] 23 June 2022

Bilateral relations[]

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Australia
 Barbados 1 November 1981

Antigua & Barbuda and Barbados are members of: the Association of Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community, the Belt & Road Initiative, the Caribbean Development Bank, the Commonwealth of Nations, ECLAC, EU-CARIFORUM, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, the Organization of American States, the Small Island Developing States, and the United Nations. The establishment of diplomatic relations between Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda started on 1 November 1981.

  • Antigua and Barbuda has a non-resident High Commissioner from St. Johns, Antigua.
  • Barbados has a non-resident High Commissioner from Bridgetown, Barbados.
 Belize 4 February 1983

Antigua & Barbuda and Belize are two of fifteen commonwealth realms, members of: the Association of Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community, the Caribbean Development Bank, the Commonwealth of Nations, ECLAC, EU-CARIFORUM, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, the Organization of American States, and the United Nations. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 February 1983.[41]

 Canada 1 November 1981

Antigua & Barbuda and Canada are two of fifteen commonwealth realms, members of: the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of American States, and the United Nations. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1967.[42][43]

  • Antigua and Barbuda is accred to Canada from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States and has a consulate-general in Toronto.
  • The Canadian High Commission in Bridgetown, Barbados is accred to Antigua and Barbuda.[44]
 China 1 January 1983
Main article: Antigua and Barbuda–China relations

Both countries have established diplomatic relations.[45]

 Cyprus 21 July 2004
 Denmark 28 October 1985

Denmark is represented in Antigua and Barbuda by its Consulate General in New York and an honorary consulate in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda.[47]

 Finland 26 September 2008

Finland has an honorary consulate in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda.[48]

 Guyana 3 February 1982
 India
Main article: Antigua and Barbuda–India relations

Both countries have established diplomatic relations and have an Extradition Arrangement.[50][51]

 Ireland 19 May 2000

Ireland is represented in Antigua and Barbuda through its embassy in Washington DC, United States.[52][53]

 Israel 22 June 1983

Israel is represented in Antigua and Barbuda through its embassy in Dominican Republic.[54]

 Malta 23 July 2004
 Mexico 14 September 1984
Main article: Antigua and Barbuda–Mexico relations
  • Antigua and Barbuda has a non-resident ambassador accred to Mexico from its capital in St. John's.[56]
  • Mexico is accred to Antigua and Barbuda from its embassy in Castries, Saint Lucia and maintains an honorary consulate in St. John's.[57]
 New Zealand
 South Africa 26 June 2004
 South Korea 1 November 1981

The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Antigua and Barbuda began on 1 November 1981.[60]

 Spain 27 June 1988
Main article: Antigua and Barbuda–Spain relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 June 1988.

 Turkey Feb. 3, 1982[61] See Antigua and Barbuda–Turkey relations
 United Kingdom 1 November 1981
Main article: Antigua and Barbuda–United Kingdom relations

Both countries have established diplomatic relations. Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.

 United States 1 November 1981
Main article: Antigua and Barbuda–United States relations

Relations between Antigua and Barbuda and the United States have been friendly since Antigua and Barbuda's independence from the United Kingdom in 1981.

The United States has supported the Government of Antigua and Barbuda's effort to expand its economic base and to improve its citizens' standard of living. However, concerns over the lack of adequate regulation of the financial services sector prompted the US Government to issue a financial advisory for Antigua and Barbuda in 1999. The advisory was lifted in 2001, but the US Government continues to monitor the Government of Antigua and Barbuda's regulation of financial services.

The United States also has been active in supporting post-hurricane disaster assistance and rehabilitation through the US Agency for International Development's (USAID) Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and the Peace Corps. US assistance is primarily channelled through multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), as well as through the USAID office in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Antigua and Barbuda is strategically situated in the Leeward Islands near maritime transport lanes of major importance to the United States. Antigua has long hosted a US military presence. A former US Navy support facility, turned over to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda in 1995, is now being developed as a regional coast guard training facility.

Antigua and Barbuda's location close to the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico makes it an attractive transshipment point for narcotics traffickers. To address these problems, the United States and Antigua and Barbuda have signed a series of counter-narcotic and counter-crime treaties and agreements, including a maritime law enforcement agreement (1995), subsequently amended to include overflight and order-to-land provisions (1996); a bilateral extradition treaty (1996); and a mutual legal assistance treaty (1996). In addition, Antigua and Barbuda receives counter-narcotics assistance and benefits from US military exercise-related and humanitarian civic assistance construction projects.

In 2005, Antigua and Barbuda had 239,804 stay-over visitors, with nearly 28% of Antigua and Barbuda's visitors coming from the United States. It is estimated that 4,500 Americans reside in the country.

In 2005 both countries disputed a World Trade Organization ruling over gambling law. In 2007 relations were strained when Antigua and Barbuda demanded sanctions worth $3.4bn imposed on the US for its failure to obey the WTO gambling ruling stating that "while we realise this is a significant step for Antigua and Barbuda to take, we feel we have no choice in the matter".[64] Nevertheless, relations between the two countries are still strong.

 Venezuela 15 June 1982
Main article: Antigua and Barbuda–Venezuela relations

Antigua and Barbuda enjoys close relations with Venezuela. As of June 2009 it became a formal member of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA) international co-operation organisation and the Caribbean oil alliance Petrocaribe. In 2009 Antigua and Barbuda received US$50 million from Venezuela because of the country's membership of these initiatives.

"We have benefited from these relationships and so we will continue to forge these alliances, whether it is with Venezuela, Cuba or whoever else that we feel is in the interest of Antigua and Barbuda and the sub-region," said the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Baldwin Spencer.[65]

 Vietnam 8 November 2013

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 November 2013.[66]

See also[]

References[]

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External links[]