SVG’s international relations
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as a small, developing nation-state, has been pursuing a pragmatic foreign policy to maximize our outreach in a modern world which is far from accommodating to countries like ours.{{more}}
It has sought to avoid being caught in the fall-out being sparring states, whilst maintaining its principles of solidarity and opposition to colonialism and racism. The best example of this pragmatism is manifested in the continuation of our countryâs relations with the Republic of China on Taiwan, in spite of the left-leaning orientation of Prime Minister Gonsalves. Those relations, stretching back to the Milton Cato government of the eighties, and continuing with the James Mitchell administration, demonstrate stability, an important factor in international relations.
That is the same level of stability maintained in our relations with âtraditionalâ friends, the United States of America, Britain and the European Union. We have been able to keep policy disagreements on a principled level and to carry on with long standing state-to-state cooperation. The same is true with our relations with our neighbours in the Caribbean community, keeping our commitment to wider regional integration while pursuing initiatives aimed at solidifying closer cooperation within the OECS.
The world in which we live today is far different from that into which we stepped on our accession to independence in 1979. Traditional sources of assistance, such as aid from the USA, Canada and the UK are not readily available, both as a result of economic difficulties facing those countries and a changed global focus by them. The European Union continues to be a major source of support, but that too is dwindling as that union pursues its wider strategic interests in competition with other mega-trade blocs.
Where then do small countries like ours, with meagre natural resources and limited market opportunities turn in our bid to buttress our developmental thrust? The strategy has been to try and broaden our range of relations. In recent years, we have witnessed relations being opened with such countries as Mexico, Austria and Malaysia. Currently, Prime Minister Gonsalves is a specially invited guest at the Summit of the African Union, underlining our growing links with the continent from which the vast majority of our people originated. That contact with our roots is also manifested in our relations with Belize and Honduras, countries to which our indigenous inhabitants were exiled, and recently with Portugal and Ireland, countries which provided indentured labour. Locally too, there has been a welcome resurgence of interest in our connections with India, and one can only hope that stronger state-to-state relations will follow.
In all of this, relations with the socialist Caribbean state of Cuba have been strengthened and deepened. It is to the eternal credit of former Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell that he had the courage to brave the hostility of those fostering hatred to our sister Caribbean island by opening official relations with that country. Over the years, Cuba has made significant contributions to the social and economic development of St.Vincent and the Grenadines. No one can dispute that fact. Yet, there are those among us who seem unable to distinguish between their personal dislike of Cubaâs socio-economic system, a view to which they are perfectly entitled, and SVGâs relations with Cuba. You do not have to agree with your neighbourâs relations with his/her wife/husband to have good neighbourly relations. Above all, where else would we get the assistance in human capital formation, in health services and in acquiring an international airport in such difficult times?
The Cuban government and people have demonstrated in very tangible terms what international solidarity means. The least we can do is show reciprocal gratitude, friendship and hospitality to those on our soil. On the occasion of their landmark July 26 celebrations, let us all wish them the best.
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