This article deals with the diplomatic affairs, foreign policy and international relations of Barbados.
At the political level, these matters are officially handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which answers to the Prime Minister. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is Kerrie Symmonds.
Barbados is a moderate political and economic power in the Caribbean region.
Between independence in 1966 and the 1990s, Barbados has used a pro business and investment policy to expand its influence in the world. Through the usage of its network of international bilateral relations, the country has been able to maintain an independent foreign policy. Barbados' recent policy has been to focus and strengthen ties with nations that country feels will enhance its diplomacy or foreign trade. Barbados has sought to engage in multilateral diplomacy through the United Nations, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), the group of ACP countries, the Organization of American States, and several other agencies which it is engaged. In 2008 Barbados and the other members of CARICOM signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union and its European Commission. The deal covers CARICOM's membership in the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM). CARIFORUM in turn is a part of the Group of African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) States. The agreement outlines Barbados' future development and trade ties with the European Union, and serves as a blueprint for future relations between both trading blocs under the Cotonou Agreement and the Lomé Convention.Barbados May Reap Rewards of Treaty Network , Worldwide Tax Daily, 30 April 2009
Barbados has placed an emphasis on a furtherance of relations with the nations of Africa where the majority of islanders have ancestral connection. A prior CARICOM-Africa summit were held with future agenda to be formulated.
As a small nation, the primary thrust of Barbados' diplomatic activity has been within international organisations. Currently Barbados has established official diplomatic relations with 105 countries around the globe.
History In 1965, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago established the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA). Following independence from the United Kingdom in 1966, Barbados went on to become a founding member of many other international organizations.
On 4 July 1973, the founding nations of Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Jamaica signed the original Treaty of Chaguaramas in Trinidad thus establishing the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM). The agreement to establish CARICOM wound up succeeded the CARIFTA organisation. By the following year many of the remaining English-speaking Caribbean states followed suit and also joined CARICOM by May 1974, bring it slowly to the 15 members it has today.
Barbados also is a member of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), established in 1970, with headquarters in Wildey, Saint Michael (Bridgetown). The eastern Caribbean's Regional Security System (RSS), which associates Barbados with six nations of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is also based in Barbados. In July 1994, Barbados joined the newly established Association of Caribbean States (ACS).
In 2002 the United Nations opened a building in the Marine Gardens area of Hastings found in the Parish of Christ Church the facility simply called the United Nations House acts as a regional operations headquarters for several programmes of the United Nations in Barbados and for many of the other islands in the Eastern Caribbean region.Secretary-General Highlights Regional Challenges, Potential for Cooperation in Remarks at Inauguration of Barbados United Nations House – 3 January 2002
Diplomatic relations List of countries which Barbados maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657—585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111—112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131—132
Bilateral relations Africa Country Formal Relations BeganNotes1970-Apr-24See Barbados–Nigeria relations Nigeria is accredited to Barbados from its embassy in Port of Spain, (Trinidad and Tobago). Currently the Barbadian Government does not have foreign accreditation for Nigeria. However the Nigerian Government has said that it was highly desirous of Barbados establishing an embassy directly to Nigeria. Barbados and Nigeria formally established diplomatic relations on 24 April 1970.List of Countries With Which Barbados Has Established Diplomatic Relations foreign.gov.bb Retrieved on 4-22-09 Nigeria has pushed for more investment from Barbadian companies and investors and the pursuance of direct flights between both nations.
Americas Country Formal Relations BeganNotes1981-Nov-01Antigua & Barbuda and Barbados were once both commonwealth realms (until Barbados became a republic in 2021), 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.1968-Aug-16 Argentina is represented in Barbados through its embassy in Bridgetown. Barbados is represented in Argentina through its embassy in Caracas (Venezuela) and its honorary consulate in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Both countries are full members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) the United Nations and the Group of 77. 1973-Jul-10The Commonwealth of the Bahamas were once both commonwealth realms (until Barbados became a republic in 2021), 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. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 July 1973. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is accredited to Barbados through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nassau,Accridation to Barbados , Barbados Min. F. A. and an Honorary Consulate at St. James in Barbados. Barbados is accredited to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bridgetown, and an Honorary Consulate in New Providence.Resident Honorary Consular Corp, Bahamas Min. F.A1981-Sep-21Barbados and Belize were once both commonwealth realms (until Barbados became a republic in 2021), 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.1971-Nov-26See Barbados–Brazil relations1966-Nov-30See Barbados–Canada relations Barbados and Canada were once both commonwealth realms (until Barbados became a republic in 2021), members of: the Belt & Road Initiative, the Caribbean Development Bank, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of American States, and the United Nations.
In 1907, the Government of Canada opened a Trade Commissioner Service to the Caribbean region located in Bridgetown, Barbados. Following Barbadian independence from the United Kingdom in November 1966, the Canadian High Commission was established in Bridgetown, Barbados in 1967. There is a Barbadian High Commission in Ottawa and a consulate in Toronto.1967-Oct-03Barbados is accredited in Chile through its embassy in Caracas, (Venezuela). Chile is accredited to Barbados from its embassy in Port of Spain, (Trinidad and Tobago) and maintains an honorary consulate in Bridgetown. Barbados and Chile formally established diplomatic relations on 3 October 1967. Chile was the first Latin American country which Barbados formally established formal diplomatic relations.Barbados' Prime Minister to Pay an Official Visit to the Republic of Chile, Barbados Government Information Service, 3 November 2005Barbados and Chile to strengthen relationship , Barbados Daily Nation, Added 24 August 20171978-Nov-03Barbados and the Commonwealth of Dominica 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. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 November 1978. Barbados is represented in the Commonwealth of Dominica, through its High Commissioner in Bridgetown.1974-Mar-03Barbados and Grenada are two of sixteen commonwealth realms, 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.1966-Nov-30See Barbados–Guyana relations Barbados and the Co-Operative Republic of Guyana 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 relations between Guyana and Barbados had its genesis to a time when both Guyana (then British Guiana) and Barbados were both British colonies. Shortly after Great Britain secured British Guiana from the Dutch, waves of migrants were encouraged to move and settle in Guyana. Barbados was one such location where large numbers of migrants came from. Through time Barbados and Guyana have both supported each other. With the move towards independence in the region Guyana was seen as the breadbasket of the wider Caribbean which led to yet more waves of Barbadians seeking to move to Guyana for better opportunities.
More recently the Guyanese Government has extended an offer to Barbadians. The Guyanese government has offered to put in place an economically favourable regime towards any Barbadians that wish to relocate to Guyana and contribute towards that nation's goals in agricultural investment. The announcement was made in the final days of the Owen Arthur administration by MP member Mia Motley.
In the early 1990s the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning pitched an initiative for Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago to enter into some form of political union or political association. This initiative was short lived and didn't proceed following the Democratic Labour Party's defeat during the 1994 elections.1966-Nov-30Barbados and Jamaica were once both commonwealth realms (until Barbados became a republic in 2021): 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.