OECS foreign ministers chart unified course amid global shifts

Foreign affairs ministers from across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States gathered in New York on September 20 to discuss strengthened regional coordination and a more unified diplomatic approach to global challenges.

The 10th Meeting of the Council of Ministers: Foreign Affairs took place on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly session. OECS Director General Didacus Jules told the gathering that the region's traditional strength lies in acting together, and that diplomatic institutions must adapt to rapid international change.

"Our region's strength has always been our capacity to act together, and this meeting reaffirms that our diplomatic architecture must keep pace with a world that is changing quickly around us," Jules said.

The meeting marked a formal change in leadership. Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble of St. Vincent and the Grenadines stepped down as chair, with E.P. Chet Greene of Antigua and Barbuda taking over the role. Bramble noted that the international system faces unprecedented pressures, making regional cohesion more important than ever.

Greene outlined priorities for his tenure, calling for stronger air and maritime links between islands, improved connections to Central and South American markets, and a more deliberate use of foreign policy to advance economic development. He also proposed that the OECS focus on protecting its Economic Union, securing fair treatment for citizenship and financial services programmes, expanding climate finance access, and defending multilateralism.

Ministers agreed to strengthen the diplomatic capacity of the OECS Commission itself, recognising that better coordination and execution would increase the region's international influence. They also committed to holding a dedicated foreign ministers' retreat before year's end to deepen discussion of the OECS's strategic position in the shifting global order.

The discussions covered trade, maritime connectivity, regional developments with humanitarian dimensions, and the strengthening of shared diplomatic institutions across member states.