Last Updated on May 13, 2025, 2:30 PM AST by Anthony Morris
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Denzil L. Douglas met on the sidelines of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, Enrique A. Manalo, during the 27th Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) of CARICOM.
Minister Douglas and his team gave a warm welcome to Secretary Manalo. This occasion also marked the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. He also highlighted the importance of this milestone in their shared journey of friendship, cooperation, and mutual respect.
In their friendly and positive dialogue, both Foreign Ministers felt pleased with the strength of their bilateral relations, especially in multilateral arenas. They recognized the excellent cooperation on global platforms and discussed ways to enhance cooperation.
These included technical partnership, disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, and strengthening peace and security between St Kitts and Nevis and the Philippines.
Furthermore, Secretary Manalo seized the moment to advise Minister Douglas of the Philippines’ candidature for a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2027–2028. Minister Douglas appreciated the news and reiterated the value of principled action at the United Nations and other multilateral organizations.
In closing the meeting, both Ministers committed to further strengthen the long-standing friendship between their nations and to further seek out opportunities for cooperation in the pursuit of common global goals.
Philippines Expands Diplomatic Ties
Secretary Manalo also stated that it was an honor for him to be the first Philippine Foreign Secretary to attend this conference. He further added that his interaction with the CARICOM Foreign Ministers aligns with the Philippines’ foreign policy to expand diplomatic engagements beyond their traditional partners.
Moreover, the Philippines celebrated 25 years of bilateral relations with Trinidad and Tobago (18 April), Belize (04 May), St Kitts and Nevis (11 August) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (11 October) this year.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
