Foreign relations of Jamaica

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Politics of Jamaica
Coat of arms of Jamaica.svg
Executive
Legislative
Elections
Judiciary
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
Flag of Jamaica.svg Jamaica portal
  • Other countries
  • v
  • t

Jamaica has diplomatic relations with many nations and is a member of the United Nations and the Organization of American States. Jamaica chairs the Working Group on smaller Economies.

Jamaica is an active member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement (G-77). Jamaica is a beneficiary of the Lome Conventions, through which the European Union (EU) grants trade preferences to selected states in Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, and has played a leading role in the negotiations of the successor agreement in Fiji in 2000.

Disputes - international: none

Illicit drugs: Transshipment point for cocaine from Central and South America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation of cannabis; government has an active manual cannabis eradication program

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is the government ministry responsible for handling Jamaica's external relations and foreign trade.

History[]

Historically, Jamaica has had close ties with the UK. Trade, financial, and cultural relations with the United States are now predominant. Jamaica is linked with the other countries of the English-speaking Caribbean through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and more broadly through the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). Jamaica has served two 2-year terms on the United Nations Security Council, in 1979-80 and 2000-2001.

In the follow-on meetings to the December 1994 Summit of the Americas, Jamaica—together with Uruguay—was given the responsibility of coordinating discussions on invigorating society.

Diplomatic Relations[]

List of countries which Jamaica maintains diplomatic relations with:[1]

Countries which Jamaica has diplomatic relations with
  1.  United Kingdom – 2 August 1962
  2.  Canada – 2 August 1962
  3.  Netherlands – 2 August 1962
  4.  United States – 6 August 1962
  5.  France – 6 August 1962
  6.  Germany – 6 August 1962
  7.  India – 12 August 1962
  8.  Israel – 29 August 1962
  9.  South Korea – 13 October 1962
  10.  Brazil – 14 October 1962
  11.   Switzerland – 12 December 1962
  12.  Luxembourg – 2 January 1963
  13.  Pakistan – 19 January 1963
  14.  Italy – 14 February 1963
  15.  Argentina – 25 March 1963
  16.  Lebanon – 7 May 1963
  17.  Trinidad and Tobago – 18 June 1963
  18.  Chile – 18 December 1963
  19.  Japan – 16 March 1963
  20.  Egypt – 10 June 1963
  21.  Dominican Republic – 4 December 1964
  22.  Colombia – 24 February 1965
  23.  Venezuela – 25 March 1965
  24.  Ethiopia – 22 March 1966
  25.  Panama – 29 July 1966
  26.  Spain – 21 December 1966
  27.  Mexico – 4 February 1967
  28.  Belgium – 25 July 1967
  29.  Austria – 2 November 1967
  30.  Sierra Leone – 15 November 1967
  31.  Ghana – 8 May 1968
  32.  Barbados – 6 September 1968
  33.  Guyana – 20 June 1969
  34.  Peru – 29 April 1970
  35.  Nigeria – 29 April 1970
  36.  Zambia – 25 February 1971
  37.  Turkey – 30 March 1971
  38.  Tanzania – 6 April 1971
  39.  Costa Rica – 21 July 1971
  40.  Cyprus – 31 August 1972
  41.  China – 21 November 1972
  42.  Cuba – 8 December 1972
  43.  Bahamas – 10 July 1973
  44.  Ecuador – 10 September 1973
  45.  Bangladesh – 5 November 1973
  46.  Australia – 6 January 1974
  47.  Sweden – 5 February 1974
  48.  Mauritius – 20 May 1974
  49.  Romania – 21 August 1974
  50.  New Zealand – 27 August 1974
  51.  North Korea – 9 October 1974
  52.  Denmark – 14 October 1974
  53.  Kuwait – 14 November 1974
  54.  Grenada – 21 January 1975
  55.  Guinea – 30 January 1975
  56.  Iraq – 30 January 1975
  57.  Algeria – 30 January 1975
  58.  Hungary – 2 June 1975
  59.  Iran – 18 February 1975
  60.  Honduras – 10 March 1975
  61.  Russia – 12 March 1975
  62.  Poland – 14 May 1975
  63.  Greece – 15 May 1975
  64.  Nicaragua – 15 August 1975
  65.  Suriname – 26 November 1975
  66.  Malaysia – 28 November 1975
  67.  Burkina Faso – 20 September 1976
  68.  Vietnam – 5 January 1976
  69.  Senegal – 8 January 1976
  70.  Kenya – 19 March 1976
  71.  Libya – 24 June 1976
  72.  Saudi Arabia – 15 August 1976
  73.  Bulgaria – 22 March 1977
  74.  Norway – 7 October 1977
  75.  Finland – 1 December 1977
  76.  Dominica – 3 November 1978
  77.  Seychelles – 15 January 1979
  78.  Saint Lucia – 22 February 1979
  79.  Portugal – 26 February 1979
  80.  Niger – 25 June 1979
  81.   Holy See – 29 July 1979
  82.  Mozambique – 7 August 1979
  83.  Republic of Congo – 6 September 1979
  84.  Yemen – 12 September 1979
  85.  Lesotho – 19 October 1979
  86.  Fiji – 11 December 1979
  87.  Sao Tome and Principe – 29 February 1980
  88.  Zimbabwe – 18 April 1980
  89.  Philippines – 15 May 1980
  90.  Haiti – 26 August 1981
  91.  Indonesia – 17 December 1981
  92.  Botswana – 4 May 1982
  93.  Belize – 3 November 1982[2]
  94.  Antigua and Barbuda – 8 February 1983
  95.  Saint Kitts and Nevis – 19 September 1983[3]
  96.  Bolivia – 2 February 1984
  97.  Thailand – 10 September 1984
  98.  Uruguay – 23 May 1985
  99.  Oman – 27 May 1986
  100.  Vanuatu – 23 July 1987
  101.  Maldives – 27 February 1990
  102.  Namibia – 28 August 1990
  103.  El Salvador – 13 November 1990
  104.  Eswatini – 13 February 1991
  105.  Papua New Guinea – 16 April 1991
  106.  Cameroon – 26 September 1991
  107.  Guatemala – 11 December 1991
  108.  Latvia – 18 December 1991
  109.  Ukraine – 7 July 1992
  110.  Singapore – 1 November 1992
  111.  Paraguay – 10 November 1992
  112.  Slovakia – 1 January 1993
  113.  Czech Republic – 1 January 1993
  114.  Estonia – 16 February 1993
  115.  Belarus – 6 June 1993
  116.  South Africa – 9 September 1994
  117.  Slovenia – 23 July 1995
  118.  Kazakhstan – 27 July 1995
  119.  Lithuania – 20 September 1995
  120.  Gabon – 23 October 1995
  121.  Azerbaijan – 22 November 1995
  122.  Armenia – 1 December 1995
  123.  Albania – 3 April 1996
  124.  Moldova – 9 July 1996
  125.  Turkmenistan – 16 July 1996
  126.  Georgia – 31 July 1996
  127.  Uzbekistan – 8 August 1996
  128.  Bosnia and Herzegovina – 9 October 1996
  129.  Croatia – 9 October 1996
  130.  Serbia – 1996[4]
  131.  Ireland – 7 December 1997
  132.  Sri Lanka – 29 September 1998
  133.  Rwanda – 6 November 1998
  134.  Cabo Verde – 22 March 1999
  135.  Laos – 27 August 1999
  136.  Malawi – 30 September 1999
  137.  Myanmar – 6 December 1999
  138.  Kyrgyzstan – 25 February 2000
  139.  Iceland – 23 May 2000
  140.  Angola – 8 October 2002
  141.  North Macedonia – 1 April 2003
  142.  Cook Islands – 14 May 2003
  143.  Qatar – 27 June 2003
  144.  Mali – 17 December 2003
  145.  Malta – 27 October 2004
  146.  Sudan – 19 September 2005
  147.  Benin – 25 April 2006
  148.  Morocco – 29 January 2008
  149.  Monaco – 2008[5]
  150.  Cambodia – 12 January 2010
  151.  Montenegro – 12 November 2010
  152.  Nauru – 24 February 2011
  153.  United Arab Emirates – 4 March 2011
  154.  Brunei – 20 June 2011
  155.  Uganda – 21 September 2011
  156.  Gambia – 29 November 2011
  157.  Mongolia – 26 October 2012
  158.  Solomon Islands – 3 July 2013
  159.  Andorra – 23 September 2014[6]
  160.  Timor-Leste – 27 September 2014[7]
  161.  Equatorial Guinea – 18 May 2015[8]
  162.    Nepal – 1 October 2015[9]
  163.  Tajikistan – 11 December 2017[10]
  164.  Bahrain – 28 September 2018[11]
  165.  San Marino – 29 September 2020[12]
  166.  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – date unknown[13]

Bilateral relations[]

Country Formal Relations Began Notes
 Armenia 1 December 1995

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 December 1995.

 Barbados 30 November 1966

Barbados and Jamaica 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.

  • Barbados is represented in Jamaica through a non-resident High Commissioner in Bridgetown and an honorary consulate in Kingston.
  • Jamaica is represented in Barbados through its High Commissioner in Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) and an honorary consulate in Bridgetown.
 Belize 3 November 1982

Belize and Jamaica 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.

 Brazil 14 October 1962 See Jamaica–Brazil relations

Jamaica and Brazil established diplomatic relations on October 14, 1962. Both countries are full members of the Group of 15.

 Canada 1962 See Canada–Jamaica relations

Canada and Jamaica are two of sixteen commonwealth realms, members of: the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of American States, and the United Nations. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1962. Since March 4, 1963, Canada has a high commission in Kingston. Jamaica has a high commission in Ottawa. On April 15, 2009, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper became the first Canadian head of government to address the Jamaican parliament. There are 231,000 people of Jamaican descent living in Canada. Jamaican-Canadians celebrate their island heritage through festivals held in major cities across Canada, the most recognized of which is Caribana. Caribana is held in Toronto, Ontario every year and attracts over one million visitors to the region, many of whom fly all the way from Jamaica.

 Cuba

Prime Minister Percival James Patterson visited Cuba at the end of May 1997. In the fall of 1997, Jamaica upgraded its consulate in Havana to an embassy, and the nonresident Jamaican ambassador to Cuba was replaced by a resident ambassador.

 China 21 November 1972 See China–Jamaica relations

Relations from November 21, 1972. China has an embassy in Kingston, Jamaica. Jamaica has an embassy in Beijing.

 Ghana See Ghana-Jamaica relations

Ghana, as the former Gold Coast, and Jamaica share historical links through the slave trade and forced Ashanti/Akan emigration to the Caribbean. Ghana and Jamaica have a Joint Permanent Commission, and there are plans for Ghanaian investment in Jamaica.

 Guyana 26 May 1966
 Haiti

Haiti has an embassy in Kingston and Jamaica has an honorary consul in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

In January, 2007, Haitian President René Préval, made a four-day working visit to Jamaica. At a press conference, Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller announced that a Joint Jamaica/Haiti Commission would be convened later that year.[16]

 India See India–Jamaica relations

Both nations inherited many cultural and political connections from British colonisation, such as membership in the Commonwealth of Nations, parliamentary democracy, the English language and cricket.[17][18]

India has a High Commission in Kingston,[19] whilst Jamaica has a consulate in New Delhi.[20]

 Japan See Jamaica-Japan relations
  • Japan has an embassy in Kingston.
  • Jamaica has an embassy in Tokyo.
 Kenya 1976 See Jamaica–Kenya relations
  • Jamaica is accredited to Kenya from its high commission in Pretoria, South Africa.
  • Kenya is accredited to Jamaica from its embassy in Havana, Cuba.
 Malaysia See Jamaica–Malaysia relations
 Mexico 18 March 1966 See Jamaica–Mexico relations

Both nations established diplomatic relations on 18 March 1966.

  • Jamaica has an embassy in Mexico City.[21]
  • Mexico has an embassy in Kingston.[22]
 Namibia
  • Jamaica is accredited to Namibia from its high commission in Pretoria, South Africa.
  • Namibia is accredited to Jamaica from its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City.
 Nicaragua

Nicaragua has an embassy in Kingston. Jamaica is represented through its embassy in Mexico City.

 Pakistan

Various discussions of aspects of Pakistan-Jamaica relations and the possible ways and means to further strengthen these relations. The potential for enhancing cooperation between the two countries. Pakistan emphasized that the excellent bilateral relationship which existed between Pakistan and Jamaica since the establishment season diplomatic relations in 1962 needed to be translated into mutually beneficial cooperation in tourism, trade, investment, education, health, science and technology and improved people to people contacts.

 South Korea 13 October 1962

The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Jamaica started on October 13, 1962 .[23]

  • Jamaica has an embassy in Seoul, South Korea.[24]
  • South Korea has an embassy in Kingston Jamaica.[25]
 Turkey 1970[26] See Jamaica–Turkey relations
  • Turkish Embassy in Havana is accredited to Jamaica.[27]
  • Trade volume between the two countries was 90.5 million USD in 2019 (Jamaican exports/imports: 0.5/90 million USD).[27]
 United Kingdom

Jamaica and the United Kingdom are two of sixteen commonwealth realms, members of: the Caribbean Development Bank, the Commonwealth of Nations, UK-CARIFORUM, and the United Nations. Jamaica is the UK's third-largest export market in the Caribbean after Puerto Rico and Trinidad & Tobago. In 2010, British exports were valued at £68.4 million—an increase of 48% over the previous year and imports at £47.8 million. The UK’s main exports to Jamaica are chemicals, manufactured goods, machinery, pharmaceuticals and food products. There are opportunities for UK companies in the following sectors: Education, Information Communications Technology, Agriculture, Health, Water and Renewable Energy.

 United States See Jamaica–United States relations
Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, D.C.

The United States maintains close and productive relations with the Government of Jamaica. Former Prime Minister Patterson visited Washington, DC, several times after assuming office in 1992. In April 2001, Prime Minister Patterson and other Caribbean leaders met with President George W. Bush during the Summit of the Americas in Quebec, Canada, at which a "Third Border Initiative" was launched to deepen U.S. cooperation with Caribbean nations and enhance economic development and integration of the Caribbean nations. Then-Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller attended the "Conference on the Caribbean--A 20/20 Vision" in Washington in June 2007.

President Barack Obama visited the island on April 9. 2015. President Obama managed to squeeze in some fun in between meetings with Jamaican and Caribbean leaders on his trip to Jamaica this week—from paying homage to reggae star Bob Marley to practising his own Jamaican accent.

The United States is Jamaica's most important trading partner: bilateral trade in goods in 2005 was over $2 billion. Jamaica is a popular destination for American tourists; more than 1.2 million Americans visited in 2006. Also, some 10,000 American citizens, including many dual-nationals born on the island, permanently reside in Jamaica.

Jamaica maintains economic and cultural relations with Taiwan via Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada.

Jamaica and the Commonwealth[]

Jamaica has been a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations since 1962 when it became an independent Commonwealth realm.

Multilateral membership[]

African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Caricom, CCC, Caribbean Development Bank, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Food and Agriculture Organization, G-15, G-33, G-77, Inter-American Development Bank, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Civil Aviation Organization, International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, International Fund for Agricultural Development, International Finance Corporation, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Hydrographic Organization (pending member), International Labour Organization, International Monetary Fund, International Telecommunication Union, Intelsat, Interpol, International Olympic Committee, International Organization for Migration, International Organization for Standardization, International Telecommunication Union, Latin American Economic System, Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of American States, OPANAL, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, United Nations, UN Security Council (temporary), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNESCO, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Universal Postal Union, World Health Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Meteorological Organization, World Tourism Organization, World Trade Organization

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Countries with which Jamaica has Established Diplomatic Relations". 16 April 2021. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-30. Retrieved 2019-02-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Diplomatic Relations". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  4. ^ "WELCOME REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR GENERAL ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS DURING DIPLOMATIC WEEK 2011 24 JANUARY 2011". Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Jamaica & Monaco established diplomatic relations in 2008". Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Diplomatic Relations between Andorra and Jamaica as of 23 Sept. 2014". Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Diplomatic Relations between Jamaica and Timor-Leste as of 27 Sept. 2014". Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Diplomatic Relations between Jamaica and Equatorial Guinea as of 18 May 2015". Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Diplomatic Relations between Jamaica and Nepal as of 1 Oct. 2015". Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Diplomatic Relations Between Jamaica and Tajikistan as of 11 Dec. 2017". Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Diplomatic Relations Between Bahrain and Jamaica as of 28 Sept. 2018". Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Diplomatic Relations Between Jamaica and San Marino as of 29 Sept. 2020". United Nations Digital Library. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  13. ^ "DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS ACCREDITED TO SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES" (PDF). p. 16. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-30. Retrieved 2019-02-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ [1]
  16. ^ Caribbean Net News Jamaica and Haiti to deepen diplomatic relations Archived 2007-08-05 at the Wayback Machine, January 6, 2007
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-18. Retrieved 2013-01-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ http://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Jamaica-July-2012.pdf
  19. ^ India High Commission
  20. ^ "Jamaican High Commissions". Congenjamaica-ny.org. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  21. ^ Embassy of Jamaica in Mexico City Archived 2016-04-19 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ Embassy of Mexico in Kingston (in English and Spanish)
  23. ^ http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/countries/latinamerica/countries/20070803/1_24566.jsp?menu=m_30_30
  24. ^ http://blog.naver.com/vizior/60207752696
  25. ^ http://jam.mofa.go.kr/english/am/jam/main/index.jsp
  26. ^ "II.Bilateral Relations (Main Documents)". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b "Relations between Turkey and Jamaica".
Retrieved from ""