Foreign relations of Jamaica

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.

Jamaica has been a member of The Forum of Small States (FOSS) since the group's founding in 1992..

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: #CountryDate1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829 30 31 323334353637383940414243 44 4546 474849505152 53 5455565758596061626364656667686970717273747576777879808182—838485868788899091929394 9596979899100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110111 112 113 114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141—142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175

Bilateral relations Country Formal Relations BeganNotes3 November 1982Belize and Jamaica are two of fifteen 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. Both countries established diplomatic relations on November 3, 1982. Both countries are full members of the Organization of American States and of the Caribbean Community.14 October 1962See Jamaica–Brazil relations

Jamaica and Brazil established diplomatic relations on October 14, 1962. Both countries are full members of the Group of 15.1962See Canada–Jamaica relations Canada and Jamaica are two of fifteen 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.

See also Jamaican Canadian Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade about relations with Jamaica Canadian high commission in Kingston Jamaican high commission in Ottawa1972See Cuba–Jamaica relations

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.21 November 1972See China–Jamaica relations

Relations from November 21, 1972. China has an embassy in Kingston, Jamaica. Jamaica has an embassy in Beijing.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.26 May 1966Both countries established diplomatic relations on May 26, 1966. Both countries are full members of the Organization of American States, of the Caribbean Community, and of the Commonwealth of Nations.See Haiti–Jamaica relations

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.Caribbean Net News Jamaica and Haiti to deepen diplomatic relations , January 6, 2007See 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.

India has a High Commission in Kingston,India High Commission whilst Jamaica has a consulate in New Delhi.See Jamaica–Malaysia relations18 March 1966See Jamaica–Mexico relations

Both nations established diplomatic relations on 18 March 1966.

Jamaica has an embassy in Mexico City.Embassy of Jamaica in Mexico City Mexico has an embassy in Kingston.Embassy of Mexico in Kingston (in English and Spanish) Jamaica is accredited to the Netherlands from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium. the Netherlands is accredited to Jamaica from its embassy in Havana, Cuba.13 October 1962The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Jamaica started on October 13, 1962 . Jamaica has an embassy in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea has an embassy in Kingston Jamaica.1970See Jamaica–Turkey relations Turkish Embassy in Havana is accredited to Jamaica. Trade volume between the two countries was US$90.5 million in 2019 (Jamaican exports/imports: US$0.5/90 million).See Jamaica–United Kingdom relations The UK established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 2 August 1962. Both countries are Commonwealth Realms. Jamaica maintains a high commission in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Jamaica through its high commission in Kingston.

The UK governed Jamaica from 1655 to 1962, when Jamaica achieved full independence.

Both countries share common membership of the Caribbean Development Bank, the Commonwealth, the International Criminal Court, and the World Trade Organization, as well as the CARIFORUM–UK Economic Partnership Agreement. Bilaterally the two countries have an Investment Agreement.See Jamaica–United States relations

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

List of diplomatic missions in Jamaica List of diplomatic missions of Jamaica

References