Antigua and Barbuda, Spain Explore Stronger Ties During Bilateral Talks

Antigua and Barbuda and the Kingdom of Spain have reaffirmed their longstanding relationship following bilateral discussions held on the margins of this week’s EU-Caribbean Parliamentary Assembly in St. John’s.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs, E.P. Chet Greene, met on Wednesday with Spain’s Ambassador-at-Large for the Caribbean, Carlos de la Morena Casado, during a brief but substantive engagement at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting also included Permanent Secretary Ambassador Dr. Clarence Pilgrim and Director General for Foreign Affairs, Ann Marie Layne.

Diplomatic relations between Antigua and Barbuda and Spain were formally established in 1988, seven years after the twin-island nation gained independence. Over the decades, cooperation has expanded across several areas, including high-level dialogue, development support, and cultural exchange.

Notably, bilateral summits held in Madrid in 2006 and 2008 helped to deepen diplomatic and economic ties. Spain has also contributed to regional development initiatives in the Caribbean, including Antigua and Barbuda, often through European Union-supported programmes.

Cultural diplomacy has also played an important role in strengthening relations. Initiatives promoting Spanish language and heritage — such as the Ibero-American Cultural Week, launched in April 2011 — have provided citizens with opportunities to experience and appreciate the rich traditions of Hispanic and Spanish-speaking communities.

During Wednesday’s discussions, Minister Greene highlighted the need to revisit the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states. He pointed out that small island developing states, particularly within the OECS, face structural limitations that restrict their ability to fully benefit from the agreement.

Unlike larger regional economies, OECS countries have constrained export capacity, which limits their participation in expanded trade opportunities under the EPA framework.

To address this imbalance, Minister Greene suggested that grant funding under the EPA’s development cooperation pillar should be more strategically tailored to the unique vulnerabilities and economic realities of small island states.