Greene Urges Ireland to Champion SIDS as EU Presidency Nears

Foreign Affairs Minister E. P. Chet Greene is calling on Ireland to maintain strong advocacy for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as it prepares to assume the presidency of the European Union.

Greene made the appeal on Tuesday during an event at Government House, where a new museum launched its first exhibition, Entangled Islands, highlighting the shared history between Ireland and the Caribbean.

While addressing attendees, Greene underscored the importance of Ireland’s upcoming leadership role within the EU at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty. He stressed that SIDS face ongoing challenges that risk being overshadowed on the global stage.

“It is very easy for our interests — access to financing, advocacy to protect key sectors such as the Citizenship by Investment Programme, and the operationalization of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS — to be overlooked,” Greene said.

The minister expressed confidence in Ireland’s commitment, pointing to its SIDS Partnership Strategy, which aims to leverage its position within the EU to ensure that policies and support mechanisms deliver tangible benefits for small island nations.

Greene also used the occasion to push for deeper economic engagement between Ireland and the region. Referencing his participation in the Ireland–Latin America and Caribbean Trade Summit in 2023, he encouraged Irish officials to organize a follow-up meeting and consider leading a trade mission to the Caribbean, including Antigua and Barbuda.

“As we look to the future, I know that our ambassadors will continue to advance these relations,” he said, extending an invitation for Irish leaders — including the Taoiseach — to visit St. John’s.

The remarks come amid ongoing efforts by Antigua and Barbuda to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with international partners, while ensuring that the unique vulnerabilities and priorities of SIDS remain firmly on the global agenda.