PM Browne Meets Venezuelan Acting President and UN Secretary-General Nominee at COP31

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has held separate meetings with Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez and Antigua and Barbuda's nominee for United Nations Secretary-General, María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, during the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye.

The engagements took place on the sidelines of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, where world leaders and international representatives have gathered for discussions on climate change and global cooperation.

Browne paid a courtesy call on Rodríguez, during which the two leaders engaged in cordial discussions on matters of mutual interest.

The meeting provided an opportunity for dialogue between Antigua and Barbuda and Venezuela as both countries participated in the international gathering.

During his engagements, the Prime Minister also met with Espinosa, a former President of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador.

Espinosa was formally nominated by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda on May 11, 2026, for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Her nomination places her among those seeking to succeed the current UN leadership, with Antigua and Barbuda supporting her candidacy for one of the world's most prominent diplomatic positions.

Espinosa brings extensive experience in international diplomacy and multilateral affairs, having held senior positions within the United Nations system and the Ecuadorian government.

Her work has also included involvement in international discussions surrounding sustainable development, environmental governance and climate change.

The meeting between Browne and Espinosa provided an opportunity for engagement as international attention continues to focus on the selection of the next United Nations Secretary-General.

Both meetings formed part of the Prime Minister's engagements during COP31, where Antigua and Barbuda has continued to participate in discussions on international cooperation and climate-related challenges.