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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DFA chief visiting Caribbean for COFCOR meeting

DFA chief visiting Caribbean for COFCOR meeting

Published May 6, 2025 08:47 pm
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo will attend the 28th Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on May 8 to 9.

                         DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo (MB File Photo)

A statement from the DFA chief on Tuesday, May 6, expressed his gratitude for being able to attend the conference.

“It is an honor for me to be the first Philippine Foreign Secretary to attend this conference,” Manalo said.

“This milestone engagement with the CARICOM Foreign Ministers is in keeping with Philippines’ foreign policy thrust of expanding diplomatic engagements beyond our traditional partners,” he added.

According to Manalo, the Philippines and CARICOM members “share contemporary challenges and common aspirations for the future, and have engaged actively” in pushing for global action on a range of issues, including climate justice, oceans governance, disaster resilience, biodiversity, and sustainable development.

Manalo’s visit coincides with the milestones in the relationships between the Philippines and some CARICOM members—the 25th anniversary of the bilateral relations with Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Next year, the Philippines will celebrate the 80th anniversary of bilateral relations with Haiti, 75th anniversary of bilateral relations with Jamaica, 45th anniversary of bilateral relations with Bahamas, and 10th anniversary of bilateral relations with St. Lucia.

Manalo said he is also looking forward to the establishment of formal diplomatic relations with Grenada through the scheduled signing of a Joint Communique with Grenadian Foreign Minister Joseph Andall on May 8.

CARICOM is a group of 21 countries, with 15 member-states—Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago—and six associate members—Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao and Turks and Caicos Islands.

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DFA Caribbean Enrique Manalo COFCOR
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