Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston A. Browne, participated in the inaugural Brazil-Caribbean Summit, held in Brasília and hosted by President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The high-level meeting brought together leaders from across the Caribbean to enhance cooperation on shared regional and global challenges.
The Summit provided a strategic platform to deepen dialogue and collaboration between Brazil and the Caribbean, as Brazil continues to play a pivotal role both as a regional power and a leading voice among developing nations on the global stage.
Discussions at the Summit focused on key issues such as trade, food security, climate change, and the multifaceted crisis in Haiti.
Prime Minister Browne delivered an address reaffirming Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to regional integration and climate resilience. He commended Brazil’s leadership in promoting South-South cooperation and advocated for regularized high-level engagement between Brazil and the Caribbean to jointly develop policies that enhance trade, economic development, and citizen well-being.
Prime Minister Browne also welcomed Brazil’s role as host of COP30 in November 2025, emphasizing its historic significance as the first UN Climate Change Conference to be held in the Amazon region.
He stated, “COP30 must serve as an inflection point for concrete commitments, particularly toward capitalizing and operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund — a vital mechanism for vulnerable nations like ours.”
The Prime Minister also expressed gratitude to President Lula for Brazil’s renewed diplomatic outreach to the Caribbean, including plans to reopen Brazilian embassies in CARICOM member states, notably in Antigua and Barbuda. He further called for enhanced transportation connectivity across the region to strengthen supply chains and bolster food security.
Two major agreements were signed during the Summit:
- The Brazil-Caribbean Joint Communiqué, which commits to deepened collaboration in areas such as food and nutrition security, poverty reduction, climate action, and sustainable energy. The Communiqué also highlights joint support for initiatives like the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty and the CARICOM Agri-Food Systems Agenda, along with efforts to improve connectivity to promote trade, tourism, investment, and cultural exchange.
- The Brazil-Caribbean Statement on Climate Change and COP30, which underscores the existential threat of climate change to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and calls for urgent global action. The Statement highlights COP30 as a critical moment for advancing bold, inclusive, and effective climate solutions.
Prime Minister Browne was accompanied by a delegation comprising:
- Clarence Henry, Ambassador to CARICOM
- Kurt M. Williams, Senior Foreign Service Officer
- Zeina Hechme, Senior Foreign Service Officer
The participation of Antigua and Barbuda in this landmark Summit reaffirms the country’s commitment to multilateral engagement and regional solidarity in addressing the most pressing development challenges of our time.
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