India's Penchant Towards Caribbean And Pacific Island Nations

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister NarendraModi held a meeting with two summits, the India-Caribbean (CARICOM) Island Summit and the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (2019).

- Dr. Stuti Banerjee

India is trying to expand its global footprint through engagements with nations at the bilateral and multilateral levels and through regional and international platforms. The CARICOM and FIPIC allow India to strengthen its relations with the region on areas of larger convergences and resolve differences if any. They also provide the space to pursue bilateral and multilateral relations based on mutual interests.

India and the CARICOM

As the Caribbean nations look beyond their traditionalties, to North America and Europe, to other regions and nations, India is taking this opportunity to raise its profile in the region. India’s relations with the Caribbean nations have been reinforced by the CARICOM- the Caribbean community of nations that has encouraging common policy and economic goals for the region.

In giving this relation to new momentum, Prime Minister Modi met with the 14 leaders of the CARICOM. It was the first-ever meeting of Prime Minister Modi with CARICOM leaders in a regional format and highlighted the steadily intensifying and deepening relations between India and partner countries of the Caribbean, not only in the bilateral but also in the regional context. The meeting deliberated on means to strengthen the existing political and institutional dialogue processes, boost economic cooperation, increase trade and investment opportunities and foster robust peopleto- people relations.