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Foreign relations of Trinidad and Tobago

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Modern Trinidad and Tobago maintains close relations with its Caribbean neighbours and major North American and European trading partners. As the most industrialized and second-largest country in the English-speaking Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago has taken a leading role in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and strongly supports CARICOM economic integration efforts. It also is active in the Summit of the Americas process and supports the establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Americas, lobbying other nations for seating the Secretariat in Port of Spain.

As a member of CARICOM, Trinidad and Tobago strongly backed efforts by the United States to bring political stability to Haiti, contributing personnel to the Multinational Force in 1994. After its 1962 independence, Trinidad and Tobago joined the United Nations and Commonwealth of Nations. In 1967, it became the first Commonwealth country to join the Organization of American States (OAS). In 1995, Trinidad played host to the inaugural meeting of the Association of Caribbean States and has become the seat of this 35-member grouping, which seeks to further economic progress and integration among its states.

In international forums, Trinidad and Tobago has defined itself as having an independent voting record, but often supports U.S. and EU positions.

Trinidad and Tobago has historically been a trans-shipment point for South American drugs destined for the United States and Europe. This has created much tension in the country's politics.

Trinidad and Tobago is also a member-state of the International Criminal Court, without a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the U.S. military (as covered under Article 98)

Trinidad and Tobago and the Commonwealth of Nations

Trinidad and Tobago became an independent state in 1962[1][2] with Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Trinidad and Tobago. She was represented by the Governor-General of Trinidad and Tobago.[citation needed]

On August 1, 1976, Trinidad and Tobago became a republic in the Commonwealth of Nations[3][4] with the last Governor-General, Sir Ellis Clarke becoming the first President of Trinidad and Tobago.[5][6]

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Trinidad and Tobago maintains diplomatic relations with:

More information #, Country ...
# Country Date[7]
1 Canada 31 August 1962[8]
2 France 31 August 1962[9]
3 India 31 August 1962[10]
4 Israel 31 August 1962[11]
5 United Kingdom 31 August 1962[12]
6 United States 31 August 1962[13]
7 Venezuela 14 September 1962[14]
8 Netherlands 19 October 1962[15]
9 Lebanon 1962[16]
10 Jamaica 18 June 1963[17]
11  Switzerland 12 July 1963[18]
12 Germany 28 August 1963[19]
13 Pakistan 1963[20]
14 Italy 4 January 1964[21]
15 Chile 3 February 1964[22]
16 Ghana 1 March 1964[23]
17 Egypt 22 March 1964[24]
18 Japan 22 May 1964[25]
19 Argentina 30 October 1964[26]
20 Senegal 21 November 1964[27]
21 Brazil 21 January 1965[28]
22 Ethiopia 7 July 1965[29]
23 Uruguay 22 November 1965[30]
24 Liberia 6 December 1965[31]
25 Algeria 1965[32]
26 Mexico 29 April 1966[33]
27 Guyana 26 May 1966[34]
28 Sweden July 1966[35]
29 Barbados 30 November 1966[36]
30 Spain 15 June 1967[37]
31 Ecuador 9 November 1967[38]
32 Peru 5 February 1968[39]
33 Colombia 22 February 1968[40]
34 Dominican Republic May 1968[41]
35 Luxembourg 17 December 1969[42]
36 Belgium 10 May 1970[43]
37 Tanzania 2 July 1970[44]
38 Nigeria 6 October 1970[45]
39 Zambia 17 February 1971[46]
40 Costa Rica 21 May 1971[47]
41 Norway 19 November 1971[48]
42 Sri Lanka November 1971[49]
43 Singapore 15 December 1971[50]
44 Finland 17 December 1971[51]
45 Nicaragua 1971[52]
46 Syria 11 January 1972[53]
47 Turkey 22 May 1972[54]
48 Denmark 23 May 1972[55]
49 Cyprus 25 May 1972[53]
50 Austria 2 August 1972[53]
51 Romania 25 November 1972[56]
52 Cuba 8 December 1972[57]
53 Ivory Coast 15 January 1973[58]
54 Kuwait 3 September 1973[59]
55 Libya September 1973[60]
56 Iran September 1973[61][60]
57 Indonesia 12 October 1973[62]
58 Guinea 1973[63]
59 Kenya 1973[64][65]
60 Australia 7 January 1974[66]
61 Iraq 17 January 1974[67]
62 Haiti 31 January 1974[68]
63 Serbia 15 March 1974[69]
64 Uganda 5 June 1974[70]
65 Russia 6 June 1974[71]
66 China 20 June 1974[72]
67 Mauritius June 1974[73]
68 Saudi Arabia 5 July 1974[74]
69 New Zealand 9 October 1974[75]
70 Hungary 7 June 1975[76]
71 Sierra Leone 17 July 1975[77]
72 Malaysia 11 June 1976[78]
73 Cameroon 19 December 1976[79]
74 Grenada 18 February 1977[80]
75 Portugal 2 September 1977[81]
76 Suriname 16 January 1978[82]
— Holy See 23 July 1978[83]
77 Czech Republic 16 November 1979
78 Saint Lucia 1979[84]
79 Greece 10 October 1980[85]
80 Belize 21 September 1981[86]
81 Antigua and Barbuda 6 December 1982[87]
82 Dominica June 1983[88]
83 Saint Kitts and Nevis 19 September 1983[89]
84 Bangladesh 22 September 1983[90]
85 Bahamas 1983[91]
86 South Korea 23 July 1985[92]
87 Thailand 22 January 1986[93]
88 North Korea 22 January 1986[94]
89 El Salvador 11 May 1994[95]
90 Panama 24 May 1994[96]
91 Paraguay 24 May 1994
92 Guatemala 25 May 1994
93 Honduras 2 June 1994[97]
94 Namibia 1 December 1994
95 South Africa 10 January 1995
96 Slovenia 9 May 1997[98]
97 Malawi 21 April 1998
98 Botswana 11 May 1998
99 Slovakia 28 May 1998
100 Poland 13 August 1998
101 Morocco 4 November 1998
102 Ukraine 27 September 1999[99]
103 Philippines 18 April 2000
104 Ireland 13 December 2000
105 Latvia 11 March 2003
106 Zimbabwe 23 July 2009[100]
107 Malta 24 September 2009
108 Brunei 24 November 2009
109 Maldives 24 November 2009[101]
110 Seychelles 24 November 2009
111 Vanuatu 24 November 2009
112 Mozambique 10 February 2010[102]
113 Georgia 8 April 2011
114 Azerbaijan 11 April 2011[103]
115 Belarus 12 April 2011
116 Montenegro 15 April 2011
117 Bosnia and Herzegovina 19 April 2011
118 Bulgaria 20 September 2011
119 Croatia 14 December 2011
120 Estonia 2 April 2012
121 Lithuania 26 September 2012
122 Lesotho 2 November 2012[104]
123 Iceland 8 May 2013
124 Timor-Leste 24 September 2013[105]
125 Kazakhstan 16 January 2014
126 Solomon Islands 30 January 2014
127 Liechtenstein 31 January 2014
128 Albania 13 May 2014
129 Andorra 26 September 2014
130 Fiji 18 March 2016
131 Qatar 6 June 2019
132 Mongolia 24 February 2021
133 Tajikistan 26 February 2021
134 Rwanda 26 May 2022
135   Nepal 16 June 2022
136 Bahrain 21 September 2022
137 Angola 7 December 2022
138 Vietnam 1 February 2023[106]
139 Cape Verde 14 March 2023
140 Oman 27 March 2023
141 Moldova 25 May 2023
142 Uzbekistan 15 June 2023
143 Turkmenistan 21 June 2023
144 Armenia 29 August 2023
145 Burundi 1 September 2023
— State of Palestine 22 September 2024[107]
146 Benin 23 September 2025
147 Monaco 24 September 2025
148 Tunisia 27 September 2025
149 Gambia 9 March 2026[108]
150 Djibouti 25 March 2026[109]
151 Palau 25 March 2026[110]
152 Eritrea 29 April 2026[111]
153 Kyrgyzstan 29 April 2026
154 Jordan 6 July 2026
155 Samoa 25 August 2026
156 North Macedonia 21 September 2026[112]
157 San Marino 24 September 2026[113]
158 Gabon 25 September 2026[114]
159 Laos 29 September 2026[115]
160 Bolivia Unknown
161 Eswatini Unknown
162 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Unknown
163 Tuvalu Unknown[116]
164 United Arab Emirates Unknown
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Bilateral relations

More information Country, Formal Relations Began ...
Country Formal Relations Began Notes
Armenia29 August 2023See Armenia–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Australia7 January 1974See Australia–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Barbados30 November 1966See Barbados–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Brazil27 July 1965See Brazil–Trinidad and Tobago relations

Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago enjoy a cordial and active relations Several mutual visits of Heads of State have occurred starting in 2008, when a MOU for cooperation on energy industry was signed.[117]

Canada31 August 1962See Canada–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Chile3 February 1964See Chile–Trinidad and Tobago relations
China20 June 1974See China–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Cuba8 December 1972See Cuba–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Cyprus25 May 1972
  • Cyprus is represented in Trinidad and Tobago by its embassy in New York City.[118]
  • Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
France31 August 1962See France–Trinidad and Tobago relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 August 1962[9]

Bilateral relations between the countries France and Trinidad and Tobago have existed for about two hundred years.[119] Currently, France has an embassy in Port of Spain. Trinidad and Tobago is represented in France through its embassy in Brussels (Belgium). Trinidad and Tobago also has bilateral investment agreements with France.[120]

Georgia8 April 2011

Georgia is represented in Trinidad and Tobago by its embassy in Brasília.[121]

Guyana26 May 1966See Guyana–Trinidad and Tobago relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 May 1966.[122]

The two share many similarities between each other due to their shared history in the Commonwealth of Nations along with having similar language, culture, demographics and religions. Both countries had substantial numbers of indentured servants from India and slaves from Africa imported into their country. In the 1970s, Trinidad and Tobago gave Guyana substantial oil exports on credit and in the 1990s, forgave hundred of millions of dollars of debt under the Paris Club Agreement. In 2017, Guyana established its first High Commission in Port of Spain. In 2018, Both countries signed a MOU(Memorandum of Understanding) on Energy Cooperation.

India31 August 1962See India–Trinidad and Tobago relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 August 1962 when the status of the Commissioner of India in Trinidad and Tobago was raised to that of High Commissioner (Ambassador)[10]

Republic of India operates a High Commission in Port of Spain,[123] whilst Republic of Trinidad and Tobago operates a High Commission in New Delhi.[124]

Jamaica18 June 1963See Jamaica–Trinidad and Tobago relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 June 1963

  • Jamaica has a High Commission in Port of Spain.
  • Trinidad and Tobago has a High Commission in Kingston.
Mexico29 April 1966See Mexico–Trinidad and Tobago relations
  • Mexico has an embassy in Port of Spain.[125]
  • Trinidad and Tobago is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.[126]
Peru5 February 1968See Peru–Trinidad and Tobago relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 February 1968[39]

  • Peru has an embassy in Port of Spain
  • Trinidad and Tobago has a Consulate in Lima
Russia6 June 1974See Russia–Trinidad and Tobago relations

The Soviet Union and Trinidad and Tobago have established diplomatic relations on 6 June 1974.

Both countries have interests with each other since the Soviet Union. In August 1992, Trinidad recognized Russia as the USSR's successor. Currently, Russia is represented in Trinidad and Tobago through a non-resident embassy in Georgetown (Guyana). In 2004, Sergey Lavrov and Knowlson Gift signed the protocol on the political consultations between the two Ministries. In April 2005 the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago signed the cooperation agreement.[127] In 2004, the Russian Cossack folk dance had nine concerts in Port of Spain, San Fernando, Couva, and Tobago.

Singapore15 December 1971See Singapore–Trinidad and Tobago relations
South Africa10 January 1995See South Africa–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Spain15 June 1967See Spain–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Turkey22 May 1972

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 May 1972[54]

  • Turkey has an embassy in Port of Spain.[128]
  • Trade volume between the two countries was 120.8 million USD in 2019 (Trinidad's exports/imports: 52.4/68.4 million USD).[128]
United Kingdom31 August 1962See Trinidad and Tobago–United Kingdom relations
Prince Charles in Trinidad and Tobago, March 2008.

Trinidad and Tobago established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 31 August 1962.[12]

The UK governed Trinidad and Tobago from 1797 to 1962, when Trinidad and Tobago achieved full independence.

Both countries share common membership of the Caribbean Development Bank, Commonwealth, the International Criminal Court, the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the CARIFORUM–UK Economic Partnership Agreement.[131] Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Convention,[132]

United States31 August 1962See Trinidad and Tobago–United States relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 August 1962[13]

United States embassy in Port of Spain.

The United States and Trinidad and Tobago enjoy cordial relations. U.S. interests there and throughout the hemisphere focus on increasing investment and trade, and ensuring more stable supplies of energy. They also include enhancing Trinidad and Tobago's political and social stability and positive regional role through assistance in drug interdiction, health issues, and legal affairs. The U.S. embassy was established in Port of Spain in 1962, replacing the former consulate-general.

  • Trinidad and Tobago has an embassy in Washington, D.C.
  • United States has an embassy in Port of Spain.
Venezuela14 September 1962See Trinidad and Tobago–Venezuela relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 September 1962[14]

  • Trinidad and Tobago has an embassy in Caracas.
  • Venezuela has an embassy in Port of Spain.
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International organisations

On its independence in 1962, Trinidad and Tobago joined the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations. In 1967, it became the first Commonwealth country to join the Organization of American States (OAS).

In 1995, Trinidad played host to the inaugural meeting of the Association of Caribbean States and has become the seat of this 35-member grouping, which seeks to further economic progress and integration among its states.

As the most industrialized and second-largest country in the English-speaking Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago has taken a leading role in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and strongly supports CARICOM economic integration efforts. It also is active in the Summit of the Americas process and supports the establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Americas, lobbying other nations for seating the Secretariat in Port of Spain. As a member of CARICOM, Trinidad and Tobago strongly backed efforts by the United States to bring political stability to Haiti, contributing personnel to the Multinational Force in 1994.

Trinidad and Tobago is also a member-state of the International Criminal Court, without a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the U.S. military (as covered under Article 98).

In July 2013 the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro invited Trinidad and Tobago to join the Union of South American Nations.[133]

See also

References

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