December 8, 2025, commemorates the fifty-third anniversary of diplomatic relations established between Cuba and four pioneering Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. This historic decision, made on December 8, 1972, by the region’s then-independent nations, has matured into a robust and mutually advantageous partnership encompassing all CARICOM members and Cuba.
Over the decades, this alliance has emerged as a exemplary model of South-South cooperation, characterized by sustained diplomatic engagement through eight high-level summits and six ministerial meetings. The relationship continues to evolve, with the Ninth CARICOM-Cuba Summit scheduled for March 2026 in Havana. This upcoming gathering will serve as a platform for addressing bilateral concerns, hemispheric matters, and global challenges of mutual interest, while exploring enhanced collaboration in critical sectors including trade, education, and public health initiatives.
Despite these strengthening ties, both CARICOM and Cuba confront significant contemporary challenges. These include the escalating threats of climate change, transnational criminal networks, economic volatility, and the devastating impacts of natural disasters exemplified by recent Hurricane Melissa.
In response to these shared vulnerabilities, both parties reaffirm their commitment to collective action and regional solidarity. The partnership remains guided by fundamental principles of international law, particularly respect for national sovereignty and the right to self-determination for all nations, providing a foundation for continued cooperation against common challenges.