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 with Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Trinidad and Tobago. She was represented by the Governor-General of Trinidad and Tobago.
On August 1, 1976, Trinidad and Tobago became a republic in the Commonwealth of Nations with the last Governor-General, Sir Ellis Clarke becoming the first President of Trinidad and Tobago.
Diplomatic relations
List of countries which Trinidad and Tobago maintains diplomatic relations with:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="3" |frameless|425x425px
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!#
!Country
!Date
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|1
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|5
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|6
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|9
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|10
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|11
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|12
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|13
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|16
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|17
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|18
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|19
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|20
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|22
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|24
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|26
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|28
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|29
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|31
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|32
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|34
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|35
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|36
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|37
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|41
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|42
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|43
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|44
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|45
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|46
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|51
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|52
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|54
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|55
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|56
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|58
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|59
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|60
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|62
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|64
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|66
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|68
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|69
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|70
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|71
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|73
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|74
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|75
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|76
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|-
|—
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|-
|77
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|-
|78
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|79
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|80
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|81
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|82
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|83
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|84
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|85
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|86
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|87
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|88
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|89
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|90
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|91
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|92
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|93
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|94
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|95
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|96
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|97
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|98
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|99
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|100
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|101
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|102
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|103
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|104
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|105
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|106
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|107
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|108
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|109
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|110
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|111
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|112
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|113
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|114
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|115
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|116
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|117
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|118
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|119
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|120
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|121
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|122
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|123
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|124
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|125
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|126
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|127
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|128
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|129
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|130
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|131
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|132
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|133
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|134
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|135
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|136
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|137
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|138
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|139
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|140
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|141
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|142
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|143
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|144
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|-
|—
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|-
|145
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|146
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|147
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|148
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|149
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|150
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|151
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|152
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|-
|153
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|Unknown
|-
|154
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|Unknown
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|155
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|Unknown
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|156
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|Unknown
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|157
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|Unknown
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|158
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|Unknown
|}
Bilateral relations
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"
|-
! style="width:15%;" | Country
! style="width:12%;" | Formal Relations Began
!Notes
|- valign="top"
|||29 August 2023||See Armenia–Trinidad and Tobago relations
- Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 August 2023
|- valign="top"
|||7 January 1974||See Australia–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 January 1974
- Australia has a high commission in Port of Spain.
|-
|
|2 August 1972
|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 August 1972 when was accredited first ambassador of Austria to Trinidad and Tobago (resident in Caracas) Dr. Harald Godel
- Barbados maintains non-resident representation to Port of Spain.
- Trinidad and Tobago maintains non-resident representation to Bridgetown.
|- valign="top"
|||27 July 1965||See Brazil–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 July 1965
Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago enjoy a cordial and active relation. The establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries started in 1942 with the establishment of a Brazilian Vice-Consulate in Port-of-Spain, where later the Brazilian Embassy was open in 1965. Several mutual visits of Heads of State have occurred starting in 2008, when a MOU for cooperation on energy industry was signed.
|- valign="top"
|||31 August 1962||See Canada–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Both Countries established diplomatic relations on 31 August 1962.
Canada currently has 68,000 Trinidad and Tobagoan immigrants.
- Canada has a High Commission in Port of Spain.
- Trinidad and Tobago has a High Commission in Ottawa and a consulate-general in Toronto.
|- valign="top"
|||3 February 1964||See Chile–Trinidad and Tobago relations
|- valign="top"
|||20 June 1974||See China–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 June 1974
- China has an embassy in Port of Spain
- Trinidad and Tobago has an embassy in Beijing
|- valign="top"
|||8 December 1972||See Cuba–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 December 1972
- Cuba has an embassy in Port of Spain.
- Trinidad and Tobago has an embassy in Havana.
|- valign="top"
|||25 May 1972||Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 May 1972 when was accredited first High Commissioner of Cyprus to Trinidad and Tobago (resident in New York City) Mr. Andreas Jacovides
- Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
|-
|
|23 May 1972
|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 May 1972 when was accredited first Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to Denmark (resident in London) Dr. Patrick Vincent Joseph Solomon
|-
|
|7 July 1965
|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 July 1965 when was appointed first Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to Ethiopia Mr. George Daniel
|- valign="top"
|||31 August 1962||See France–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 August 1962
Bilateral relations between the countries France and Trinidad and Tobago have existed for about two hundred years. 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.
|- valign="top"
|||8 April 2011||
Georgia is represented in Trinidad and Tobago by its embassy in Brasília.
|- valign="top"
|||26 May 1966||See Guyana–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 26 May 1966.
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.
|-
|
|31 January 1974
|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 January 1974 when first Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to Haiti Mr. Charles H. Archibald presented his credentials
|- valign="top"
|||31 August 1962||See 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)
Republic of India operates a High Commission in Port of Spain, whilst Republic of Trinidad and Tobago operates a High Commission in New Delhi.
|-
|
|4 January 1964
|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 4 January 1964 when was appointed first Ambassador of Italy to Trinidad and Tobago (resident in Venezuela) Mr. Girolamo Pignatti
|- valign="top"
|||18 June 1963||See 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.
|-
|
|1963
|Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1963 when has been accredited Ambassador of Lebanon to Trinidad and Tobago (resident in Caracas) M. Halim Shebaya.
|-
|
|6 December 1965
|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 December 1965 when was accredited first ambassador of Liberia to Trinidad and Tobago (resident in Haiti) Mr. William B. Fernandez
|- valign="top"
|||24 September 2009||
- Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 September 2009
- Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
|- valign="top"
|||29 April 1966||See Mexico–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 April 1966
- Mexico has an embassy in Port of Spain.
- Trinidad and Tobago is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.
|- valign="top"
|||6 October 1970||Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 October 1970 when was accredited first High Commissioner of Nigeria ti Trinidad and Tobago Mr. Edwin Ogbu
- Nigeria has a High Commission in Port of Spain.
- Trinidad and Tobago has a High Commission in Abuja.
|-
|
|1963
|Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1963 when Mr. S. M. Khan, Pakistan High Commissioner in Canada, has been appointed currently as High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago.
|- valign="top"
|||5 February 1968||See Peru–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 February 1968
- Peru has an embassy in Port of Spain
- Trinidad and Tobago has a Consulate in Lima
|- valign="top"
|||6 June 1974||See 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. In 2004, the Russian Cossack folk dance had nine concerts in Port of Spain, San Fernando, Couva, and Tobago.
|-
|
|21 November 1964
|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 21 November 1964 when Trinidad Government has announced that Senegal has become the first African state to accredit an ambassador to this country. He is Mr. Ousmane Soce Diop Senegalese Ambassador in the United States, with residence in Washington.
|- valign="top"
|||15 March 1974||
- Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 March 1974
- Both countries have a number of bilateral agreements.
|-
|
|17 July 1975
|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 July 1975 when accredited first High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago to Sierra Leone (resident in Lagos) Mr. J.S.Donaldson
|- valign="top"
|||15 December 1971||See Singapore–Trinidad and Tobago relations
- Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 December 1971
- Singapore was Trinidad and Tobago's 3rd largest import partner in 2015.
|- valign="top"
|||10 January 1995||See South Africa–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 January 1995
- South Africa is accredited to Trinidad and Tobago from its high commission in Kingston, Jamaica.
- Trinidad and Tobago has a High Commission in Pretoria.
|- valign="top"
|||15 June 1967||See Spain–Trinidad and Tobago relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 June 1967
|-
|
|11 January 1972
|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 January 1972 when was accredited first Ambassador of Syrian Arab Republic (resident in Caracas) Mr. Bachir El Kotb
|- valign="top" id="Turkey"
|||22 May 1972||
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 May 1972
- Turkey has an embassy in Port of Spain.
- Trade volume between the two countries was 120.8 million USD in 2019 (Trinidad's exports/imports: 52.4/68.4 million USD).
|- valign="top"
|||31 August 1962||See Trinidad and Tobago–United Kingdom relations
thumb|right|[[Prince of Wales|Prince Charles in Trinidad and Tobago, March 2008.]]
Trinidad and Tobago established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 31 August 1962.
- The United Kingdom is accredited to its high commission in Port of Spain.
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. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Convention,
|- valign="top"
|||31 August 1962||See Trinidad and Tobago–United States relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 31 August 1962
thumb|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.
|- valign="top"
|||14 September 1962||See Trinidad and Tobago–Venezuela relations
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 September 1962
- Trinidad and Tobago has an embassy in Caracas.
- Venezuela has an embassy in Port of Spain.
|-
|
|17 February 1971
|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 February 1971 when first Zambia's high commissioner in Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Vernon Johnson Mwaanga presented his credentials to Governor General Sir Solomon Hochoy
|}
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.
See also
- List of diplomatic missions in Trinidad and Tobago
- List of diplomatic missions of Trinidad and Tobago
- Trinidad and Tobago passport
- War on drugs
References
External links
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs