Latest Commentary
Friday 2 June 2023
Autonomous Weapons A Real And Urgent Danger To People
By Sir Ronald Sanders
As if small states, with limited financial and human resources to safeguard their societies, do not confront enough grave challenges, along comes the phenomenon of“autonomous weapons” – probably the most frightening technological development that has yet been created.
Why should small states be concerned? They should already be deeply troubled by the increase in violence in their societies, including the escalation of homicides, caused by the expanded number of conventional weapons being brought into their territories by organized criminals.
There is now hardly any country that is not experiencing gangs, gang violence, armed robberies, rapes, drive-by shootings and murder. In almost every case, illegal guns are used.
Autonomous weapons in the hands of organized criminals would raise the problem of murders, assassinations, and even targeted destruction to new and frightening heights. For instance, it is now possible to enter facial recognition into a drone equipped to shoot to kill. The drone can then sift images of persons over whom it flies, select a body it believes matches the face, and shoot the person, flying away undetected.
These autonomous weapons are not restricted to drones. They come in a variety of forms including robots, programmed for warfare. They can also be devices which are planted in built-up areas, for instance, and programmed to detonate from great distances.
Imagining the use to which such autonomous weapons could be put by criminals, or even by mentally troubled persons, should terrify everyone, especially law enforcement agencies such as the Police, and agencies concerned with fighting drug trafficking, people trafficking and other forms of crime.
All this is good reason why small states in the Caribbean and everywhere should immediately join the growing international movement to prohibit and regulate autonomous weapons systems.
But, given their own peculiar circumstances of small size, limited human and financial resources, escalating crime and the fearful prospect of autonomous weapons in the hands of criminals, small states should consider banning such weapons now, even ahead of any international convention which will take years to negotiate and agree, and which, like many other treaties, would be unlikely to take account of the circumstances of small states.
The government of Costa Rica, in Central America, should be congratulated for the leadership it is providing in alerting nations and their law enforcement agencies to the real and present danger of autonomous weapons. Last February, the government of Costa Rica and a local non-governmental organization, convened a Conference which was attended by many countries from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as officials from 13 other nations, including France, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, Russia, and the United States.
From this conference, a Communiqué was issued, calling for collaboration to promote the urgent negotiation of an international legally binding instrument, with prohibitions and regulations governing autonomous weapons, and which would take account of International Humanitarian Law, and ethical perspectives, as well as the prevention of the social and humanitarian impact that autonomy in weapons systems entail.
The adoption of this Communiqué was an important first step, but it lacked sufficient high-level political participation. Consequently, the political decision-makers and legislators are not yet adequately informed of the enormous dangers posed by autonomous weapons. In this regard, the media has a role to play in researching, analyzing and reporting on the urgency of this issue, helping to inform decision-makers and the general public in their countries.
Several governments, around the world, are heavily investing in the military applications of autonomous weapons, which are part of the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. Among these countries are China, India, Iran, Israel, Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Indeed, weapons systems with autonomous functions are already being used in Ukraine and other conflicts.
These countries are unlikely to stop their use of these weapons, and like most other weapons developed for military use, they will be bought and abused by criminals and others for criminal purposes, beyond the capacity of law enforcement agencies.
So far, the pleas of many significant international figures to legislate against these weapons have been ignored. Among these persons are the Pope; Ban-Ki-Moon, the former UN Secretary-General, and the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions.
Perhaps the pre-eminent group to which the world should be listening is a group of engineers, AI and robotics experts, and other scientists and researchers from thirty-seven countries. They have issued the“Scientists' Call to Ban Autonomous Lethal Robots”, in which they insist that“decisions about the application of violent force must not be delegated to machines.”
Groups arguing for legally binding instruments to maintain human control over these weapons, have stressed that“a fundamental condition of international humanitarian law, requires that some person must be held responsible for civilian deaths. Any weapon or other means of war that makes it impossible to identify responsibility for the casualties it causes does not meet the requirements of jus in bello (the right conduct in war) and, therefore, should not be employed in war.”
If, in war, there is a limitation on accountability and who could be brought to justice, in the day-to-day lives of ordinary citizens, the use of such weapons to kill or destroy, is even worse. Anonymity of the person, responsible for death or destruction through the use of autonomous weapons, could put them beyond the reach of the justice system and fling the doors wide open to anarchy.
Nearly 70 countries now openly support a new legal framework to govern and regulate autonomy in weapons systems. But waiting for international treaties to be negotiated does not stop small states from acting within their own jurisdictions to adopt laws, prohibiting the importation and use of autonomous weapons and applying stiff penalties for violations.
The issue is real, and it is now.
Latest News in Pictures
Wednesday 19 April 2023
10 May, 2023 at the Permanent Mission of Colombia. A bust of the celebrated literary giant Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Author of “One hundred days of Solitude” and many more outstanding works). With the Colombia Ambassador to the OAS, Luis Ernesto Vargas.
With the President of Colombia Guistavo Petro at the Organization of American States (OAS) on 19 April 2023, afrer he made a rousing speech on freedom and political rights
Sir Ron speaking at the Danish Embassy in Washigton, DC in a converastion on Climate Chane and Peace and Security on March 23, 2023
Sir Ron and former Foreign Minister of Denmark, Holger K. Nielson, at the Antigua and Barbuda Embassy in Washigton, DC on 24 March 2023, after a useful exchange of views on Peace and Security and the importance of the presence of Small States on the UN Security Council
Sir Ron signing, with Serbian Amabassador, Marko Djuric, agreement. mutually abolishing visa requirments between Antigua and Barbuda and Serbia in Washington, DC on 11 March, 2023. At left in the photograph is Joy-Dee Davis, Minister-Counsellor in the Antgua and Barbuda Embassy
Sir Ronald Sanders (Antigua and Barbuda) and Ambassador Anthony Phillips-Spencer (Trinidad and Tobago) are the two senior Caribbean Ambassadors in the US and to the OAS. On 13 February, 2023 they met to discuss implementation of priority matters for the Caribbean in the US and the OAS.
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In February 2023, the Ambassador of the Maldives to the US called on Sir Ronald Sanders at the Antigua and Barbuda Embassy in Washington, DC to discuss issues related to small states in the international community. Climate change was a priority of their discussion.
With US Ambassador to the Organizaion of American States (OAS), Frank Mora, at the Antigua and Barbuda Embassy in Washington, DC, Februrary 2023
With the lady Ambassadors accredited to Antigua and Barbuda in December 2023. Left to Right, the Ambassador of Cuba, Maria Esther Fife; Ambassador of the Dominican Republic, Raquel Jacobo; and Ambassador of Venezuela, Carmen Velazquez De Visbal (December 2022) in Antigua
At the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles on 10 June 2022: Sir Ronald, OAS Secretray-General Luis Almagro and Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, Gaston Browne.
Sir Ronald with The Honourable Nancy Pelosi, the formidable Speaker of the US House of Representatives on Thursday 9 June 2022 during the Ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles
Senator Chris Dodd, Adviser to President Biden on the Ninth Summit of the Americas and the man largely responsible for convinng many Caribbean and Latin American leaders to attend, with Sir Ronald.
Meeting in Barbados between Representatives of the US State Department anf Senior Representatives of Easrern Caribbean Governments. Front row left to right: Senator (St Vincent and the Grenadines), US Ambassaor to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean States;. Brian Nichols Assistant Secretary, US State Department, Earl Huntley Senior Adviser to St Lucia Foreign Minister, Sir Ronald Sanders representing government of Antigua and Barbuda. Back row left to right: St Kitts-Nevis Ambassador to the US Thelma Phillips-Browne; Permanent Secretary Barbados Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Nan Fide, Director Caribbean, US State Departmenent; Foreign Minister of Dominica; Minister of Health Grenada, Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy in Barbados.
On 18th May 2022, at State House in Guyana with Guyana President Irfaan Ali and Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottely prior to "Agri-Invest Expo and Forum" which set the stage for an actionable, time bound plan for food sercuity, energy security, removal of trade barriers and regional trsnsportation.
Speaking at a meeting between Caribbean leaders and a US Congressional team, led by Congresswoman Maxine Waters, in Barbados on Wednesday 20 April 2022 . I was pleased to initiate this process of consultation, as Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador, with Congresswoman Waters in July 2019 (.(see photo in date order below with the Congresswoman in July 2019). Subsequently, in November 2019 we had the first Roundtable in Washington.
In an interview with British Channel 4 News, Sir Ronald explains that Britain must make MLAT request for assistance regarding two Yachts in Antigau waters allegedly owned by sanctioned Russian Oligarch, Roman Abramovich:
See: What has happened to yachts linked to Roman Abramovich? – Channel 4 News
With the Foreign Minister of Guatemala, Mario Adolfo Bucaro Flores, to discuss CARICOM-Central America cooperation and deepening relations at the OAS. At the right of the photograph is Rita Calverie di Scioli, the Guatemalan Ambassador to the OAS, 31 March 2022
Members of the Committee appointed by the Vice Chancellor of the University of London to Inquire into the Future of Commonwealth Studies at the University. The report was submitted at the end of July 2021 and the Institute of Commonwealth Studies was given a renewed and expanded mandate.
Left to Right: Sir Ronald Sanders, Nabeel Goheer, Dr Conor Wyer, Professor Wendy Thomson - Vice Chancellor - Sir Malcolm Rifkind (Chairman) Lord (Paul) Boateng, Jo Fox - Dean of the School of Advanced Studies. Photo at Senate House. London, November 3rd 2021.
Participating as a delegate from Antigua and Barbuda in the Summit of 40 Leaders on Climate, organised by us President, Joseph Biden, on 22 and 23 April 2021. Sir Ronald second from left at top.
With the late Right Honourable Professor Owen Arthur, former Prime Minister of Barbados at his office at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies in January 2020, talking Caribbean integration
Meeting between US Congressional Representatives, Global Banks and Caribbean government representative. Congresswoman Maxin Waters (centre in red), Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne to her right, Sir Ronald Sanders to Prime Minister Browne's right. Capitol Hill on November 14, 2019
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Signing agreements for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kosovo and Antigua and Barbuda in Washington, DC on 24 July 2019. The agreemenst were signed by the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda, Sir Ronald Sanders (sitting right) and the Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo, Vlora Citaku (sitting left). Frymezin Isufaj and Joy-Dee Davis. Ministers Coundellor (standing left to right)
Speaking at US Capitol Hill in behalf of CARICOM during Caribbean Legislative Week on 5 June 2019
Meeting Wesley Kirton Co-Chair Caribbean Studies Associaton, US, and Captain Gerry Gouveia of the Guyana Privat Sector at Antigua and Barbuda Embassy, Washington, DC on 4 June 2019
On 15 May, 2019 with the formidable US Congresswoman Maxine Waters who is Chair of the Financail Services Committee of the US House of Representatives. I had presentred the case against de-risking, withdrawal of correspondent banking relations and blacklisting alone with CARICOM Ministers of National Security.
Testifying on 14th May, 2019 before the US International Trade Commission on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda and Caribbaean States on the perennial US trade surplus with the region which reached $7 Billion in 2018.
Sir Ronald at Capitol Hill in Washington DC, talking trade and other relations between the US and CARICOM countries, especially Antigua and Barbuda, with Cingressman Brad Wenstrup (R-Cincinnati) on 27 February 2019.
Caribbean Ambassadors in Washington with US Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. Kim Breier, at the US State Department. Sir Ronald third from right in January 2019.
In July 2018, while in Ottawa for Antigua and Barbuda bilateral talks with Canadian government officials, Sir Ron ran into old and repected friend, Joe Clarke - former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Canada and a great warrior in the anti-apartheid struggle.
With Ambassador Jesus Silvera of Panama, receiving a donation to the rebuilding of Barbuda, June 2018
With OAS Secretary-General, Luis Almagro, on 6 June 2018, signing the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Forms of Intolerance. Antigua and Barbuda was the first signatory to the Convention and the second country to ratify the Convention.
Signing ceremony in Washington, DC of Abolition of Visa Requirements between Ukraine and Antigua and Barbuda in May 2018. Ukraine Amnbasador (left) and Joy-Dee Davis, Minister Counsellor, Antigua and Barbuda Embassy (right)
With Governor-General of Canada,Her Excellency Julie Payette, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on January 30th 2018. In addition to beeing accredited to Canada as High Commissioner, I have the honour of sharing the distinction with this amazing former Astronaut of being a Senior Fellow at Massey College in the University of Toronto.
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In Tobago after delivering feature address at The Tobago Finance week on 13 November 2017. Photo shows, Economist Terrence Farrell, Sir Ronald, Tobago Deputy Chief Secretary Joel Jack, and Anthony Pierre, Chairman of the Caribbean Association of Chartered Accountants
In Port-of-Spain, Trinidad speaking at the annual Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad and Tobago on 9 November 2017
Speaking at a meeting in Geneva, prior to appearnace at the World Trade Organisation on Antigua and Barbuda's contention with the US government on the WTO award to Antigua over Internet Gaming, September 2017
Speaking on Refugees resulting from Climate Change and the growing danger to small island states at an event organised by OXFAM in Washington, DC on 30 October 2017. (Heather Coleman, OXFAM; Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda; Selwyn Hart (Barbados), Lisa Friedman, New York Times)
Sir Ronald speaking at the National Press Club in Washington DC on 12 October 2017. He was talking about the devastation of Barbuda by Hurricane Irma and the remedies for Climate Change and Global Warming. To his left are: The Prime Minister of Grenada Dr Keith Mitchell, CARICOM Secretary General Irwin la Rocque and St Lucia Prime Minister Alan Chastanet
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Sir Ronald speaking at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on the security and other threats posed to the Caribbean and the Hemisphere of Climate Change and Global Warming on 13 September 2017
Sir Ronald (third right) with senior officers of the Inter-American Defense Board in Washington, DC after discussing what assistance could be given in the clean up and rebuilding of Barbuda after Hurricane Irma (Friday, 15 September 2017)
With US Congressman, Ranking member of Committee on Foreign Affairs at Capitol Hill on 14 September, discussiing secutty matters, Hurricane Irma and Barbuda and the US-Antigua and Barbuda WTO issues. Very helpful.
With US Congressman Mark Meadows on Capitol Hill talking the US-Antigua and Barbuda WTO issues, and the effets of Hurricane Irma on the island of Barbuda on 12 September, 2017. Good man.
Talking to the Emergency Agencies of the OAS about the impact of Hurricane Irma on the island of Barbuda and seeking assistance on 14 September 2017
Sir Ronald with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on 28 August 2017 discussing Canada-Antigua and Barbuda bilateral matters.
Sir Ronald with the President of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, at the General Assembly of the Organisation of American States in Cancun, in June 2017
Heads of Delegations to the OAS General Assembly in Cancun. Mexican Presdident, sixth from right, front row. Sir Ronald fourth from right, front row.
Meeting of Consulation on the situation in Venezuela at the Organisation of American States on 31 May 2017 Sir Ronald (far right).
With Texas Congressman Randy Weber at Capitol Hill in Washington DC, talking energy, water and US-Antigua and Barbuda relations on Wednesday 5 April, 2017
With my colleague Argentine Ambassador to the OAS, Juan Jose Acuri (right) and the Argentina candidate for election to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rigjts Dr Carlos de Casas on 29 March 2016
At the International Monetary Fund with Exceutive Director for Canada and the Caribbean, Nancy Horsman, to discuss Antigua and Barbuda matters.
At the Antigua and Barbuda Embassy receiving Antonia Urrejola, the candidate of Chile for the Inter American Commission on Human Rights, on 23 March 2017
With the Mexican Candidate for the Inter American Commission on Human Rights, Joel Hernadez Garcia, on 21 March 2017
At the World Bank on20 March 2017 meeting Christine Hogan, the Executive Director for Canada and the Caribbean, to talk about Antigua and Barbuda matters.
With Joe Barton, US Congressman from the State of Texas in his Office on Capitol Hill on Thursday, 16 March 2017 discussing US-Antigua and Barbuda relations
Hosting a meeting at the Antigua and Barbuda Embassy in Washington, DC of diplomatic representatives of St Lucia (Ambassador Anton Edmunds, St Kitts-Nevis Ambassador Thelma Phillip-Browne and St Vincent Deputy Chief of Mission Omari Williams)
Meeting the Cuban Ambassador to the United States, Jose Cabanas Rodriguez at the Antigua and Barbuda Embassy on Tuesday, 21st February, 2017
With the Ambassador of Ecudaor to the United States, Francisco Borja Cevallos, talking Ecuador-Antigua and Barbuda relations on 13 February 2017
With US Congressman Gus Bilikakis (Dem,Fl) for talls on Caiptol Hill in Washington
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With Charlie Crist, US Congressman (Dem, Fl) for discussions on US-Antigua and Barbuda matters
With US Senator Jeff Duncan, Chair Foreign Relations Committee talking energy and Citizenship by Investement Programmes in the Caribbean
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With Professor Louis Gates Jr at the Smithsonian National Musuem of African American History in Washington, DC after an evening of enlightening presentations on the neglected story of the building of the US
March 17, 2014 in Barbados where I spoke with Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Caribbean thought leader and Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines (second right) at the launch of the late Jean Holder’s (third right) excellent book on Regional Transportation. All that Jean said remains relevant today. At far left is Warren Smith a former CEO of LIAT and at the time President of the Caribbean Development Bank. Each of us was born in different parts of the Caribbean, but all of us know that we are better off as One Caribbean.
A world on fire- skating on thin ice
Thursday 23 March 2023
Presentation by Sir Ronald Sanders, Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda
At Intimate high-level reception: A conversation on Climate, Peace and Security
at the Residence of the Ambassador of Denmark, Christina Markus Lassen
on Thursday, 23rd March 2023
Small Island states are the greatest victims of climate change and global warming, although they collectively contribute less than 0.1 per cent of Global Green House Gas emissions - CO2.
The latest UN report is clear that human activity is responsible for virtually all global heating over the last 200 years.
The rate of temperature rise in the last half century is the highest in 2,000 years.
Concentrations of carbon dioxide are at their highest in at least 2 million years.
Thirteen countries are responsible for 68 per cent of the world’s CO2 emissions.
Of the 13 countries, 4 of them – China, the United States of America, India and Russia – account for 55 per cent
The fate of the world rests on the conscience of these last 4 mentioned countries in particular.
Much irreversible damage has already been done to many countries and to millions of people.
The planet Earth – our one homeland – has also been wounded with consequences for all.
Communities in many countries have been displaced by extreme weather events, including within the United States where communities have been forced to abandon their traditional homelands.
In Antigua and Barbuda, all the inhabitants in Barbuda were dislocated in 2017 by Hurricane Irma.
They had to be evacuated to Antigua, en masse, and relocated to Antigua for 3 years at the government’s expense.
Fortunately, Antigua and Barbuda is a unitary state; if not the inhabitants of Barbuda would have had no country in which to take refuge and no machinery to provide for them,
The same situation applied to The Bahamas in 2019, when Hurricane Dorian decimated the Abacos Islands (part of the Bahamas) dislodging the entire community who could, fortunately, be relocated within the country, or they, too, would have been left bereft of a homeland and abandoned,
Effectively, these persons were “Climate refugees” – a classification which has not yet been accepted in international law or in international provisions.
But they were the start of something big.
Their exceptionalism could soon become a global norm if Climate Change is allowed to rampage at its present rate.
Climate change and global warming have forced farmers from their lands in Central America and pushed them to the southern borders of the United States – living a life of despair in a waning spirit of hope.
Fisherfolk in island communities in the Caribbean and the Pacific now risk their lives every day, venturing further out to sea, because traditional habitats for fish are now parched and reefs are bleached.
Economies of developing states, especially small island states, are repeatedly set back by extreme weather events.
All of these small economies have incurred burdensome debt to build back destroyed countries and to try to build resiliently for the future.
Some of them have ratios of debt to export of goods and services that far exceed the 10 per cent international standard, rising as high as 20 per cent.
Current global financial flows for adaptation, including from public and private finance sources, are insufficient and constrain implementation of adaptation options in developing countries.
A World Bank report recently revealed that “richer countries, which significantly expanded their economies over the last decades, were the largest contributors of CO2 emissions, while small states are the most affected and face the most significant costs of adaptation.”
While the polluting nations get richer, the suffering nations get poorer.
The injustice cannot be more blatantly obvious.
Climate change has reduced food security and affected water security, making it impossible for small states to attain the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Global warming has created water shortages, extended periods of drought, followed by periods of intense rain and flooding.
These unusual cycles have wrecked food production and caused severe food and water insecurity.
Small states fear that, as these conditions worsen, competition for basic needs such as water and food, could create conflict within nations, and between nations.
The plea for compensation for loss and damage by small countries was only reluctantly considered at COP27 and appears to have been pushed off into a Committee to make recommendations to COP28 that might amount to little.
The sense of hopelessness in small states is rising even as temperatures and the level of the sea rise.
In the event, global peace and security are becoming unstable as inequity between nations grow as a consequence of Climate Change.
This is all intensifying as small states struggle to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and as they try to cope with rising costs in the global supply chain and in the cost of living of their peoples.
The rule of law and democracy, within countries, is now threated by the high rate of inflation, the significantly higher costs of important foods, and higher interest rates.
These conditions have combined to create dissatisfaction amongst populations, leading to a clamour for increased wages, and to protests and demonstrations in some countries, either opportunistically organised, or encouraged, by opposition political parties.
These demands cannot be easily satisfied by small economies, which are still struggling to recover from the impact of Covid-19, and which are now engulfed by the soaring prices that are a consequence of the Russian war on Ukraine.
In nine months, world leaders will gather at COP28 in Dubai.
They should not arrive with the same old approaches and the same worn-out promises.
The leaders of the most powerful nations – and the biggest polluters - should come at last to deliver climate justice to those countries caught in the vortex of the crises none of them caused.
Financing to the World Bank, the Green Climate Fund and others have to be scaled up for adaptation and building resilience.
And leaders of the major polluting nations must be prepared to compensate those, that they have harmed most, for loss and damage.
They have to deliver on the financial commitments made in Copenhagen, Paris and Glasgow.
Countries in Europe must be congratulated and applauded for the measures they have taken and the commitments they have given.
They are an example to others, who should be ashamed not to emulate Europe’s exemplary stand.
The alternative is a world on fire, skating on thin ice – a prescription for all to sink.
We must strive for that dystopian prospect not to be humanity’s future.
On peace and security, small states have lost all confidence in the UN Security Council whose five permanent, veto-holding, countries have failed to live up to their obligations to ensure collective peace and security in the world.
Therefore, if Denmark is seeking a non-permanent seat on the Security Council, small states welcome Denmark’s efforts as a small state in Europe, in the hope that Denmark will stand with the small, championing our cause of peace and security in a world in whose bounty we have a right to share.
Thank you.
Latest Video
Saturday 14 May 2022
Sir Ronald questions "race parity" in the upper and upper middle levels of the Organization of American States (OAS) diring the debate on "gender parrity". He says parity must exist not only among men and women, but also among people of all races. However, there is little evdidence of "black persons - men or women", throughout the Organixation;
SIR RONALD SANDERS QUESTIONS OAS’ RECORD ON GENDER AND RACIAL PARITY - YouTube
The State of the Commonwealth
Although the main focus of a conference. held by the Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) on 30 June 2022, was to discuss the challenges facing journalism, a day-long series of discussions taking place between the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and the Commonwealth Games was bound to assess the state of today’s Commonwealth.
However, the panel discussion on ‘The Commonwealth, between the Kigali summit and the Birmingham Games’ focused on what session chair, the Institute of Commonwealth Studies Director Sue Onslow described as “politics and politics”. The discussion featured:
he Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, Caribbean diplomat Sir Ronald Sanders, and the Director of the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute, Hugh Segal. Below is the recording of the discussion, It is also listed in the "Videos" sectio of this website.
US CARIBBEAN RELATIONS: The Biden Administration Year 1
Wednesday 11 May 2022
“US-Caribbean Relations in Biden Administration Year 1”
A discussion brief for a Webinair discussion on April 28th 2022
and publication by the Florida International University
By Sir Ronald Sanders
On April 28th, Sir Ronald presented a paper on “US-Caribbean Relations: The Biden Administration Year 1” at a webinar, which he was commissioned to produce by Florida International University (FIU), the Latin American and Caribbean Centre and the Caribbean Policy Council. The 7,000-word paper was subsequently published by FIU.
The paper can be read on this website under “Lectures” in the “Lectures and Interviews section.
The discussion in the webinar which was Chaired by Dr Georges Fauriol and included former top US State Department Official, Ambassador Tom Shannon; Pulitzer Prize winning Reporter, Jacqueline Charles of the Miami Herald and Dr Vanessa Chaitram of Trinidad and Tobago, can viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfX0HrxcWjM