Antigua and Barbuda has signaled a renewed commitment to strengthening its diplomatic relationship with the Republic of Peru, as both nations identify new opportunities for cooperation across multiple sectors.
According to Antigua.news, the push for closer ties was outlined on Thursday by Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene during a courtesy call from Peru's newly appointed Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda, Gustavo Lembcke.
While the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1985, Greene acknowledged that engagement has remained limited over the decades, with most interactions taking place on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly each September.
"I hope that your appointment will be the beginning of renewed relations between our countries, as we are practically neighbours within the Americas," Greene told the ambassador. "We have supported your initiatives at the UN, but I believe the time has come for us to do more."
Greene identified climate change and education as key areas for potential collaboration. He stressed that small island states such as Antigua and Barbuda bear a disproportionate burden from climate change and stand to benefit from stronger regional partnerships in addressing it.
The minister also pointed to the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus as a platform for academic cooperation, suggesting that partnerships with Peruvian universities could facilitate student exchanges and expand opportunities for Antiguans and Barbudans to learn Spanish.
Ambassador Lembcke welcomed the prospect of closer ties, noting that Peru is actively seeking to expand its diplomatic footprint across the Caribbean. He explained that Peru currently maintains embassies in Cuba and the Dominican Republic, both Spanish-speaking Caribbean nations, as well as in Trinidad and Tobago, which serves as its primary diplomatic base for the English-speaking Caribbean.
Lembcke confirmed that his accreditation covers Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Haiti, while Peru's Port of Spain embassy will manage relations with Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Saint Lucia.
"We believe this will strengthen our position in the Caribbean and allow us to deepen our ties with the region while promoting stronger political cooperation at both bilateral and regional levels," Lembcke said.
The meeting also addressed a Memorandum of Understanding submitted by Peru to the Antigua and Barbuda government in 2022. Greene confirmed that his government will revisit the proposal with a view to determining how quickly it can be signed and implemented.
Both sides expressed optimism that the renewed engagement would open doors to greater collaboration in education, climate policy, and broader regional cooperation.
