Antigua and Barbuda and France are moving to deepen cooperation on security and justice, with discussions covering transnational organised crime, cybercrime, and judicial collaboration.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs, Hon. E.P. Chet Greene, hosted Justice Emmanuelle Doffe, France's Liaison Judge to the Caribbean, during her official visit on Thursday. The meeting signalled fresh momentum in bilateral efforts to tackle shared criminal justice challenges.
Minister Greene reaffirmed Antigua and Barbuda's commitment to strengthening ties with France across justice, security, and the rule of law. He expressed the government's interest in pursuing a bilateral agreement aimed at combating transnational organised crime — particularly illicit drug trafficking and related criminal activities.
Greene also flagged cybercrime as a growing threat to the country, stressing the need for stronger international partnerships to confront it. He proposed the establishment of joint investigative teams, where appropriate, to improve cross-border criminal investigations and facilitate greater intelligence-sharing between the two nations.
Justice Doffe confirmed that France is currently exploring bilateral agreements on extradition and criminal cooperation with several Caribbean nations. She pointed to Saint Lucia and Dominica as examples, noting that both countries have already concluded such arrangements and that these agreements have proven effective in strengthening judicial cooperation.
She further indicated that France is prepared to support capacity-building initiatives through Memoranda of Understanding and specialised training programmes. These would focus on criminal investigations, judicial cooperation, financial crimes, cybercrime, and other law enforcement disciplines.
Justice Doffe said she would bring the proposals discussed during the meeting to the attention of the relevant authorities within the French Ministry of Justice.
Her visit to Antigua and Barbuda is technical in nature, aimed at strengthening collaboration between France and Caribbean jurisdictions on criminal justice matters. It focuses on improving coordination among judicial authorities, prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, and institutions responsible for combating transnational crime.
Unlike a traditional diplomatic mission, Justice Doffe's mandate centres on fostering practical cooperation and building mechanisms that enhance the capacity of France and Caribbean states to address shared security challenges more effectively.
