BES Envoy Rijna Attends Summit of the Association of Caribbean States
Cartagena – At the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Special Envoy BES, Edison Rijna, led the Dutch delegation representing Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba at the 30th Ministerial Council of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) in Cartagena. The Kingdom of the Netherlands is an associate member of the ACS, as are Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten. The Netherlands holds this membership on behalf of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba.
While the role of an associate member is limited—most notably, the Kingdom does not have voting rights—membership is nonetheless of strategic value. Participation allows for early awareness of regional developments, facilitates the maintenance of relations with neighboring countries, and positions the Kingdom, on behalf of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba, as an engaged partner in the Caribbean region.
"Several topics addressed during the summit are also highly relevant to the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, such as climate change, sustainability, tourism, and the need for improved regional connectivity. Discussions also touched on the potential adverse effects of shifts in U.S. trade policy and the importance of regional cooperation," said BES Envoy Rijna.
“We took the opportunity to conduct targeted networking through discussions held in the margins of the plenary sessions. We strengthened existing ties and established new contacts with delegations from countries that could be valuable partners for Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba, especially in the areas of tourism and trade. For these reasons, it was worthwhile for the Kingdom to be represented at this event."
The Association of Caribbean States comprises 25 member states, ranging from small island nations to larger Latin American countries such as Mexico and Colombia, and includes 10 associate members. Panama will chair the ACS Ministerial Council for the 2025–2026 period.
