Madam President,

Mr. Secretary-General,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the fourteen Member States of the Caribbean Community, and to align ourselves with the statements delivered on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and the Alliance of Small Island States.

We meet at a time of intensified challenges – geopolitical, environmental and economic. Across almost every region, conflict and insecurity are growing. Defence spending is increasing while resources for development are being reduced. At the same time, the selective application of international law is weakening confidence in the rules-based international order.”

For Small Island Developing States, this is not an abstract concern. When multilateralism is weakened and international law is applied inconsistently, it is those with the least power and the greatest vulnerability who bear the heaviest costs.

In this context, the United Nations has never been more important. The UN remains the only truly universal institution where all States can engage on equal footing, where dialogue can be sustained even in times of crisis, and where collective solutions can be built.

Mr. Secretary-General, your role in this moment is pivotal. You provide steady leadership to a global institution operating under exceptional strain, and your role as both moral voice and institutional steward is essential to the credibility and effectiveness of the United Nations.

As Member States, we too have an equal responsibility to uphold that credibility. CARICOM has given its full support to the UN80 initiative and to the creation of a stronger, more fit-for-purpose Organization. A more agile and financially sound United Nations must also be a more equitable and responsive one, especially for those who are most vulnerable. The continued, impactful presence on the ground, in our countries and region remains of paramount importance for the Caribbean.

Madam President,

CARICOM wishes therefore to highlight three priority areas where sustained UN engagement is essential.

First, peace and security. This includes the illicit trafficking in arms and drugs which continues to destabilize societies and weaken state institutions globally. We underscore the dire situation in Haiti, which is a test of international solidarity. The work of BINUH and UNSOH alongside the GSF remains vital to supporting Haiti’s return to democratic governance, restoring security, and addressing the profound injustices suffered by the most vulnerable, particularly women, girls and children. Sustained political engagement and coordinated international support are imperative.”

Second, development and resilience. The full and effective implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS lies at the heart of our priorities. Climate shocks, external economic volatility, high debt and constrained access to concessional finance are largely beyond our control, yet they shape our development prospects. We count on your leadership, Mr. Secretary-General, to accelerate the implementation of ABAS, including tools such as the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index. We are also convinced like you, that the international financial architecture needs urgent reform, so that the international system can better respond to the special circumstance of SIDS and other vulnerable countries.  

Third, environmental sustainability. The climate crisis, ocean degradation and biodiversity loss are defining challenges of our time. None of these can be addressed by any country acting alone. They demand collective action, and the United Nations system remains the principal platform through which that cooperation must be mobilized.

Finally, Mr. Secretary-General, we commend your persistence and your courageous leadership at a time of extraordinary geopolitical tensions. CARICOM will continue to work with you to ensure that the United Nations remains a strong, credible, and effective pillar of the international system.

We thank you.