EAM Jaishankar’s 4-nation Central & Latin America visit begins today

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has begun a four-nation tour of Central and Latin America.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the EAM will make official visits to Guyana (April 21-23), Panama (April 24-25), Colombia (April 25-27), and the Dominican Republic (April 27-29). The EAM will visit Guyana, a Caribbean country, from April 21 to 23, where he will meet with the leadership and interact with several Ministers.

He will co-chair the Joint Commission Meeting with his counterpart, Hugh Hilton Todd, which will include discussions on a wide range of bilateral issues. According to the MEA official press release, the EAM’s visit to Guyana will also include a meeting of Foreign Ministers in the India-COFCOR (Council on Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR); a group of 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM)) format, as well as bilateral meetings with participating Ministers.

Jaishankar will travel to Panama from April 24 to 25 after his visit to Guyana. He will be hosted by Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney Mencomo and will address top leadership.

The EAM’s visit will take place after our resident Embassy in Santo Domingo is established in 2022. EAM will meet with Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez in addition to calling on the country’s political leadership, according to a press release.

The Indian resident mission would also be formally inaugurated by the two leaders. EAM is also scheduled to speak at the Dominican Republic Foreign Ministry.

EAM will be joined by an Indian business delegation led by the CII at business events planned during the visit. These meetings highlight both sides’ growing desire for stronger trade ties. EAM will also meet Indian community members in all four countries.

The visit of EAM to these four countries, as well as his bilateral engagements and interactions with counterparts from important regional groups such as CARICOM and SICA, adds to the momentum of India-LAC engagements.