ACS Member States to Convene in Colombia for the 2025 Greater Caribbean Summit to Strengthen Regional Integration and Position the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace and Strategic Actor of the Global South

Cartagena de Indias, May 26-29 | Montería, May 30, 2025

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - April 30, 2025 - From May 26 to 30, 2025, Colombia will host the 2025 Greater Caribbean Summit, a week of high-level meetings that will bring together Heads of State and Government, regional leaders, strategic actors, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society. Under the theme "United for Life: Towards a More Sustainable Greater Caribbean," the Summit aims to build consensus and chart the course towards a common, resilient, and inclusive future for the region.

The agenda will unfold under Colombia's Pro Tempore Presidency, within the framework of the 30th anniversary of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). Colombia assumed this presidency in May 2024, during the 29th Ordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers, held in Paramaribo, Suriname, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening integration in the Greater Caribbean.

The Summit represents a historic moment: a turning point towards a more united, sustainable Caribbean connected to the future. Its purpose is to renew the political commitment to people-centered regional integration guided by a shared vision of sustainable development. Representatives from the 25 Member States, 10 Associate Members, 29 observer countries, and 19 accredited social actors to the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) are expected to participate.

"The Greater Caribbean Summit will provide us with the opportunity to strengthen a united, resilient, and sustainable Caribbean community, united by the Caribbean Sea and committed to leading regional integration and cooperation. The renewed vision of the ACS is to work with and for its Member States, for the benefit of their peoples, protecting and projecting to the world their natural, cultural, and human riches, as well as their geographical and political role on the global stage," stated Ambassador Noemí Espinosa Madrid, Secretary General of the ACS.

This high-level meeting reaffirms the commitment of ACS Member States to the principles of peace, regional integration, and multilateralism, fundamental pillars for advancing towards the well-being of the peoples of the Greater Caribbean. It also seeks to position the region as a zone of peace and as a strategic actor of the Global South, with the potential to lead innovative solutions to global challenges such as climate change, social inequalities, economic fragmentation, and lack of connectivity.

"Colombia promotes a people-centered agenda, with climate justice, blue economy, and digital transformation as axes to consolidate a resilient, united, and peaceful region," stated Mauricio Jaramillo-Jassir, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs of Colombia.

Strategic topics at the center of the debate:

Climate justice, protection of the Caribbean Sea, and expansion of a sustainable blue economy.
Inclusive digital transformation as a driver of equity, innovation, and competitiveness.
Economic integration as a driver of inclusive and sustainable growth.
Regional connectivity as a basis for boosting fair trade, mobility, and cultural exchange.
Sustainable tourism as a way to strengthen local economies, protect biodiversity, and celebrate Caribbean identity.

Key moments of the agenda:

May 30 | 10th Summit of Heads of State and/or Government
May 29 | 30th Meeting of the ACS Council of Ministers
May 27 | 17th Greater Caribbean Business Forum + Exhibition
May 27 | 9th International Cooperation Conference

30 years after the creation of the ACS, and at a decisive moment for the world and the region, this Summit constitutes a unique opportunity to revitalize regional cooperation, reach transformative agreements, and mobilize global partnerships. Member States will reaffirm that the development of the Greater Caribbean must be people-centered, betting on an inclusive, fair model oriented towards collective well-being.

The results of this Summit will be key to consolidating the Greater Caribbean as an integrated, strategic, peaceful region with its own voice, capable of leading common solutions and building concerted responses to the challenges of the 21st century.

More information

All official information about the Summit —including the agenda, live broadcasts, key documents, press releases, and institutional links— will be available at:

summit.acs-aec.org

About the Association of Caribbean States (ACS)

The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1994 through an international agreement, with the objective of promoting consultation, cooperation, and concerted action among the countries of the Greater Caribbean. It currently comprises 25 Member States and 10 Associate Members, and is guided by the principles of respectful multilateralism of sovereignty and a unity that values the diversity of the Greater Caribbean region.