Strategic Plan Greater Caribbean 2035
A Shared Horizon: From Our Common Sea Toward Sustainable Development and Well-Being
 

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago | May 2026 — The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) has officially approved its Strategic Plan Greater Caribbean 2035: A Shared Horizon: From Our Common Sea Toward Sustainable Development and Well-Being, marking a historic milestone for the organization and the first time in its 31-year history that it has adopted a comprehensive long-term Strategic Plan.

The Plan was approved by the ACS Ministerial Council during the 17th Extraordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Council of the ACS, providing the Association with a shared roadmap to guide its work through 2035 and strengthen its capacity to respond to the evolving challenges and opportunities of the Greater Caribbean.

The approval comes at a particularly significant moment for the international system. Across the world, multilateralism is under pressure, geopolitical tensions are deepening, and polarization continues to challenge the ability of regional and international organizations to build common positions.

Against this backdrop, the ACS has demonstrated that consensus, dialogue, and regional cooperation remain possible. Through a deeply consultative and deliberative process, the Association’s 25 Member States and 10 Associate Members came together to define a shared strategic vision for the future of the Greater Caribbean.

“The approval of the ACS Strategic Plan to 2035 is a historic moment for our Association. For the first time, the ACS has a long-term framework that translates our collective vision into measurable goals, concrete action, and stronger accountability. This Plan gives us the tools to revitalize the ACS, bring coherence to our work, and respond with greater impact to the realities of our peoples,” said ACS Secretary-General Noemí Espinoza Madrid.

Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, H.E. Natalie Campbell Rodriques also welcomed the process that led to the approval of the Plan, acknowledging “the inclusive engagements undertaken throughout 2025, including the Strategic Scenario Planning Workshop and subsequent consultations,” which contributed to “the articulation of a forward-looking vision for the Greater Caribbean.” 
The Strategic Plan is the result of more than a year of dialogue, technical work, and negotiations among delegations, carried out with flexibility, mutual respect, and a shared determination to reach agreement. In this sense, the process itself became a powerful expression of Greater Caribbean diplomacy, demonstrating the value of the ACS as a space where diverse countries and territories can build consensus around common priorities.

On behalf of Trinidad and Tobago, Ms. Ayesha Wharton, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, commended the ACS and all Member States for the highly inclusive process that led to the approval of the Plan. She reaffirmed Trinidad and Tobago’s appreciation for the ongoing iterative approach, noting its importance in strengthening dialogue, ownership, and consensus among the membership.

H.E. Victor Hugo Morales, Ambassador of Mexico to Trinidad and Tobago, reiterated Mexico’s appreciation for the extraordinary work carried out by the ACS Secretary-General and the staff of the Secretariat throughout the development of the Plan. He also acknowledged the valuable contribution of the Government of Serbia, whose initial support helped make this strategic planning process possible.

The Plan reflects a shared recognition that the challenges facing the Greater Caribbean require stronger regional coordination, more effective cooperation mechanisms, and solutions rooted in the region’s own priorities and realities. It seeks to consolidate the ACS as a useful, relevant, and transformative platform — one capable not only of facilitating dialogue, but also of coordinating action, mobilizing cooperation, and generating concrete results for the peoples of the region.

The Strategic Plan is guided by the following vision:

“A united, sustainable, and resilient Greater Caribbean, strengthened by solid connections among its member countries, safeguarding our shared sea, empowering its people in a peaceful environment, valuing its communities, and leveraging global challenges to achieve inclusive and solidarity-based development.”

Its mission reaffirms the ACS as a platform for consultation, cooperation, and concerted action that harnesses the collective wisdom and capabilities of the Greater Caribbean to shape bold and transformative solutions for sustainable development, strengthen communities, protect the Caribbean Sea, and build a future of well-being for people and planet.

The approval of the Strategic Plan to 2035 is not only an institutional milestone for the ACS. It is also a clear political message: even in an era marked by division, uncertainty, and pressure on multilateral cooperation, the Greater Caribbean continues to believe in dialogue, consensus, and collective action as strategic tools for advancing sustainable development and shared well-being.

With this Plan, the ACS enters a new phase of implementation focused on strengthening institutional coherence, aligning regional priorities, mobilizing partnerships, and translating cooperation into tangible results. It also reaffirms the Association’s role as a vital mechanism for projecting the collective voice of the Greater Caribbean and advancing a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future for the region.

About the Association of Caribbean States (ACS)

The ACS is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1994 through an international convention, with the aim of promoting consultation, cooperation and concerted action among the countries of the Greater Caribbean. It is currently composed of 25 Member States and 10 Associate Members, and is guided by the principles of multilateralism that respects sovereignty and a unity that values the diversity of the Greater Caribbean region.