Canada and CARICOM have launched a renewed action plan under the Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership. This is good to see, although including greater detail in the announcement would be useful to fully understand what is included in the new action plan.
News release
June 23, 2026 – Panama City, Panama – Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, concluded her participation in the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Panama.
While there, she delivered Canada’s national statement, reinforcing Canada’s commitment to democracy, its support for security in the Americas and its objective of advancing shared prosperity and resilience. She also met with international counterparts, including Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, Panama’s Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Mauro Vieira, Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Minister Anand announced a total of $35.3 million in funding to help support security and stability in the Americas, including to reinforce the Gang Suppression Force in Haiti, support maritime security and the dismantling of organized crime networks, advance the peace process in Colombia and provide additional assistance for Hurricane Melissa disaster relief.
During the General Assembly, the Minister also announced Canada’s ratification of the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence Against Women (known as the Convention of Belém do Pará).
On the margins of the General Assembly, she co-chaired a meeting with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), where ministers jointly launched a renewed action plan, building on the 2023 Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership, and advanced key priorities, including regional security and stability, competitive and resilient economies and climate action.
Minister Anand also met with Canadian embassy staff in Panama, whose work has been essential to strengthening Canada-Panama relations and advancing cooperation on trade, security and regional development.
Quick facts
- Since joining the OAS in 1990, Canada has made significant contributions to the OAS’s collective achievements, including through the establishment of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, the adoption of the Social Charter of the Americas and the elaboration of the Declaration on Security in the Americas.
- Canada is the second-largest contributor at the OAS and a significant contributor to OAS security programming, electoral observation and specialized committees such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Commission of Women.
- CARICOM is an international grouping in the Caribbean comprising 15 member states and six associate members. It came into existence on July 4th, 1973, with the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
- Of the funding identified above, $6.8 million will go toward Canada’s Regional Maritime Security Initiative, announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in September 2025.
Related products
- Backgrounder: Minister Anand announces funding for security, stability and disaster relief in the Americas
- Canada ratifies Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women
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