UNITED NATIONS (CMC)—St Lucia on Monday urged diplomacy to deal with the various wars across the world, reiterating that the Caribbean region must remain a zone of peace.

The country’s foreign affairs minister Alva Romanus Baptiste, addressing the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), says St Lucia prioritises diplomacy over violence, believing dialogue fosters peaceful coexistence and safeguards sovereignty.

“Small nations like ours can advocate effectively through non-violent diplomacy, demonstrating its moral and pragmatic strength. Consequently, we have a moral obligation to promote peace, development, and human rights through collective leadership rooted in respect, diplomacy, and multilateral cooperation,” he stated.

But Baptiste said that countries have to accept that the UN’s core mission is being ”ignored and disrespected”, noting that St Lucia has for example “consistently called for an end to the US embargo on Cuba and its removal from the list of state sponsors of terrorism because such measures hinder regional progress and stability.

“Engaging Cuba diplomatically rather than isolating it would unlock opportunities to foster regional cooperation, critical for long-term peace and development in the Caribbean, as well as to create an improved security architecture for the entire hemisphere”.

He said this pragmatic approach aligns with global efforts to promote sovereignty, respect, and mutual understanding, demonstrating that diplomacy and constructive dialogue are more effective strategies than unilateral sanctions.

Baptiste said that ending Russia’s war in Ukraine is essential to restoring peace, respecting sovereignty, and preventing further humanitarian catastrophe.

“The ongoing conflict has caused immense loss of life, displacement of millions, and widespread destruction, destabilising the region and threatening global security. Hence, ceasing hostilities would demonstrate respect for international law and sovereignty, encouraging negotiations over continued violence,” he argued.

The foreign affairs minister said that renewing a commitment to multilateralism also means that member states must take measures to reduce tensions and settle disputes in areas where, if not checked, conflict and war would prevail.

“It is for this reason that St Lucia renews calls for the United Nations to allow Taiwan to meaningfully participate in the UN system. And I state categorically…that UN resolution 2758 of 1971 does not preclude Taiwan’s inclusion and participation in the United Nations system.

Baptiste said that Haiti faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis marked by political instability, widespread poverty, environmental degradation, and a fragile healthcare system—-all compounded by intractable gang violence.

“Hence, the urgent need for international support is critical to prevent further deterioration of living conditions, protect vulnerable populations, and restore law and order as well as basic services like education and healthcare.

“Without immediate action, Haiti risks spiralling into deeper chaos, increased violence, and prolonged suffering that will destabilise the region and undermine global efforts for stability and development,” he argued.

He said this is why St Lucia is extremely concerned that the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission is woefully short of the personnel and equipment it needs to effectively pursue its mandate.

Baptiste said that of the US$900 million the UN anticipated raising for Haiti, only 9.2 per cent has been received, quoting UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres as describing the situation “as shamefully overlooked and woefully underfunded.”

“Madame President, on the 29 January 2014 the leaders of the community of Latin America and Caribbean states (CELAC) declared this region as a zone of peace; it was a declaration based on a commitment to upholding the principles of the UN Charter; it was based on the understanding that peace was necessary for the development of the peoples of the region and that peace in the region contributed to international peace and security,” he stated.

Baptiste recalled that as recently as June 13 this year, at the Brazil–Caribbean Summit in Brasília, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the region as a zone of peace.

“It is in this context, therefore, that St Lucia, like other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states, views with concern recent developments in the region, which have aggravated tensions between Venezuela and the United States. We pray that this tension does not degenerate into violence; hence, maintaining our region as a zone of peace,” Baptiste argued.

The United States has ordered an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels. A nuclear-powered attack submarine, additional P8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser have also been allocated to US Southern Command as part of the mission.

Venezuela has since responded to what it termed the threat posed by the United States and has itself marshalled its troops along its borders.

Late last month, President Donald Trump ordered the US military to strike a boat in the Caribbean Sea, off Venezuela, killing 11, allegedly carrying drugs and earlier this month, he told reporters from the Oval Office that he had strong evidence that the latest boat in which three people were killed was also carrying drugs.

The Trinidad and Tobago government has come out publicly in support of the United States sending naval and military troops to waters near Venezuela as part of Washington’s crackdown on narco- trafficking.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar in her address to the UNGA last weekend, said while there have been objections to the US military action against drug cartels from some countries, Port of Spain wanted to remind the international community that, “unless forceful and aggressive actions are taken, these evil drug cartels will continue their societal destruction because they believe affected nations will always unreservedly subscribe to morals and ethics which they themselves blatantly flout.

“That is why we willingly supported the international security alliance announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, involving the US and several countries in South America to combat drug-trafficking in the hemisphere,” she told the UNGA, adding that the notion that the Caribbean is a zone of peace has become a false ideal.

“The reality is stark; no such peace exists today,” she added.

In his address, the St Lucia foreign affairs minister said that it is also in the context of the Latin American and Caribbean region as a zone of peace that Castries “is concerned over developments between Venezuela and the Caricom member state of Guyana in relation to the border dispute between the two countries.

“St Lucia urges the non-use of force on that issue and reliance on the multilateral mechanisms that are in place for resolving it,” he said.

Baptiste quoted the late Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America, who said that the most reliable way to predict the future is to create it.

He said that the theme for this 80th Session of the United Nations, “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights”, is a trumpet call to like-minded countries to urgently reconstruct a better future for humanity.

“Building that better future together, emphasises the importance of international cooperation and shared responsibility, which requires a framework defining a shared destiny, and that involves better coordination and coherence across different actors to deliver the most effective and sustainable responses,” he argued.

Baptiste said that St Lucia, as a small island developing state, has maintained its engagement in the various processes of critical importance to its domestic agenda at the United Nations, such as climate change and sustainable development, financing for development, international ocean governance, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, revitalisation of the General Assembly and decolonisation.

“These all have a real impact on our national plans and programmes,” he added.