Foreign relations of Saint Lucia
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{{Politics of Saint Lucia}}
[[Saint Lucia]] has no extant international disputes aside from tension resulting from the island's status as a transit point for [[South America]]n [[Hard and soft drugs|drug]]s destined for the [[United States]] and [[Europe]].
Historically, the major thrust of foreign affairs for St. Lucia has been economic development. The government is seeking balanced international relations with emphasis on mutual economic cooperation and trade and investment. It seeks to conduct its foreign policy chiefly through its membership in the [[Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States|OECS]]. St. Lucia participated in the [[1983]] [[Grenada]] mission, sending members of its Special Services Unit into active duty. St. Lucia is a member of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]], the [[Organization of American States]], and the [[United Nations]]. It seeks pragmatic solutions to major international issues and maintains friendly relations with the major powers active in the [[Caribbean]], including the [[United States]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Canada]], and [[France]]. St. Lucia has been active in eastern Caribbean regional affairs through the OECS and [[Caribbean Community|CARICOM]].
As a member of CARICOM, St. Lucia strongly backed efforts by the United States to implement [[UN Security Council Resolution 940]], designed to restore democracy to [[Haiti]]. The country agreed to contribute personnel to the multinational force, which restored the democratically elected government of Haiti in [[October 1994]].
St. Lucia participated, along with 14 other Caribbean nations, in a summit with US President [[Bill Clinton]] in [[Bridgetown, Barbados]], in [[May 1997]]. The summit, which was the first-ever meeting in the region between the U.S. and Caribbean heads of government, strengthened the basis for regional cooperation on justice and counternarcotics, finance and development, and trade issues.
St. Lucia had official diplomatic relations with the [[Republic of China]] ([[Taiwan]]) for about 13 years, but switched recognition to the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC) in 1997. On 25 April 2007, the [[Premier of the Republic of China]] (Taiwan) [[Su Tseng-chang]], announced that St. Lucia and Taiwan would resume formal diplomatic relations.<ref>[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/04/26/2003358246 "St. Lucia dumps PRC for Taiwan"], ''[http://www.taipeitimes.com/ The Taipei Times], 2007-04-26</ref> On May 1, 2007, St. Lucia regained diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan).<ref>[http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/070501/17/dnfk.html 「台聖復交/加勒比海島國 人口17萬 出過兩位諾貝爾獎主」]'', ET today, 2007/05/01 10:37''</ref> Within a few days, the Peoples' Republic of China suspended diplomatic relations.<ref>[http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/274392/1/.html China suspends ties with St Lucia]'', ChannelNewsAsia, 5/5/07''</ref>
Saint Lucia's Permanent Representative (or [[ambassador]]) to the [[United Nations]] is [[Anthony Severin]].
'''International organization participation:'''
ACCT (associate), ACP, C, [[Caricom]], CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), [[Interpol]], IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
==See also==
*[[List of diplomatic missions in Saint Lucia]]
*[[Saint Lucian diplomatic missions]]
{{Foreign relations in the Caribbean}}
==References==
<references />
[[Category:Foreign relations of Saint Lucia| ]]