Senior Minister with responsibility for Economic Development, Investment, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, has argued that diplomacy is no longer a peripheral function of government, but a central economic development strategy delivering measurable benefits for St. Kitts and Nevis.
Opening his contribution to the 2026 Budget Debate, Dr. Douglas said the Budget signals a mature phase of governance defined by delivery, accountability and long-term impact, with foreign policy deliberately aligned to economic diversification, human capital development and international trade. He described diplomacy as a practical development tool — one used to mobilise financing, secure technical cooperation and expand access to education, skills, markets and employment opportunities for citizens.
“Foreign policy is how a small nation like ours makes a big life for itself,” Douglas told the National Assembly, adding that diplomacy must translate into “jobs created, businesses expanded, communities strengthened and opportunity delivered for our people.”
Dr. Douglas highlighted significant people-centred outcomes achieved through international partnerships in 2025, including expanded scholarship opportunities, technology transfer and technical assistance. He noted that access to overseas scholarships increased following targeted diplomatic engagement, with intake numbers rising beyond historical averages. “These functions feed directly into human capital, resilience and economic diversification,” he said, linking the outcomes to the Sustainable Island State Agenda and the National Development Planning Framework.
Among the initiatives cited were expanded scholarships in Cuba, Morocco, the Republic of China (Taiwan), Tanzania and other partner nations, alongside technical cooperation that has strengthened frontline services. Dr. Douglas revealed that through engagement with Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps, 17 volunteer professionals in education and health were secured to support national capacity. “We will cross borders, cross continents if we must, to bring benefits to our people,” he stated.
The Senior Minister also pointed to St. Kitts and Nevis’ growing influence in multilateral institutions, noting that the country has assumed leadership roles at the United Nations, including co-chairing key working groups focused on reform and small-state priorities. He described this as evidence that strategic diplomacy can amplify the voice of small nations on issues of financing, development and resilience. “Small state power lies in the precision of its partnerships,” Dr. Douglas said.
In outlining priorities for 2026, Dr. Douglas said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will focus on converting diplomatic commitments into concrete projects, particularly in climate resilience financing, education, technology and energy security. He stressed that climate adaptation goals cannot be achieved without sustained access to concessional financing, grants and technical assistance, noting that the Government will continue leveraging mechanisms within the United Nations system, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and regional frameworks.
Dr. Douglas also underscored the role of diplomacy in protecting citizens abroad, stating that the Government’s approach extends to all nationals, whether citizens by birth, descent, marriage or investment. “All of them,” he said, “not one is left out.”
Framing the 2026 Budget as a mature phase of governance and praising the leadership of Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, Dr. Douglas argued that the administration has moved beyond stabilisation into deliberate delivery. He described the Budget as one that balances fiscal responsibility with social justice, adding that international engagement is now tightly aligned with national priorities rather than pursued in isolation. “This is not abstract,” he told the House. “It must be felt in households.”
He concluded that the 2026 Budget strengthens the framework for converting diplomatic relationships into concrete development outcomes, with economic diplomacy positioned as a key pillar in diversifying the economy, building resilience and delivering inclusive growth.
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