Prime Minister Gaston Browne has dismissed suggestions that Caribbean nations should “rebalance” their relations between the United States and China, insisting that Antigua and Barbuda already maintains the right equilibrium in its foreign policy.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Mr Browne argued that there was no conflict in fostering close ties with both Washington and Beijing.
“There are some who argue erroneously that countries in the Caribbean that support China need to rebalance. But I ask, what is there to rebalance?” he said.
Mr Browne described the US as “the most important country” to the Caribbean in tourism and trade, while also crediting China for its longstanding support through grants, concessional loans, and infrastructure projects.
“The United States is our largest source market for visitors and goods, and it plays an indispensable role in our development,” he said. “At the same time, China has been a benevolent partner, helping us with critical projects in housing, education, and ports. There is no conflict here — both relationships serve our national interests.”
The Prime Minister underscored that Antigua and Barbuda would not allow external powers to dictate its foreign policy, stressing that his government upholds the principle of sovereignty.
“When we allied recently with the United States on the Alfa Nero matter, we did so because we believed it was in our national interest,” he said. “China did not interfere, nor has it ever interfered, in our relations with the United States. That’s what mutual respect looks like.”
Mr Browne added that China had consistently treated Antigua and Barbuda as an equal partner despite the vast disparity in size and population. He cited his discussions with President Xi Jinping as evidence of this respect.
“China, a country of 1.4 billion people, sits with us, a nation of 100,000, at the same table,” he said. “That respect is not only meaningful — it is a model of how global relations should work.”
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