Prime Minister the Honourable Gaston Browne has reaffirmed Antigua and Barbuda’s solidarity with the people of Ukraine and emphasized the urgent need for peace, while calling for deeper bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
During a high-level courtesy call by the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Her Excellency Ambassador Oksana Markarova, Prime Minister Browne expressed strong support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict, noting the wide-reaching impact of the war—even on small island states thousands of miles away.
“We are standing with you, and we’ll continue to do so,” said Prime Minister Browne. “This is a conflict in which there are no winners. As one of the world’s smallest and most vulnerable nations, global crises like these affect us disproportionately.”
He highlighted that during Antigua and Barbuda’s 2023 general elections, the economic repercussions of the Ukraine conflict—including significant inflation—had direct social and political consequences. Rising prices, driven in part by global instability, nearly cost his administration re-election.
“Though geographically distant, the war’s ripple effects were felt in our economy, our cost of living, and our political stability. That’s why we have a vested interest in peace and stability globally,” Prime Minister Browne added.
The Prime Minister welcomed the opportunity to elevate bilateral relations and proposed cooperation in several key areas. Notably, he emphasized the urgent need for technical assistance in agriculture, as Antigua and Barbuda remains one of the most food-insecure countries in the world—importing up to 80% of its food weekly from the United States.
“We cannot allow our people to remain vulnerable in the face of geopolitical shocks,” Prime Minister Browne said. “We are eager to build local capacity in agriculture, and Ukraine, as a global agricultural leader, can be a critical partner in that transformation.”
The Ukrainian Ambassador extended warm gratitude on behalf of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine for Antigua and Barbuda’s principled and early stance in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of ongoing conflict.
“Your strong position to defend not only Ukraine, but to defend what is right, is deeply appreciated in Kyiv,” said Ambassador Oksana Markarova. “Antigua and Barbuda may be a small nation, but its voice and values resonate powerfully around the world.”
Discussions also focused on areas of tangible cooperation, including Ukraine’s offer to support Antigua and Barbuda in implementing advanced digital technologies, particularly in agriculture. The Ambassador highlighted Ukraine’s successful government-developed “DIA” digital transformation programme, noting its applications across health, education, fintech, and agri-tech sectors. Ukraine offered to provide technical assistance and training to Antiguan teams to support smart farming initiatives—a move that aligns with Antigua and Barbuda’s transition toward precision agriculture and more efficient water use.
“As one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, efficient use of water through smart agriculture is a national priority,” Prime Minister Browne said. “We welcome this opportunity to explore Ukraine’s digital and sensor-based technologies to support our goals in climate resilience and food security.”
Both parties also explored the potential for future student and academic exchanges, particularly in agriculture, medical sciences, and information technology. Ukraine expressed interest in welcoming Antiguan students to its universities—joining peers from other Caribbean nations—and signaled openness to reciprocal opportunities on Antigua’s growing university campus at the University of the West Indies Five Islands.
The Ukrainian Ambassador also extended an invitation to Antigua and Barbuda’s First Lady to participate in an upcoming First Ladies Summit in Ukraine, focusing on global partnerships in health and education.
In closing, the Prime Minister extended gratitude for Ukraine’s outreach and reaffirmed Antigua and Barbuda’s consistent voice in support of peace, sovereignty, and human dignity.
“We look forward to building a stronger, enduring partnership based on shared values and mutual respect. Antigua and Barbuda will continue to be a steadfast advocate for peace and progress,” he concluded. (Ends)