Analyzing the Diplomacy of Small States: St Kitts and Nevis Case Study

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the diplomacy of St Kitts and Nevis (SKN), a small Caribbean state, examining its foreign policy strategies within the context of international relations. The paper explores how SKN utilizes diplomacy to exert influence, focusing on its organizational structure, security diplomacy, economic diplomacy, and environmental diplomacy. It highlights SKN's approach to multilateral corporations, bilateral relations, and regional collaborations, including its engagement with organizations such as CARICOM, the OECS, and the UN. The report delves into SKN's security concerns, economic development, and environmental challenges, emphasizing its vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change. It also discusses the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in formulating and implementing foreign policy, the importance of diplomatic missions, and the utilization of various communication channels. The report concludes by assessing the effectiveness of SKN's diplomatic efforts in navigating the complexities of the global arena, emphasizing the need for thoughtful policies to maintain its strategic and economic interests.

Diplomacy of Small States: A case study of St Kitts and Nevis (SKN)
Introduction
It is often acknowledged that only large states because of their wealth and military
power can genuinely pursue their foreign policies, and act in their national interests. This
assumes that small states must live with unequal power alongside these states and react to
global events and operate out of need for economic survival, sometimes, sacrificially. Is this
a fair argument? If so, how can small states react to such challenges?
Small states according to the 1985 Commonwealth report, Vulnerability of Small
States in the Global society, defines small states as sovereign countries with a population of
1.5 million or less. Other indicators used to define a small state are population, size,
vulnerabilities to external economic shocks and climate change, resources. With respect to
foreign policy, small states pursue similar goals of economic prosperity, security and citizens’
well-being as their larger states using the same diplomatic tools. While every state shares the
same definition of autonomy and sovereign certain features determine the manner in which
small states engage in international relations. Thus, even though limited resources subject
small states to weaker bargaining power in their relations with larger states, the use of
realistic foreign policies helps in minimizing the disadvantage. This paper therefore,
examines St Kitts and Nevis (SKN) to assess how small states can utilise diplomacy to exert
influence in international relations.
The organisation and structure of the Foreign Ministry of SKN
Situated in the Caribbean and a population of 53,000, the Federation of St Kitts and
Nevis (SKN) has been active in international affairs, through its membership in international
institutions and its bilateral relations with several countries.
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is primarily responsible for formulating and
implementing the foreign policy and emphasis is placed on development, in promoting,
protecting and advancing the strategic interests overseas (MFA, n.d.). The foreign policy of
the MFA is channelled through diplomatic relations and co-operation on a bilateral, regional
and international basis.
The MFA is headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Premier of Nevis assisted
by a Permanent Secretary and senior officers. The five divisional structures, security and
legal; multilateral; communications; bilateral; and protocol and consular are indicative of its
foreign policy priorities (MFA, n.d.). SKN has demonstrated an interest in multilateral
corporations as a mode of increasing its global economic presence since they counter the
asymmetric power that exists between states while significantly minimizing the cost of
diplomatic transitions and imposing barriers on the larger states.
SKN pursues its strategic and economic interests bilaterally, regional and globally
through nurtured resilience which is created and maintained through thoughtful policies. The
best example involves the state’s active economic expansion globally. Diplomatic relations
have been established with ninety-eight (98) countries (MFA, n.d.). With a small network of
ten (10) diplomatic missions, strategically distributed globally, the MFA can negotiate,
promote and defend its national interests. For instance, taking into account its limited
resources, representation at the United Nations (UN) in New York is strategic and crucial
since most countries, if not all, have a presence there.
Through its active membership in regional and international institutions and
coordination with the various divisions of the MFA, SKN has been able to pursue its
economic interests and benefits from several initiatives. For example, through its friendly
bilateral relations with the US, SKN cooperates with the US in the fight against illegal
narcotics and energy. Assistance is also channelled through multilateral agencies such as the
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World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank, CARICOM and the OECS, which will be
examined later in this paper.
In 2017 the Caribbean Development Bank supported SKN in maximising its
development potential over four years focussing on delivering sustainable development
results for the country and its people. These will include the MFA working closely with
development partners and non-state actors, for instance, the Red Cross which falls under the
Communications Division.
Apart from the traditional modes of communication, the MFA has a website and
Facebook account and the Minister has a personal Twitter account. Some diplomatic missions
abroad have a presence on social media which is important, at a time when technology has
changed communication and sharing of information. The various divisions and the global
distribution of diplomatic missions and diplomats have played an active role in delivering the
foreign policies of SKN.
Security Diplomacy of St Kitts and Nevis
The security diplomacy (SD) of St Kitts and Nevis (SKN) as a small state is defined
by the diplomatic strategies it engages to safeguard itself against internal and external threats.
With limited resources, SKN’s security cannot be compared in the same context with
countries such as the United States (US), Canada or Cuba. The implications of the internal
security on the external security are difficult to disaggregate and therefore, SKN best
approach to ensure security is through diplomacy.
SKN maintains bilateral relations with over 150 countries, supporting the building of
a safer world that is not restricted to one nation state or regional block. It maintains active
membership in regional and international organisations, including the OECS, CARICOM, the
UN, the Commonwealth and the OAS. Membership in these organisations provides SKN the
space for diplomacy to be a catalyst to influence polices, since it is much more efficient to
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bargain through the institutional process, as opposed to waging war or sustaining hostility
(Paul 2017).
Like most small states, SKN is vulnerable to natural disasters, has weak institutional
capacity, illegal trafficking, limited economies of scale, and is quite susceptible to exogenous
shocks. Its limited individual influence, in the conduct of its international relations and
diplomacy impacts its security. SKN cooperates in friendly bilateral relations with the large
states such as the US, in the fight against illegal narcotics and energy. Assistance is also
channelled through multilateral agencies such as the World Bank and the Caribbean
Development Bank, CARICOM and the OECS. Regional collaboration for SKN provides it
with the opportunity for bettering its collective interests with the international community and
also in multilateral arrangement which promotes the acknowledgement of their specific
issues.
Having no “real security threats” and even if there are any, SKN’s response would be
restricted because of its limited defensive mechanisms. Therefore, membership in the
Regional Security System provides shelter for active regional security.
Security is more related to non-state actors - how to deal with preparing for natural
disasters and its effect on society, real and severe threat of illicit drug trafficking, light arms
and ammunitions. Policing is jointly administered by both Police and Defence Forces. (Issac,
2020). Collaboration with Canada, the US and the UK are undertaken to combat these
criminal activities, supporting peace and security in SKN and the region.
Events in the region regarding Venezuela, the growing influence of China, Cuba and
Russia in the Caribbean, and Islamic State fighters from Trinidad & Tobago, have caused
security concerns to the US. Responding to these concerns and not wanting to be proxies of
bigger states needs diplomacy.
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SKN’s security, therefore, is not so much physical security as a result of external
threats, but security as a result of many more intangibles. What is needed is a group of
diplomats: “soldiers” versed in the art of diplomacy and not necessarily warfare.
Economic Diplomacy of St Kitts and Nevis (SKN)
Following independence 1983, the government of St Kitts and Nevis (SKN) promoted
a public sector investment in foreign and domestic capital expenditure which was vital for
economic growth. As a result, the economy shifted from sugar to tourism, manufacturing and
other non-agricultural products. Road construction improved, communication infrastructure
was upgraded with excellent international services, new schools were built, the
manufacturing industry modernized, and the agriculture sector diversified. Economic summit
diplomacy has been a policy domain in which ministries of foreign affairs have been able to
hold their own. Such diplomacy depends on the careful preparation carried out by the heads’
personal representatives.
In 2013, SKN witnessed a 20% increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows
with a strong focus on tourism (Cepal, 2017). Diversification of the economy in property
development flourished with investment from cash rich investors from Asia and Russia.
Small states would customarily strongly encourage FDI by providing favorable fiscal
incentives (Cepal, 2017).
SKN enjoys enviable political stability, a dependable justice system, social cohesion,
social safety nets, and an education system with a 90% literacy rate, macroeconomic stability,
developed infrastructure, competitive investment incentives and the serenity of the islands
scenery (Palgrave, 2016). However, SKN is vulnerable as a small state to hurricanes, a weak
marine ecosystem, limited economic ventures, and the lack of economies of scale, limitations
in the public sector, an aging population and the absence of continuity in research data and
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innovation and food insecurity (Palgrave, 2016). SKN depends on Petro Caribe for oil
resources, making the energy sector susceptible to any unrest in Venezuela.
Like other small states, SKN internal and external challenges include susceptibility to
natural disasters, limited diversification, poverty levels, remoteness and isolation from the
rest of the world (Roberts and Ali 2016). In response to the economic challenges, the
government and international bodies have embarked on measures to solve the challenges at
hand. The World Bank and Commonwealth’s central approach was accumulation and
adaption, institutional capacity building, support for regional measures, supporting private
sector development and reduce transaction costs for small states (Roberts and Ali 2016).
SKN enjoys preferential access to markets and trade as a member of regional trading
blocs like CARICOM and the OECS. It benefits from negotiations and other economic
activities channeled through international bodies, like the WTO. The state promotes trade
expansion throughout the international market (Thorhallsson and Steinsson, 2017). The state
mainly exports agricultural products and the global partnership with organizations as well as
governments plays a dominant role in attaining economic success and development.
Environmental Diplomacy of St Kitts and Nevis (SKN)
The environmental diplomacy of St Kitts and Nevis (SKN) include infrastructure,
development, cultural heritage, food security, human well-being, peace and security,
agriculture, and land-use policy (Pisupati, 2015). The key priorities for SKN as economic
development continue to take place is to implement cross-sectorial strategies to maintain its
natural environment. The challenges, however, facing SKN is its susceptibility and
vulnerability to natural and environmental disasters and climate change. Due to its smallness
and limited resources, consideration of its environmental diplomacy should be centred on the
development of human resources, improvement of environmental programmes to mitigate
such threats.
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Aligning with the global governance to sustainability challenges is the interaction
between the foreign ministry and other relevant ministries - to implement and formulate
environmental diplomacy. Environmental diplomacy considers the relationship with
environmental hazards and SKN has implemented a national environmental action plan
(NEAP) to develop capacity, assess risk and causes, such as the delicate procedure regarding
the ozone layer depletion and the fragile system concerning climate change. SKN has put
appropriate mechanisms in place to obtain its goal. This includes the international strategy
disaster reduction programmes that put together 25 UN (United Nations, 2015), international,
regional, and civil society organizations to organize actions to decrease the devastating
effects, which affects socio-economic, humanitarian, and development fields.
The Humanitarian Matters and Emergency Release Planner are also in control of a
dominant emergency reaction fund envisioned to allow timelier and more dependable
humanitarian support to losses of natural adversities. One feature of tragedy reprieve that
SKN need to emphasize is the acceptance of multi-country disaster insurance schemes. The
state can protect itself from the socio-economic effects that results from severe natural
disasters (Kelman, 2014). At the regional level, a significant inventiveness was taken by
CARICOM with the formation of the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Cover Facility, with the
reassurance and support of the Japanese government and the World Bank. The spirit of
international relation promotes the need to protect and rescue states from calamities.
Humanitarian assistance is heavily supported by the UN system, which assists in preventing
and rescuing states from disasters. In international politics, multilateral relations influence the
decision on the states that provides and those that receive humanitarian aid (DIPLO, 2020).
Multi-country disaster insurance schemes involves developing positive multilateral relations
based on collaboration to enhance the country’s ability to recover quickly from any form of
natural disasters such as the on-going Covid-19 pandemic.
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Multilateral Diplomacy of St Kitts and Nevis (SKN)
For a country its size, a relative weakness as is inherent in small states, the
multilateral diplomacy offers tremendous value for SKN, sometimes even more so than the
bilateral relationship. It simply goes back to the fact that SKN is resource poor, has a small
population and has an open, vulnerable and very small economy. Countries seeking to
establish bilateral relationships look for, (1) where they can access markets; or (2) where they
can have strategic trade, financing, military or some sort of alliance.
In the case of SKN, like many small states which have relatively none of these
strengths, larger countries would prefer to deal through regional multilateralism. Utilising
regional multilateralism diplomacy SKN turns its threats into strengths, through associations,
alliances and partnerships, as leverage in formulating and implementing its national and
foreign priorities. For instance, SKN would have more “clout” if it “punches” as the OECS as
opposed to if it goes on its own. The particular pivotal strength, is increased when jumping
from the OECS to CARICOM and, thereby, amplifying the avenue for promoting collective
and shared interests and its own interests.
In large measure one key component of multilateral diplomacy is that the more
alliances a country has, the greater it is to realise its objectives. This is played out in SKN’s
membership within several institutions such as, inter alia:
Regional
 OECS
 CARICOM
 Association of Caribbean States
 Regional Security System
 ALBA
 Petrocaribe
Multilateral
 United Nations  Commonwealth
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 Organisation of the American
States
 World Trade Organisation
 International Maritime
Organisation
 IMF
 World Bank
Joining that consortium of countries is pivotal. It gives SKN soft power and
collective strength to negotiate, as is the case in the Petro-Caribe arrangement with
Venezuela, where support is exchanged for certain benefits. Additionally, the Foreign
Minister of SKN frequently uses the hashtag “diplomacy matters” on social media,
recognising that using the tool of diplomacy, is perhaps the greatest premium SKN has as a
small state.
According to Anon (2019), unilateral actions such as threats to impose sanctions and
the lack of appreciation of small states’ future lie in aligning and working together. Local
politics are also challenges. While unity doesn't require uniformity, sometimes some of these
important multilateral strategic interests and positions are sacrificed to the domestic agenda.
The objective of active engagement in the multilateral system is to enhance the states
engagement as well as amplify its voice regarding regional and global matters hence
leveraging its presence and development (DIPLO, 2011).
SKN sees the multilateral approach as a conduit to find common solutions/dialogue to
collaborate on the fight against drug trafficking, climate change, illicit arms trade, and non-
communicable diseases, social and economic challenges (IPI, 2014). Multilateral
negotiations provide better platform for collaboration with larger states while at the same
time promotion cohesion. Collective negotiations provide better opportunities for agreement
on appropriate actions that will be embraced and implemented largely by the rest of the
international community. Similar to regional integration, multilateral negotiation creates
visibility as well as transparency which might not be present in bilateral transactions
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(Mushelenga and Van Wyk, 2019). These are manifested in some key original multilateral
treaties that SKN is signatory to such as: (Nations, n.d.).
• Arms Trade Treaty
• UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime
• UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement
Regional diplomacy of St Kitts and Nevis
Regional diplomacy is consistent with multilateral diplomacy and SKN’s focus on
regional diplomacy allows it the capacity to effectively function in the pursuing its foreign
policy and national interest. This is manifested in its active membership and participation in
regional entities such as CARICOM, OECS, ACS, ALBA, Petrocaribe, CELAC, IMPACS,
CAPHA, PHAO and the OAS. These organisations offer tremendous value, arguably more
so than the bilateral relationship.
Given the size of SKN, regional diplomacy has much more meaningful footprint if
multilateral projects are done, rather than small projects which can be a duplication of
resources. Small states like SKN stand to gain less trying to interact bilaterally with large
players, due to lack of population, market and the absorptive capacity for effective
investment and use of resources. A typical example is the EU funded capacity building
project of Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEAs) to strengthen capacity to
effectively implement the MEAs that they are party to (CARICOM, 2020). Regionalism
provides space for easy and active diplomacy within the comfort zone of one’s regional
grouping and offers “tangible economic advantages such as market sharing, mutual tariff’’
(Rana, n.d.).
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Regional co-operation and co-ordination
This basket of economies supports each other, and shares the same geographical
space, similar historical, cultural and colonial backgrounds. A Pacific Islands Forum is a
similar regional group but not as integrated.
Elements of co-ordination and cooperation within the OECS exist at a monetary,
diplomatic and functional level that CARICOM is yet to imitate. These include, inter-alia,
communication through the Telecommunication Authority; employment reduction through
the Canada programme; a judicial system through the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court; a
monetary union under the authority of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank; joint diplomatic
missions in Brussels, Geneva and Morrocco and civil aviation facilitated by the Eastern
Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (OECS, 2020).
In summary, SKN is far more effective to work within regional entities to amplify it
voice as it gives scope to draw greater attention to its objectives; enhance and increase its
international profile and benefit from functional co-operation at different levels. There is no
right or wrong method or answers to the issues of diplomacy. The inherent similarities and
challenges that characterises small states should be taken into consideration, while at the
same time issues such as the organisation and structure of the Foreign Ministry, geo-politics,
economic development, environmental threats and opportunities, the multilateral system and
regionalism influence the diplomatic strategies adopted by smalls states. A shrewd approach
to diplomacy can become a prevailing conduit for small states provided that clear realistic
external policy goals are set to counter their vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
Conclusively, there is no one approach that is fit for all when it comes to foreign
policy and diplomacy as every state is characterized by its unique strengths and
vulnerabilities. While every state shares the same definition of autonomy and sovereign
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certain features determine the manner in which small states engage in international relations.
Whereas they are limited in terms of resources and materials devoted to diplomatic
operations they face a range of issues that retain the same urgency as those of the larger
states. Similar to other small states, SKN has no ability to deploy diplomats across the globe
to represent it on regional and global issues and multilateral diplomacy plays a role in
ensuring that its challenges are recognized and recognized based on the existing humanitarian
spirit. International relations are vital in determining a country’s economic development,
security, socio-economic success, and political stability. Through multilateral negations and
regional integration SKN continues to boost its engagement and participation in international
relations in general. Besides, it sources support from international and regional organizations
such as the UN, as CARICOM, OECS, ACS, ALBA, Petrocaribe, CELAC, IMPACS,
CAPHA, PHAO, and the OAS. The organizations offer great support which potentially
surpasses that of bilateral relations.
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