WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be meeting almost today with 15 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) foreign ministers, State Department spokeswoman Ned Price said.
“They will discuss a number of issues affecting our region, including climate change and disaster resilience and reinforce the deep bond we share with our Caribbean neighbors,” Price said in a session regular news briefing on Tuesday, adding that the United States continues to support the people of Saint Vincent after the volcanic eruption on the eastern Caribbean island earlier this month. The United Nations launched an appeal Tuesday for $ 29.2 million to help some 15,000 people displaced by the La Soufriere explosion on April 9, which triggered dark ash clouds some six miles (10 km) into the sky and prompted evacuation.
The volcano, which had been inactive for decades, has continued to rumble and vent ashes. Four Caribbean countries are among only 14 countries worldwide that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a self-governing island, allegedly Chinese, the United States is legally bound to provide a means of defense.
Washington is outraged by China’s efforts to persuade countries to change their diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.
In February, CARICOM member Guyana, whose regional organization is headquartered, abruptly terminated an agreement with Taiwan to open an office there, hours after China urged Georgetown to “correct their mistake.”