Minister Johnson Smith Stresses Multilateralism and Diplomacy as Keys to Address Global Challenges

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, has emphasised the importance of multilateralism, diplomacy and international cooperation in tackling global challenges.

She was presenting a Policy Statement during Ministerial Briefings on day three of Diplomatic Week 2025 at the Ministry’s office in downtown Kingston on Wednesday (March 12).

Senator Johnson Smith said the principles of multilateralism hold even greater significance during this period of heightened global anxiety, uncertainty and escalating geopolitical tensions and conflicts.

She explained that while Jamaica has always believed in, and continues to believe in strong bilateral relations, as a small island developing state (SIDS), the country is also committed to ensuring that multilateralism is not only upheld but remains at the core of its existence.

In this regard, the Minister underscored the importance of work undertaken by the United Nations (UN).

“While we can all agree that reform of the United Nations system is absolutely necessary and overdue, there is important work to be done in restoring peace and security in areas where they do not now exist. Jamaica, therefore, fully supports the United Nations and, indeed, the cause of multilateralism as the only rational way for collective investment in addressing global crises,” she told members of the Diplomatic Corps.

Senator Johnson Smith further reiterated Jamaica’s call for respect for international law by all countries, including the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.

“We remain concerned and have expressed our condemnation of the war on Ukraine, the attacks on Israel and the counterattacks and resulting dire humanitarian consequences on civilians in Gaza and more widely, which have since unfolded unabated,” she said.

“We are [also] deeply concerned about conflicts and crises in Sudan and in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), even as in our own region we continue to work towards a restoration of peace in Haiti and remain vigilant to developments in relation to our sister country, Guyana,” the Minister added.

Meanwhile, Senator Johnson Smith said multilateralism is the ideal tool for addressing the greatest global threat of this century – climate change.

“There is no denying the existential threats to small island developing states, including Jamaica, or the deleterious impact on our hard-won development progress. Only eight months ago, Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category

Five hurricane on record in the world, wreaked havoc on our island, damaging infrastructure, destroying agricultural crops and resulting in the displacement of families and communities,” she pointed out.

Against this background, Minister Johnson Smith told the diplomats, “Your generous donations complemented our budgetary provisions, helping us to rapidly and effectively undertake necessary recovery and reconstruction efforts.”

She noted, however, that with climate change, each hurricane season brings increasing potential for disruption and destruction, necessitating greater action from all states.

Senator Johnson Smith said Jamaica is doing its part, having joined fellow SIDS in making oral submissions to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last December, in response to a request for an advisory opinion on states’ obligation in addressing climate change and ensuring climate justice.

The concerned nations are now awaiting the Court’s guidance on what the Minister described as a critical existential issue.

She urged Jamaica’s bilateral partners to join SIDS in the call on responsible states to make restitution through, among other things, technology transfer on fair and equitable terms, capacity-building, support for regional scientific research on climate change and access to climate financing to support mitigation and adaptation measures.

The Minister stated that, already, the region is being warned to prepare for unusual tropical North Atlantic temperatures that could see Jamaica and neighbouring countries experiencing heat waves occurring as early as April.

“It’s critical, therefore, that our work in adaptation and mitigation of severe climate-related impacts is not delayed or side-tracked. Time is quite simply not on our side,” Senator Johnson Smith underscored.