Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Neighbouring Countries and Caribbean Islands
Geography and Location
Saint Vincent’s Spot on the Map
Hanging around the southern bit of the Caribbean Sea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines makes for a charming stopover. Part of the Lesser Antilles—think of them like an arc of pearls in the Caribbean—the islands cozy up to Saint Lucia in the northeast, glance over at Grenada to the south, and peek over the waves at Barbados to the west. Its close quarters with the South American shores of Venezuela and Colombia give it a special spot in the mix of things. Want a little more dish on nearby countries? Take a look at our sections on Saint Kitts and Nevis neighboring countries and Saint Lucia neighboring countries.
Sidling Up to the Caribbean Sea
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines doesn’t just dip its toes in the Caribbean Sea—it goes all in. This legendary sea rubs borders with a whole batch of countries and islands. A total of 12 big continental players, including Venezuela and Colombia, and 22 island territories, such as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, are part of this sea’s sprawling embrace (Wikipedia). Where these borders lie often affects the gossip and politics of the area.
| Region Type | Number of Countries/Territories |
|---|---|
| Continental Biggies | 12 |
| Island Crew | 22 |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and its island neighbors keep things friendly with a bunch of countries like the US, Canada, and the UK, not to forget regional squads like CARICOM and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (Wikipedia). If you’re curious about who’s near who around the world, check out what we got on Maldives neighboring countries and Mauritius neighboring countries.
Neighboring Countries Rundown
Tucked away in the Caribbean, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines rubs elbows, or rather sea borders, with a hefty lineup of countries. Let’s take a gander at its continental and island neighbors to get a good handle on how this island nation is situated.
Continental Neighbors
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines finds itself lapped by the Caribbean Sea and is cozy with 12 continental countries. Here they are:
- Belize
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Venezuela
- Guyana
- Suriname
- French Guiana
These countries, sprawled along Central and South America’s coastlines, brush against the Caribbean’s blue borders.
| Continental Country | Location |
|---|---|
| Belize | Central America |
| Colombia | South America |
| Costa Rica | Central America |
| Guatemala | Central America |
| Honduras | Central America |
| Mexico | North America |
| Nicaragua | Central America |
| Panama | Central America |
| Venezuela | South America |
| Guyana | South America |
| Suriname | South America |
| French Guiana | South America |
Island Territory Neighbors
Surrounded by 22 island territories floating in the Caribbean Sea, many of these got their freedom kicks from colonial rule in the decades around the 60s to the 80s. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines stepped into its independent shoes in 1979 (Wikipedia).
Neighborly island territories include:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Grenada
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Anguilla (UK)
- Aruba (Netherlands)
- Bermuda (UK)
- British Virgin Islands (UK)
- Cayman Islands (UK)
- Guadeloupe (France)
- Martinique (France)
- Montserrat (UK)
- Puerto Rico (US)
- Sint Maarten (Netherlands)
- Turks and Caicos Islands (UK)
- United States Virgin Islands (US)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has friendly ties with some of these island folks through groups like the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) (Wikipedia).
If you’re curious about who else is nextdoor to other countries, check these out:
Grasping who neighbors Saint Vincent and the Grenadines sheds light on its prime spot in the Caribbean, tying it to both mainland and island buddies alike.
Historical and Political Context
Territorial Disputes with Guyana
It seems Guyana’s got some neighbors with boundary complaints—Venezuela and Suriname are no strangers to these territorial squabbles.
Venezuela’s Claim
Venezuela’s been eyeing more than half of Guyana’s west territory, around the Essequibo River, since way back in the 1800s. They hit the pause button for a while but decided to hit play again in 1962. Things got pretty heated again in 2023, leading to the Guyana-Venezuela crisis. Guyana didn’t sit around twiddling their thumbs—they beefed up their defense game by teaming up with heavyweights like Brazil, the USA, India, and the UK. Talks are still on between Venezuela, Guyana, and the UN Secretary-General’s envoy. Recently, President Nicolás Maduro threw in the idea of a public vote to officially snatch the Essequibo patch.
| Dispute | Country Involved | Territory Claimed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essequibo | Venezuela | Over half of Guyana west of Essequibo River | Ongoing, diplomatic chats |
Suriname’s Claim
Suriname ain’t sitting back either—they’ve staked out the area east of Guyana’s New River, a hefty chunk measuring about 15,000 square kilometers. Things got dicey in June 2000 when some Canadian outfit, under a Guyanese license, started digging for oil. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea had to step in, finally siding with Guyana in 2007 over who gets the rights to explore offshore.
| Dispute | Country Involved | Territory Claimed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| New River | Suriname | Territory east of New River (15,000 sq. km) | Settled, UN settled it Guyana’s way |
Resolution through Diplomatic Relations
Solving these border debates often means busting out the ol’ diplomatic negotiation playbook or taking things to international arbitration.
Diplomatic Efforts
Guyana’s been having chats with Venezuela, with a go-between from the UN Secretary-General helping keep things cool. These talks are like balancing on a tightrope—essential to avoid any nasty fallout in the area. Venezuela’s idea for a public vote on claiming the Essequibo area is a tricky bump on this diplomatic road.
| Country Pair | Mediator | Recent Diplomatic Efforts |
|---|---|---|
| Guyana-Venezuela | UN Secretary-General’s representative | Talks ongoing, vote on Essequibo suggested by Venezuela |
International Arbitration
The UN played referee between Guyana and Suriname, with a 2007 decision giving Guyana the W, putting to rest a long-running oil spat and firming up the sea boundaries for both.
Want to deep dive into more map and territory tussles in the Caribbean? Check out our chats on saint kitts and nevis neighbouring countries and saint lucia neighbouring countries. They spill the beans on area politics and landscapes.
Getting the historical scoop and diplomatic dance moves on these territorial talks gives you a clear picture of how Guyana and its nearby countries move and shake.
Foreign Relations of Saint Vincent
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has built solid friendships with various countries and groups that make a big impact on its politics, economy, and all-around vibe.
Ties with the US, Canada, UK
This island nation keeps friendly ties with the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. These friendships are nurtured through government agreements, trade deals, and cultural get-togethers.
United States
Saint Vincent works with the US on a mix of economy and politics. This teamwork includes help programs, trade pacts, and security plans to keep things balanced on both sides.
Canada
The bond between Canada and Saint Vincent is like a friendship where both give and take. They share aid programs, student swaps, and trade agreements. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has been a big help, backing up projects to make things better in Saint Vincent.
United Kingdom
Official relations with the UK started on October 27, 1979. Both nations connect through groups like the Caribbean Development Bank, the Commonwealth, the International Criminal Court, and the World Trade Organization. They also work together under the CARIFORUM–UK Economic Partnership Agreement.
Involvement in Regional Organizations
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gets involved in a bunch of local groups that focus on regional peace, boosting their economies, and sharing culture.
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
This group aims to get the economies of its members working together and helping each other out. Saint Vincent gains from sharing resources and policies to keep moving forward sustainably.
Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
CARICOM is key in boosting economic connections, aligning foreign policies, and promoting working together in the Caribbean. Saint Vincent’s role in CARICOM helps with trade, economic progress, and making diplomatic friends regionally.
Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
The Caribbean Development Bank backs projects that aim for social and economic growth in the Caribbean. Saint Vincent taps into these projects to get funding for building infrastructure and other improvement plans.
Want to learn more about countries around with Saint Vincent’s international treks? We’ve got articles on Micronesia neighboring countries and Marshall Islands neighboring countries. Looking for a bigger picture on foreign relations? Peek at our scoops on Malaysia neighboring countries and Madagascar neighboring countries.
Impact on Regional Dynamics
Drug Transshipment Activities
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines aren’t just known for the pretty beaches and chill vibes. These islands have taken up a hefty role as a conduit for drugs zipping from South America to the United States and Europe. The islands’ spot on the map gives it a front-row seat in this unwanted drama. This transshipment dance heavily impacts how the islands play ball with their neighbors and stick their noses into regional security matters.
Joining forces with international big shots like the United Nations and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Saint Vincent is part of a united front aiming to squash the drug game. Teaming up with the United States highlights the tight-knit law enforcement love affair between Vincentians and Americans.
Scholarship and Exchange Programs
Aside from handling security affairs, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines spread goodwill through scholarships and student swaps, especially cozying up with Cuba. Many lucky Vincentian students score scholarships to dive deep into healthcare studies on Cuban soil. It’s like sending our aspiring docs on a tropical study treat.
Scholarship programs do more than fill students’ brains—they’re building bridges of friendship and understanding between nations. To dig deeper into Saint Vincent’s links with other countries and organizations, feel free to venture over to our foreign relations page.
Table: Number of Scholarships Awarded by Country
| Country | Number of Scholarships |
|---|---|
| Cuba | 50 |
| United States | 15 |
| Canada | 10 |
| United Kingdom | 25 |
Saint Vincent’s involvement in clubs like CARICOM and the OECS greases the wheels for such educational swaps and regional unity. Being part of these organizations reveals their dedication to growing and working well with others in the hood.
To see how Saint Vincent and the Grenadines influence local dynamics through scholarship schemes, pop over to our foreign relations section. Also, if you’re curious about how other countries like Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Malaysia keep it real with their neighbors, check out articles such as lithuania neighbouring countries, luxembourg neighbouring countries, and malaysia neighbouring countries.
Taiwan’s Diplomatic Relations
Formal and Unofficial Alliances
Taiwan, also called the Republic of China (ROC), has a really interesting, sometimes tricky, network of friendships around the world. By January 2024, Taiwan is buddies with 11 out of the 193 countries in the United Nations, with fancy connections like the Holy See. These official friendships often mean having embassies and ambassadors, like most other countries hanging out together do.
But hey, even without a solid handshake, Taiwan stays on good terms with many places using its Economic, Trade, and Cultural Offices and Representative Offices. Think of these like embassies, but under a different name. Countries such as the United States, Lithuania, and Israel keep in touch with Taiwan this way.
Taiwan needs these friends badly because of its touchy spot on the global playground. Often, countries switch sides, choosing Taiwan or its big buddy, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), because of the PRC’s friendly offers—or not-so-friendly nudges. For instance, São Tomé and Príncipe waved goodbye to Taiwan and high-fived the PRC in December 2016 after being pals with Taiwan since 1997.
| Country | Type of Relation | Switch Date (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| Holy See | Formal | – |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | Previous Formal, Switched to PRC | 2016 |
| Eswatini | Formal | – |
| The Gambia | Switched to PRC | 2013 |
| Burkina Faso | Switched to PRC | 2018 |
Relations with the United Nations
Taiwan’s tie with the United Nations? Oh, that’s a hot topic! Back in the day, Taiwan got bumped out of the UN, with its seat going to the PRC in 1971 because of a decision known as UN General Assembly Resolution 2758. Since then, Taiwan’s been knocking on the UN’s door, but the PRC’s got a firm hand on the latch, thanks to its One-China Policy.
Even so, Taiwan isn’t giving up; it keeps pushing to join the party by getting into all sorts of UN-ish organizations. The ROC does this with a little help from its pals, speaking up for Taiwan to be at least an observer, especially at places like the World Health Organization (WHO) or the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The buzz around Taiwan’s diplomatic hops with the UN shows the bigger playground politics. It shapes the scene from Taiwan to its nearby neighbors, like the cool kids over at the Caribbean islands. Dive into more about regional vibes with our takes on countries like Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia.
