The Commander (Ag) of the St. Kitts- Nevis Defence Force, Major Kayode Sutton, strengthened ties with regional and international partners during the high-level United Kingdom and Caribbean Heads of Defence Conference held from January 27th to 29th, 2025 in the Dominican Republic.
The Conference was co-hosted by the United Kingdom and the Dominican Republic. The high-level forum brought together regional defence heads from Barbados, Belize, The Bahamas, Guyana, Jamaica, and St Kitts and Nevis. The Regional Security System was represented by Executive Director, Rear Admiral Ricky Shurland. Delegates discussed security challenges and ways to strengthen strategic partnerships to enhance regional safety and security.
Among the distinguished attendees were United Kingdom Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, Minister of Defence of the Dominican Republic who made brief appearances but was ably represented throughout the conference by Vice-minister for Land Forces General Miguel Angel Rubio Baez.
General security threats, natural disasters and specifically emerging threats due to climate change threatening lives and livelihoods were carefully discussed with each participating security chief presenting their specific concerns. Areas of enhanced cooperation and collaboration essential to the collective security of the region were reviewed.
The St Kitts Nevis Defence Force Commander expresses gratitude to the sponsors of the conference for their invitation to participate in the high-level strategic conference on common and emerging threats to national security.
New collaborations between St Kitts and Nevis and the Dominican Republic identified covering capability and capacity development.
