On Friday 7th August, 2026, the Honourable Sean Sobers, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, received His Excellency Toshimitsu Motegi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, for a courtesy call at the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs during Minister Motegi’s one-day visit to Trinidad and Tobago.
This visit is one of a number of historic exchanges between Trinidad and Tobago and Japan. Notably, this significant event marks the second visit by a Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, the previous having taken place in May 2023, ahead of the commemoration of sixty (60) years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The visit also follows one undertaken almost a year earlier by the Honourable Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, on the occasion of Expo 2025, held in Osaka.
Trinidad and Tobago has a longstanding relationship with Japan, one of the top five (5) largest economies in the world. Both countries share robust trade and commercial ties and have collaborated in technical cooperation and education and training, as well as on regional and multilateral issues.
A bilateral engagement was preceded by a flag-raising ceremony, in which brief remarks were delivered by both Foreign Ministers. A main highlight of the ceremony was the playing of the national anthems of Japan and Trinidad and Tobago by the National Steel Symphony Orchestra.
In his remarks during the ceremony, Minister Sobers described the event as a symbolic reflection of the respect, friendship, and enduring partnership established between the two nations, since diplomatic ties were first established in May 1964.
During the bilateral engagement, discussions between the two Foreign Ministers focused on future collaboration in the areas of trade, energy, disaster management, water and youth development. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen relations and to continue working closely on matters of mutual interest.
