At a signing ceremony which took place at the Permanent Mission of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, New York, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Republic of Rwanda established diplomatic relations on 26 May 2022.
Signing the Joint Communiqué on behalf of Trinidad and Tobago was His Excellency Dennis Francis, Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, New York; and His Excellency Claver Gatete, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations, New York on behalf of Rwanda. The ceremony was witnessed by members of staff of both Permanent Missions.
Prior to the signing ceremony, both Ambassadors met and recalled the strong ties of friendship and cooperation that already exist between their respective countries, both in the bilateral and multilateral contexts, including as members of the bloc of developing countries in the United Nations, the Group of 77 and China, and as members of the Commonwealth.
As the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will take place this month in Kigali, Rwanda, both Ambassadors welcomed the formal establishment of diplomatic relations as timely, recognizing the vital supportive role that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago played in embracing Rwanda’s application for membership of the Commonwealth. Notably, Rwanda’s admittance to the Commonwealth took place during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Port of Spain in 2009, which was chaired by Trinidad and Tobago.
On this historic occasion, the Permanent Representatives emphasized the cooperation between the two countries, including the strengthening relationship between CARICOM and Africa, on critical issues of global importance, such international peace and security, investments, climate change, culture and sports, and sustainable development.
