Advocating for the interests of small Island developing States

Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown have initiated discussions on establishing diplomatic relations on the sidelines of the 2024 United Nations Decade of Ocean Conference in Spain.

During their exchanges, Ramkalawan expressed Seychelles’ interest in continuing negotiations to establish diplomatic relations with the Cook Islands.

« Our two nations share common interests in advancing the cause of small Island developing states in the face of unprecedented threats from climate change. We look forward to further strengthening the ties we have discussed today », said Ramkalawan.

On his part, Prime Minister Brown reaffirmed the Cook Islands’ desire to explore and enhance areas of bilateral cooperation with Seychelles. This would include productive engagements on specific issues relevant to small Island developing states, including strengthening international commitments on climate change and sharing best practices in mitigation and adaptation.

Both parties share many similarities, such as being SIDS, advocating for urgent issues such as climate action, and striving for carbon neutrality. Both nations are considered high-income countries. Other possible areas of cooperation discussed include tourism, the blue economy through deep-sea scientific research, sharing best practices, and seabed exploration techniques.