One Hand Can’t Clap: EU-Caribbean Relations, the Samoa Agreement and the Global Gateway

On Friday, May 22, 2026, the Shridath Ramphal Centre hosted a featured hybrid presentation titled “One Hand Can’t Clap: EU-Caribbean Relations, the Samoa Agreement and the Global Gateway” by Professor Maurizio Carbone, Professor of International Relations & Development and Jean Monnet Professor of EU External Policies at the University of Glasgow.

Professor Carbone’s presentation examined the evolving EU-Caribbean relationship amid growing geopolitical competition and global insecurity, arguing that the partnership is increasingly anchored in shared values. He explored the role of the Samoa Agreement in strengthening political dialogue and fostering cooperation on governance, climate action, and sustainable development, while also analysing the Global Gateway Initiative’s focus on investment and connectivity to support the Caribbean’s green and digital transitions.

The discussion that followed was lively and wide-ranging, touching on a number of pressing issues including the EU’s blacklisting of Caribbean jurisdictions, and the implications of growing geopolitical competition from China and the United States for Caribbean sovereignty and development. Participants engaged critically with the question of power asymmetry in EU-Caribbean relations and what a genuinely balanced partnership would require in practice.

If you were unable to attend or would like to review the session, the recording is available for viewing below.