ORANJESTAD – Caribbean territories should be recognized as strategic partners rather than small players, according to Eric van der Burg during his address at the OCT-EU Forum in Aruba.
Van der Burg emphasized that while smaller islands may have limited administrative capacity, they possess unique strengths, including regional knowledge, networks, and the ability to act quickly.
Quoting John Soliano, he urged policymakers to view overseas territories as “small islands with strategic value.”
He highlighted that cooperation between larger countries and smaller territories should be based on complementarity, where each partner contributes its strengths to achieve shared goals.
According to Van der Burg, this approach is especially important in the current geopolitical climate, where resilience, regional cooperation, and economic stability are increasingly critical.
The message reflects a broader effort to reposition Caribbean territories within international frameworks as active contributors rather than passive recipients of support.