St. Kitts and Nevis in Final Stages to Sign San José Treaty, Signals Commitment to Maritime Security

Basseterre, Saint Kitts, April 04, 2025 (PMO) – In a pivotal announcement at the 2025 Regional Security System (RSS) Council of Ministers Annual Meeting currently being held in St. Kitts and Nevis,  Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew revealed that St. Kitts and Nevis is now in the final stages of signing the San José Treaty, a multilateral agreement designed to combat illicit maritime and aerial trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances across the Caribbean.

“With great pride, we want to announce that we are in the final stages to sign the San José Treaty. By joining this treaty, we are not only aligning ourselves with global best practices in maritime security, we are signaling to the world our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the waters that feed us, connect us, and define who we are as a people.”

The San José Treaty, widely regarded as a cornerstone in regional maritime interdiction cooperation, will strengthen the Federation’s ability to confront organized trafficking networks operating in Caribbean waters. The treaty also enhances legal and operational frameworks for collective enforcement among partner states.

Prime Minister Drew credited Rear Admiral Errington Shurland, Executive Director of the RSS, and his team “for their tireless work in moving this initiative forward, emphasizing that “Their leadership ensures that member states are informed, engaged and committed to taking meaningful steps toward regional resilience.”

This development comes as part of St. Kitts and Nevis’ broader commitment to a public health and security framework that includes legislative reform, institutional collaboration, and strategic investments in national and regional capacity-building. 

The signing of the San José Treaty marks a definitive step toward fortifying the Federation’s maritime space and advancing regional safety and cooperation.

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