Saint Lucia has no extant international disputes aside from tension resulting from the island's status as a transit point for South American drugs destined for the United States and Europe.

Historically, the major thrust of foreign affairs for St. Lucia has been economic development. The government is seeking balanced international relations with emphasis on mutual economic cooperation and trade and investment. It seeks to conduct its foreign policy chiefly through its membership in the OECS. St. Lucia participated in the 1983 Grenada mission, sending members of its Special Services Unit into active duty. St. Lucia is a member of the Commonwealth, the Organization of American States, and the United Nations. It seeks pragmatic solutions to major international issues and maintains friendly relations with the major powers active in the Caribbean, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France. St. Lucia has been active in eastern Caribbean regional affairs through the OECS and CARICOM.

As a member of CARICOM, St. Lucia strongly backed efforts by the United States to implement UN Security Council Resolution 940, designed to restore democracy to Haiti. The country agreed to contribute personnel to the multinational force, which restored the democratically elected government of Haiti in October 1994.

St. Lucia participated, along with 14 other Caribbean nations, in a summit with US President Bill Clinton in Bridgetown, Barbados, in May 1997. The summit, which was the first-ever meeting in the region between the U.S. and Caribbean heads of government, strengthened the basis for regional cooperation on justice and counternarcotics, finance and development, and trade issues.

St. Lucia had official diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan) for about 13 years, but switched recognition to the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1997. On 25 April 2007, the Premier of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Su Tseng-chang, announced that St. Lucia and Taiwan would resume formal diplomatic relations. [ [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/04/26/2003358246 "St. Lucia dumps PRC for Taiwan"] , " [http://www.taipeitimes.com/ The Taipei Times] , 2007-04-26] On May 1, 2007, St. Lucia regained diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan). [ [http://tw.news.yahoo.com/article/url/d/a/070501/17/dnfk.html 「台聖復交／加勒比海島國　人口17萬　出過兩位諾貝爾獎主」] ", ET today, 2007/05/01 10:37"] Within a few days, the Peoples' Republic of China suspended diplomatic relations. [ [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/274392/1/.html China suspends ties with St Lucia] ", ChannelNewsAsia, 5/5/07"]

Saint Lucia's Permanent Representative (or ambassador) to the United Nations is Anthony Severin.

International organization participation:ACCT (associate), ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

ee also

*List of diplomatic missions in Saint Lucia
*Saint Lucian diplomatic missions

References