France and Antigua and Barbuda

Political relations

A maritime delimitation agreement between France and Antigua and Barbuda was signed on 15 March 2017. In 2011 and 2012 respectively, the French overseas territories of Guadeloupe and Martinique signed declarations of intent with Antigua and Barbuda aimed at establishing cooperation in the areas of tourism, healthcare, culture, education and agriculture.

In 2015, Martinique joined the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), of which Antigua and Barbuda is a founding member. In 2019, Guadeloupe was awarded associate member status, and Saint Martin was admitted as an observer member.

French presence

France does not have an embassy in Antigua, but is represented by an honorary Consul. There is an Alliance Française.

French community: 113 on consular register on 31 December 2019
Antiguan community in France: 49

Ambassadors

• French Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda (in residence in Saint Lucia): Mr Philippe Ardanaz

• Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to France (in residence in London): Mr Carl B.W. Roberts

Cultural, scientific and technical cooperation

Most French development assistance is channelled via the European Union. In 2010, the EU approved additional funding of €9 million under the V-Flex facility in order to reduce the country’s fiscal deficit by half. As a member of CARICOM and a signatory of the EU/CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement in 2008, Antigua and Barbuda also benefits from numerous regional programmes financed through the European Development Fund (EDF). Bilateral EU funding for Antigua and Barbuda under the 11ᵗʰ EDF totals €3 million, and seeks to improve the management of public finances.

At bilateral level, the CARICOM FSPI IFLE project (€800,000) helps develop three areas of cooperation: linguistic, economic and cultural. Health cooperation and academic cooperation (Passport for French Higher Education) are also priority sectors.

Other cooperation

Exchanges of sections between the French armed forces and the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force are organized at regular intervals. An agreement by exchange of letters provides the legal framework for this neighbourhood military cooperation. Two naval stopovers in 2019 and one to date in 2020 offered further examples of exchange and cooperation between our two countries.

^{Updated: June 2020}