The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has expanded its associate membership to eight territories with the addition of Martinique and French Guiana (Guyane française), marking a significant step toward deeper regional integration.
CARICOM (Caribbean Community) is a regional organization comprising 15 full members and eight associate members. Its full members are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The associate members are Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, and Turks and Caicos Islands and now Martinique and French Guiana.
Established in 1973, CARICOM promotes economic integration, regional cooperation, trade, tourism development, climate resilience, and coordinated policies across the Caribbean.
CARICOM and Martinique signed an agreement granting the French overseas territory associate membership in February 2025. In June 2026, CARICOM received the instrument of accession from the French government, allowing the agreement on CARICOM’s privileges and immunities to enter into force.
Martinique officially became an associate member on June 16 and took part in the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in St. Lucia last week.
French Guiana followed on July 7, becoming CARICOM’s eighth associate member after signing its own accession agreement. The territory also participated in the meeting of Caribbean leaders in St. Lucia.
Fostering new tourism initiatives
For both French territories, associate membership offers a platform to strengthen economic, tourism and institutional links with neighboring Caribbean states while maintaining their status within France and the European Union. The move is expected to facilitate closer cooperation in air and maritime connectivity, destination marketing, sustainable tourism, climate resilience, disaster preparedness, education, health and cultural exchanges.
The new status should also help Martinique and French Guiana attract additional regional investment, expand trade opportunities and improve collaboration on infrastructure and environmental projects. Tourism stakeholders stand to benefit from multi-destination travel initiatives, coordinated cruise development and joint promotion of the wider Caribbean as a seamless vacation region.
CARICOM also gains from the partnership. The organization strengthens its relationship with two economically developed French territories that provide access to European expertise, investment and funding mechanisms. Their participation broadens opportunities for regional projects in renewable energy, digital transformation, transport, innovation and climate adaptation while reinforcing CARICOM’s voice in discussions with the European Union and other international partners.
The accession of Martinique and French Guiana reflects CARICOM’s broader objective of fostering greater regional cooperation across the Caribbean, regardless of constitutional status, while promoting sustainable economic growth, resilience and increased mobility throughout the region.
