Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley is leading a delegation to London this week to attend a series of high-level meetings with leaders from the United Kingdom and its overseas territories covering topics including climate, security, economic growth and governance.
The annual Joint Ministerial Council, which is hosted by UKOT Minister Stephen Doughty, is the “highest level annual forum for dialogue between elected leaders of the United Kingdom, overseas territories and ministers of His Majesty’s Government,” Mr. Wheatley said during a press conference on Friday.
As the current president of the UKOT Association, Mr. Wheatley will co-chair this year’s JMC with Mr. Doughty.
‘Broader reset’
The premier, who departed for London on Saturday, said Friday that this year’s JMC is “part of a broader reset in the relationships” between the UK and OTs.
“Central to this reset is the development of bilateral compacts — tailored frameworks between the UK and participating territories designed to clarify shared priorities, strengthen commitments and improve long-term planning,” he said.
Mr. Wheatley added that the UK will also introduce a “charter on engagement” with the OTs, noting that it intends to establish “principles for transparency, communication and collaboration.”
The main formal JMC discussions got under way yesterday and continue today, but related activities, which started Monday, include bilateral meetings, workshops and other sessions with UK and OT representatives.
On the agenda
The agenda includes sessions on “artificial intelligence in healthcare and cybersecurity, the outcomes of COP30, the launch of the new Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy, and efforts to improve access to climate finance,” Mr. Wheatley said Friday.
The meetings, he said, will also cover “illicit finance, beneficial ownership transparency, the FATF preparedness, overseas development assistance, and planning for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.”
Collaboration
On Tuesday, Mr. Doughty emphasised the importance of collaboration and said the OTs are “invaluable” to the UK.
“Delivering on the issues that matter to our overseas territories — including security, climate change and growth — is a priority for this government, as well as continuing our work together to maintain good governance and transparency,” he said in a press release from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
The press release also noted that the UK planned to “reaffirm its commitment to defending UK overseas territories’ sovereignty, security and right of self-determination.”
In addition to the VI, participating OTs include Anguilla, Ascension, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha and the Turks and Caicos Island, according to the FCDO.
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