The ninth Joint Security Commission between France and Saint Lucia was held in Castries on September 30 and October 1, 2025, chaired by the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Mr. Philip J. PIERRE, and co-chaired by the Attorney General, Mr. Leslie MONDESIR. On the French side, the commission was co-chaired by the French Ambassador to Saint Lucia, Ms. Marie-Noëlle DURIS, and the Prefect of Martinique, Mr. Etienne DESPLANQUES.
This session takes place against the backdrop of strengthened bilateral relations, particularly since Prime Minister Philip J. PIERRE’s working visit to Fort-de-France on April 30, 2025. At the conclusion of the two-day meeting, the parties agreed to:
- to strengthen cooperation between security forces in the fight against drug trafficking through intelligence sharing and joint training. To support this cooperation, a Saint Lucian police officer will be assigned to the Consulate General of Saint Lucia in Fort-de-France beginning in early 2026.
- combat cross-border crime more effectively by strengthening cooperation among judicial authorities regarding the extradition of nationals and the seizure of criminal assets; ;
- ensure the safety of maritime traffic by coordinating the radar detection systems of the two countries; ;
- strengthen coordination among customs agencies, particularly with regard to the inspection of suspicious vessels; ;
- ensure full implementation of the provisions of the 2005 bilateral agreement on deportations, while taking into account special circumstances, particularly those involving hospitalized patients.
The French and Saint Lucian authorities welcome the major step forward represented by the initialing of the text of the bilateral agreement on combating illicit drug trafficking by sea and air. In this context, vessels and aircraft of each State’s security forces will be able, with the consent of the other State, to enter the latter’s territorial sea, internal waters, and airspace to conduct surveillance or pursuit operations against suspicious vessels and aircraft.
This agreement reflects the mutual trust and shared determination of the French and Saint Lucian governments to combat the scourges of drug trafficking and arms trafficking, which pose serious threats to the security and stability of Martinique and Saint Lucia.
