At the behest of PM Modi, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Dr. Andrew Holness, embarked on an official visit to India from 30 September to 3 October 2024. This landmark visit was not merely Dr. Holness’s first to India but also the first-ever bilateral visit of any Jamaican Prime Minister to Indian shores.
While the two leaders have crossed paths on several occasions in multilateral settings, this visit offered a dedicated opportunity for deepening diplomatic rapport. The intriguing question is what India stands to gain from extending an invitation to the leader of a geographically distant Caribbean nation.
In the grand scheme of international relations, India’s invitation to PM Holness is far from a simple ceremonial gesture. Rather, it reflects a multifaceted approach driven by both historical commonalities and forward-looking strategic aspirations.
Foremost among these are the shared colonial experiences and democratic values that bind the two nations. Like India, Jamaica has liberated itself from British colonial rule, embracing a democratic ethos that has since defined its socio-political identity. Jamaica is, thus, home to a 70,000-strong Girmitiya population — descendants of Indian indentured labourers brought to the Caribbean in the 19th century under British rule. Every year on May 10, the Caribbean archipelago celebrates Indian Heritage Day, exhibiting the rich cultural ties that endure between the two nations and fortifying their bond through shared heritage and values.
This common past fosters mutual understanding, empathy, and an affinity for democratic resilience; qualities essential to contemporary diplomacy.
Yet, PM Modi’s invitation signifies more than a nod to shared heritage; it displays a strategic extension of India’s soft power in the Caribbean, a region historically influenced by the United States. Recently, the Caribbean has also witnessed an increasing presence of Chinese investments, particularly in Jamaican infrastructure and tourism. Jamaica’s GDP, estimated at US $19.42 billion in 2023, relies on key sectors like bauxite and aluminium production, but the country remains economically vulnerable due to international fluctuations. Despite the constraints of distance and Jamaica’s preferential trade agreements with other partners, India has fostered steady growth in bilateral trade with Jamaica, rising from US $28.28 million in 2011-12 to US $116.73 million in 2023-24.
According to recent data, Chinese investments in Jamaica have exceeded US $3 billion over the past decade, with bilateral trade surpassing US $800 million, which has expanded Chinese influence in the Caribbean. Through engagement with Jamaica, India aims to counterbalance China’s economic sway, establishing an Indo-Caribbean dynamic anchored in mutual respect and non-hegemonic partnership.
Moreover, while small in land area, the Caribbean region wields outsized influence in international forums, especially the United Nations. Jamaica, a key member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), has championed equitable global policies, particularly around climate resilience—a field in which India is increasingly prominent.
India’s International Solar Alliance (ISA) initiative, for instance, could find a valuable partner in Jamaica, which faces direct climate challenges such as hurricanes and rising sea levels. PM Holness also expressed Jamaica’s intent to join the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA). Jamaica’s support for India’s climate initiatives would in turn bolster India’s position in multilateral environmental discussions, reinforcing India’s role as a global green leader.
Lastly, the two nations share a vibrant enthusiasm for cricket—a soft power tool in its own right. Cultural diplomacy can be a potent bridge, and cricket serves as a unifying platform that fosters closer people-to-people ties.
During PM Holness’s visit, several MoUs were signed, spanning fields such as cooperation in digital public infrastructure for financial inclusion, sports, and more. Thus, this invitation to PM Holness transcends formality; it is a strategic embrace of shared values, a counterbalance to regional geopolitical forces, and a nurturing of potential allies in the Global South, reflective of India’s inclusive and holistic vision for its foreign policy.
