Saint Martin’s Relationship with Other Nations
Because Saint Martin is not an independent country, its international relationships are managed through France (for the northern French side) and through the Kingdom of the Netherlands (for the southern Dutch side). Here’s how both sides relate to the world:
French Saint-Martin (North)
Status: Overseas collectivity of France
International Relations
- France handles diplomacy for Saint-Martin through its embassies and consulates around the world.
- Saint-Martin benefits from France’s membership in:
- European Union (EU) – special status: Outermost Region (OMR)
- United Nations (UN) – via France
- OECD, NATO, WTO – via France
Regional Cooperation
- Association of Caribbean States (ACS) – Observer via France
- CARICOM – Not a member, but works with CARICOM states on issues like disaster relief, tourism, and trade
Bilateral Relations
- Strong ties with neighboring islands:
- Sint Maarten (Dutch South Side) – shares the island; has daily cross-border cooperation
- Guadeloupe & Martinique – French territories, frequent economic and transport exchange
- U.S. & Canada – strong tourism ties; many visitors and some aid during natural disasters
- Netherlands – collaborates on shared island issues
Dutch Sint Maarten (South)
Status: Constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
International Relations
- Sint Maarten conducts limited foreign affairs, but the Netherlands handles defense and diplomacy.
- Has the right to sign some treaties related to trade, culture, and health.
- Special partnership with the European Union (but not an EU member)
- Member of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as an Associate Member
Cooperation
- Close cooperation with the French side (Saint-Martin) on:
- Security
- Border control
- Public health
- Disaster response
- Tourism relations with the U.S., Canada, and Latin America
- Kingdom-wide coordination (with Aruba, Curaçao, and the Netherlands) on constitutional, economic, and educational issues
Key Joint Initiatives on the Island
- Hurricane preparedness and disaster recovery (especially post-Hurricane Irma in 2017)
- Cross-border policing and immigration management
- Tourism marketing as one shared destination (though with two currencies: Euro and Netherlands Antillean Guilder)
