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Madrid, Spain, November 2026 — The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) is participating in the 30th Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government with its new status as a Consultative Observer of the Ibero-American Conference, opening up opportunities to strengthen institutional partnerships and advance joint projects that contribute to sustainable development and the well-being of the peoples of the Greater Caribbean.

During her address at the Dialogue with Associate and Consultative Observers, the Secretary-General of the ACS, H.E. Noemí Espinoza, highlighted that this new status represents an opportunity to expand cooperation between Ibero-America and the Greater Caribbean as a whole, bringing together capacities and promoting initiatives that address shared challenges.

“Our inclusion opens up opportunities to pool capacities, forge new partnerships and develop projects in which countries and territories of different sizes can participate in decision-making and contribute their own solutions,” she stated.

The Greater Caribbean Is Also Part of Ibero-America

The Secretary-General highlighted the common ground between the ACS and the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), two mechanisms with distinct identities and mandates that share a commitment to dialogue, cooperation and concerted action.

In this context, she emphasised the strategic value of the ACS as an intergovernmental mechanism bringing together 25 Member States and 10 Associate Members, both insular and continental, whose diversity makes it possible to connect countries and territories that do not always participate in the same cooperation frameworks.

She also underscored the deep historical and cultural ties that unite the two regions and the importance of drawing on this diversity to build a more inclusive community, in line with the objectives of the 30th Ibero-American Summit.

“Ibero-America shares part of its history, identity and cultural wealth with the Greater Caribbean,” the Secretary-General stated, reaffirming that “the Greater Caribbean is also part of Ibero-America.”

A Joint Agenda to Advance Cooperation Projects

As a proposal to translate this institutional rapprochement into concrete initiatives, H.E. Noemí Espinoza proposed establishing a joint work agenda between the ACS and SEGIB, beginning with projects focused on multi-destination tourism and coastal resilience.

Regarding tourism, she proposed linking Ibero-America's cultural heritage with the diversity of the Greater Caribbean to expand tourism circuits and create opportunities for local communities. On coastal resilience, she highlighted the importance of promoting a regional response to sargassum that brings together research, local knowledge, innovation and financing to protect coastal ecosystems and the economic activities that depend on them.

These proposals align with the ACS's strategic priorities of promoting sustainable tourism, protecting the Caribbean Sea and strengthening coastal resilience.