This article covers the political relationship between India and Jamaica: the establishment of diplomatic relations, high-level visits and meetings, the dialogue mechanism between the two foreign ministries, the agreements and MoUs signed, and cooperation in multilateral bodies. It draws on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief on India-Jamaica relations dated June 2026.

Overview

According to the MEA brief of June 2026, India and Jamaica have traditionally enjoyed cordial and friendly relations based on common linkages of history, parliamentary democracy, membership of the Commonwealth and love of cricket. Both countries are members of multilateral and international organisations such as NAM, G-77, WIPO and the UN and its subsidiary bodies.

The brief states that, as developing nations of the Global South, the two countries share similar concerns and aspirations, and it identifies convergence of views and consistent cooperation in multilateral fora as major factors that reinforce the relationship.

Establishment of diplomatic relations

The brief records that India was one of the first countries to recognise Jamaica after it became an independent nation. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 12 August 1962.

High-level visits

Other visits from India to Jamaica listed in the brief include:

  • Prime Minister Indira Gandhi (1975)
  • Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (February 1999), to attend the Ninth G-15 Summit in Montego Bay
  • MOS for External Affairs Digvijay Singh (February 2003)
  • MOS for External Affairs Anand Sharma (February 2007)
  • Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi (June 2013), to participate in the 5th Biennial Diaspora held in Montego Bay

Visits from Jamaica to India listed in the brief also include:

  • Prime Minister Mr. Edward Seaga (March 1983), to attend the 7th NAM Conference
  • Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Mr. Wykeham McNeille (January 2007), to attend the centenary celebrations of Satyagraha
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith (October 2017)

Former MOS Gen (rtd) V.K. Singh paid two official visits to Jamaica, in 2015 and 2017. During these he met his counterpart and called on the Jamaican Prime Minister.

First visit by a President of India, 2022

President Shri Ram Nath Kovind visited Jamaica from 15 to 18 May 2022, the first ever visit by a President of India to Jamaica. The brief notes that the visit coincided with 60 years of diplomatic relations, and that 2022 was the year in which India and Jamaica marked the 75th and 60th years of their respective independence.

During the visit, the President addressed a joint sitting of the Parliament of Jamaica, and an MoU on cooperation between SSIFS and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica was signed. He inaugurated Dr. BR Ambedkar Avenue in downtown Kingston, named after the architect of India's constitution, and the India Jamaica Friendship Garden at the Hope Garden.

First Prime Ministerial visit from Jamaica, 2024

Prime Minister Dr. The Most Honourable Andrew Holness made the first ever official bilateral visit to India by a Prime Minister of Jamaica, from 30 September to 3 October 2024. He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith and Digital Minister Dana Morris Dixon.

Four MoUs were signed, covering Cultural exchange, Digital Transformation, NCPI-Egov on Digital Payment Systems and Sports. Prime Minister Holness also visited Varanasi.

External Affairs Minister's visit, 2026

Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Jamaica from 2 to 4 May 2026, which the brief describes as the first-ever bilateral visit by a Minister of External Affairs. He called on Prime Minister Andrew Holness and took part in a multi-Ministerial level meeting led by Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

Three MoUs were signed during the visit, on health cooperation, solarisation of the Hugh Lawson Shearer Building and broadcasting. He also took part in a public conversation at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.

Meetings between leaders

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Andrew Holness have met many times on the sidelines of multilateral fora. They had brief meetings on the margins of CHOGM in London in April 2018, the BRICS Summit in South Africa in July 2018 and the G-20 Summit in Argentina on 2 December 2018. They also met on the margins of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg on 23 November 2025.

On 4 July 2019, Prime Minister Holness telephoned Prime Minister Modi to congratulate him on his victory in the general elections. In September 2019, he took part in the first-ever meeting of Prime Minister Modi with CARICOM leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

In November 2023, Prime Minister Holness participated by video-conference in the Concluding Leader's Session of the Second Voice of the Global South Summit.

Ministerial interactions

Senator Kamina Johnson Smith visited India from 9 to 12 October 2017, the first ever official visit by a Jamaican Foreign Minister to India. She held discussions with former External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj on trade and investment, health and health tourism, capacity building, agriculture, culture and tourism.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar spoke to Minister Kamina Johnson Smith on 29 April 2020 and 8 March 2021 in the context of COVID19 and Vaccine Maitri. The two met during CHOGM in Kigali in June 2022, and again on 21 April 2023 on the sidelines of COFCOR in Georgetown. In April 2023, the External Affairs Minister co-chaired the 4th India-CARICOM Ministerial Meeting with her.

Senator Johnson also participated in the virtual Voice of Global South Conference hosted by the External Affairs Minister in January 2023. In August 2024, Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith and Minister of Education Faval Williams participated in the Virtual Summit of Voice of Global South 3.0.

Foreign Office Consultations

India and Jamaica have a mechanism of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC). As of the brief, five rounds have been held: three in Kingston (2001, 2005 and 2011) and two in New Delhi (2007 and October 2017). The fifth and latest round, in October 2017, reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations.

Agreements and MoUs

The brief lists the following agreements between India and Jamaica:

  • Cultural Agreement, 1996, extended by subsequent renewals, the last one in 2024
  • MoU for Cooperation in the field of Food Research and Technology between Scientific Research Council of Jamaica and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), 2010
  • Agreement on the establishment of a Chair on Indology/Gandhian Studies between the University of West Indies (UWI) and the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), 2012, renewed in 2017, 2019 and 2022
  • Agreement for Cooperation in the field of Civil Aviation, 2016
  • MoU between ANI and Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica for the mutual sharing of content, 2021
  • MoU on cooperation between Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), MEA and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, 16 May 2022
  • MoU on Cultural Exchange Programme 2024-29 (2024)
  • MoU on Sports Cooperation (2024)
  • MoU on Digital Payment Systems (2024)
  • MoU on Digital Public Infrastructure (2024)
  • MoU on Health Cooperation (2026)
  • MoU on Solarisation of Hugh Lawson Shearer Building (2026)
  • MoU on Public Broadcasting between Prasar Bharati and Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (2026)

Cooperation in multilateral bodies

The brief says the two countries hold common positions on South-South Cooperation and share an interest in shaping multilateral institutions, especially on energy and food security, climate change and international terrorism.

Jamaica has consistently supported Indian candidatures in elections to UN bodies and other international organisations. It supported India's candidature for a UNSC non-permanent seat for 2021-22 and has pledged support to India's candidature for 2028-29.

On Security Council reform, the brief states that Jamaica supports India's position on the reform and expansion of the UN Security Council. Jamaica is a member of the L.69 Group, a cross-regional grouping of approximately 40-45 developing countries from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. It supports expansion of the permanent category subject to countries getting a 2/3rd majority in the UNGA, a 2-year term for the non-permanent category, one rotating seat for SIDS across regions and the grant of veto to new permanent members.

Jamaica has shared its concern at continued terrorist activities in parts of India, advocates a proper international mechanism to address terrorism and supports India's draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.