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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said cricket gives a “special dimension” to India’s ties with Trinidad and Tobago, arsenic helium highlighted the heavy taste and humanities bonds shared by the 2 countries during a flag-raising ceremonial successful Port of Spain.
Mr. Jaishankar arrived successful Port of Spain from Paramaribo connected Friday (May 8, 2026) connected the concluding limb of his three-nation circuit of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed astatine further strengthening India's strategical and taste ties with the Caribbean nations.
“India has traditionally had precise lukewarm and affable relations with Trinidad and Tobago, and these ties person been underpinned by shared history, our conflict against colonialism and by our precise peculiar bonds of cricket,” the Minister said successful his remarks astatine the ceremonial held astatine the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM (Caribbean Community and Common Market) Affairs connected Friday (May 8, 2026).
“But if determination is simply a peculiar magnitude to our ties, it is of people cricket,” helium said, adding that Indians person agelong been admirers of West Indian cricketers.
Trinidad and Tobago is 1 of the accepted powerhouses of Caribbean cricket and location to respective legendary West Indies cricketers, including Brian Lara and Ian Bishop.
Mr. Jaishankar besides praised batting fable Lara, who attended the flag-raising ceremony.
“It’s nary concealed that we Indians person agelong been large fans of West Indian cricketers. I’m definite Mr Lara would attest to it,” helium said.
Referring to modern players from Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Jaishankar said cricketers specified arsenic Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard and Nicholas Pooran proceed to bask immense popularity successful India.
The Minister besides underlined the taste similarities betwixt the 2 countries, saying radical successful India and Trinidad and Tobago stock commonalities successful food, sports, covering and traditions.
He noted that festivals specified arsenic Diwali, Phagwa (Indo-Caribbean sanction for Holi) and Eid are celebrated enthusiastically successful Trinidad and Tobago, portion Indian music, dance, tv serials and films stay fashionable successful the country.
Earlier, Mr. Jaishankar met Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and discussed bilateral practice and determination issues.
He besides joined the Prime Minister astatine an lawsuit for the presumption of Made-in-India laptops to schoolhouse children of Trinidad and Tobago.
In a societal media post, Mr. Jaishankar said the inaugural fulfilled a committedness made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi past year.
"This is simply a connection of learning, consciousness and opportunity," helium said.
Mr. Jaishankar was welcomed connected his accomplishment by Foreign Minister Sean Sobers.
The External Affairs Minister besides visited the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. He described it arsenic a privilege to beryllium welcomed successful Parliament and thanked Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar for her gracious words.
He besides called connected the President of the Senate, Wade Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives Jagdeo Singh.
In different post, Mr. Jaishankar said agreements were concluded connected tourism, solarisation of the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs building, Quick Impact Projects and the constitution of an Ayurveda Chair.
He besides posted photographs of his enactment with Lara, describing the gathering arsenic being with the “one and only” cricket legend.
