Caribbean diplomats hold dialogue on digital diplomacy in New York

NEW YORK

At the Jamaican Consulate in Manhattan, Caribbean diplomats gathered to deliberate on the urgent realities of diplomacy in the age of algorithms, AI, and digital disruption.

The inaugural ARIN Diplomatic Forum brought together consular leaders from across the CARICOM Consular Corps for an interactive exchange on the future of diplomacy in the digital era. The Forum was organised by the Government Affairs Department of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) in collaboration with the CARICOM Consular Corps, with support from the Consulates of Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. The event drew participation from a cross-section of Caribbean diplomatic missions based in New York City.

DIGITAL SHIFT IN DIPLOMACY

Held under the theme ‘Evolving Diplomacy in the Digital Age’, the Forum tackled how emerging technologies—from generative AI to social media algorithms—are reshaping public diplomacy and national representation. Feature speaker, Bevil Wooding, director of Caribbean Affairs at ARIN, shared insights into how governments, especially small island states, must adapt to keep pace with an Internet-driven, data-centric world.

“Diplomacy now extends beyond traditional government-to-government channels,” said Wooding. “It must navigate platforms, algorithms, and data flows that transcend borders.”

In his address, Wooding challenged diplomats to reconsider their role in an increasingly techno-polar world, calling for strategic investment in digital literacy, capacity building for foreign service officers, and greater cross-border collaboration.

EXPERT INSIGHTS

The forum also featured expert contributions from Leslie Nobile, ARIN’s Senior Director of Trust and Public Safety, and two senior officials from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) — Alexey Trepykhalin and Veni Markovski.

“Diplomatic communities must understand how evolving threats to digital infrastructure can compromise national interests,” said Nobile. “Capacity building in Internet governance must be a priority — especially for small states.”

The presentations reinforced the importance of having Caribbean voices and perspectives represented in global Internet governance discussions. These global themes found powerful resonance in the voices of regional leaders.

Alsion Wilson, consul general of Jamaica, emphasised digital competence in foreign service: “Digital literacy is now essential to effective representation, both in the advancement of foreign policy and in delivering responsive, modern consular services.”

Andre Laveau, consul general of Trinidad and Tobago, highlighted the importance of digital training: “In a world shaped by geopolitical shifts and fast-moving technological innovations, our diplomats must be prepared to lead, adapt, and advocate with confidence.”

Jeremiah Hyacinth, consul general of Saint Lucia, underscored the regional impact: “Sessions like these are vital for helping our foreign service professionals navigate and lead through the complexity of the digital age.”

OPEN DIALOGUE

The ARIN Diplomatic Forum is part of a broader initiative to support Caribbean missions in building capacity and strengthening engagement on digital policy, cyber diplomacy, and data governance. The gathering offered a space for open, practical dialogue. Participants shared how they’re navigating the rapid evolution of digital tools and expectations in their daily work. Many reflected on the resonance of the keynote presentation.

“The feature address brought clarity to the urgency of rethinking how we engage as nations and as a region,” said one diplomat.

“The concept of ‘platform diplomacy’ and the influence of non-state digital actors struck a chord,” another attendee added. “We must now factor in tech giants and algorithms when considering national interest and global representation.”

The next ARIN Diplomatic Forum is scheduled for November in Washington DC, alongside plans for a complementary virtual session to expand access to critical discussions on cybersecurity, AI governance, and digital policy coordination.

“This was more than a symposium; it was a platform for shaping the future of Caribbean diplomacy in a digital world,” said Laveau. “We are deeply appreciative of the work being done by ARIN and look forward to building on this momentum.”