– Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), today expressed serious concerns regarding the election of Suriname's Foreign Minister, Albert Ramdin, as the new Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS).
“Suriname Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin’s record regarding democratic governance, as well as his close ties to foreign actors, particularly the People’s Republic of China dictatorship, raise concern about his dedication to OAS’s core principles of democracy, human rights, and regional security” said Smith, who co-chaired the CECC alongside now-Secretary of State Rubio for several years.
“Regrettably, Ramdin has been a key figure in fostering closer economic and diplomatic ties between Suriname and Communist China--a relationship that raises concerns about increasing Chinese influence in the Caribbean and Latin America. During his tenure as Foreign Minister, he sought out Chinese investments and infrastructure projects, which has led to Suriname’s growing economic dependence on Beijing. Given China’s track record of leveraging debt diplomacy to expand its influence, there is great concern that Ramdin’s leadership at the OAS could bring about a shift in priorities that align more closely with Beijing’s strategic interests rather than the democratic values the OAS is meant to uphold.”
In addition to concerns about foreign influence, Congressman Smith raised questions about Ramdin’s potential neutrality on key regional issues, including human rights violations in countries like Venezuela. “I am concerned that the OAS, under his leadership, will prioritize diplomatic appeasement over the firm advocacy for democratic governance,” Smith said.
“The OAS plays a pivotal role in promoting democratic values and protecting human rights across the Americas,” Smith continued. “The Secretary General must be someone who unequivocally upholds these principles and resists undue foreign influence that could undermine the sovereignty of nations in the region.
”Ramdin’s election as Secretary General of the OAS has the potential to be a proud and positive milestone for Caribbean representation, so long as he works with OAS member states and stakeholders to remain vigilant in fulfilling the organization’s noble missions of transparency, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights for all peoples in the hemisphere,” Smith said. “Freedom, peace and security in the region depend upon it.”
###
