Canada-Suriname relations
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Bilateral relations
Canada and Suriname have enjoyed diplomatic relations since Suriname gained independence from the Netherlands in 1975. Canada’s longstanding development programming supports Suriname’s efforts to achieve its development goals.
Canada is represented in Suriname by the High Commission of Canada to Guyana, in Georgetown and has an Honorary Consul in Paramaribo. Suriname is represented by a non-resident Ambassador, based in Washington, D.C.
Trade relations
In 2025, Suriname was Canada’s sixth largest merchandise trading partner within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In 2025, bilateral merchandise trade with Suriname totaled $85.6 million, with exports valued at $32.4 million and imports at $51.1 million. Please see Canada’s international trade and investment country fact sheet for Suriname for additional details.
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Development
Canada’s international assistance supports Suriname’s efforts to foster resilient economies, climate, and regional security and stability. Canada works with local, regional and international partners to help communities strengthen resilience to climate change and natural disasters, promote sustainable economic growth, improve food security, advance gender equality and social inclusion, and strengthen institutions that contribute to safety, stability and prosperity. These efforts help Suriname address development challenges while creating opportunities for a more resilient and sustainable future.
Canada supports Suriname’s efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness, response and recovery through organizations such as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and Caribbean Development Bank. In September 2025, Canada renewed a Memorandum of Understanding with CDEMA to improve tactical mobility coordination for enhanced disaster response. Canada continues to advocate for small island and low-lying states in the Caribbean, who are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change like rising sea levels and extreme weather events.
A principle means of support to the Caribbean is technical assistance and training to increase the capacity of governments and organizations. For instance, the Canada-CARICOM Expert Deployment Mechanism provides technical assistance to CARICOM governments, including Suriname, to help diversify and strengthen the economy, build climate resilient communities, and reduce gender and economic inequalities.
Information on Canadian development initiatives is available on Project Browser.
Suriname benefits from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.
Security
Canada and Suriname work together to enhance security in the Caribbean region. We collaborate through Canada’s Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP): Canada’s current commitment to Suriname is $1.8M (2026) through regional programming to strengthen law enforcement, judicial, and operational responses to organized crime. In September 2025, Canada announced a $20 million investment to strengthen maritime security in the Caribbean. This funding supports regional and international partners, including CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), INTERPOL, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and the Regional Security System (RSS), to strengthen regional cooperation and information sharing, enhance maritime domain awareness, improve operational readiness and investigative capacity, and assist in legislative and judicial updates and reforms.
Furthermore, since 2009 the Program has supported Op ACKEE with the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command to mentor, enable, and create opportunities for the Jamaica Defence Force to grow as a Special Operations Forces leader and more effectively combat trans-regional threats in the Caribbean Basin. Other regional partners include Belize, the Bahamas, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Suriname.
The Canadian Armed Forces and the Suriname National Army both participate in a multinational maritime interdiction, ground security and interagency exercise called Exercise TRADEWINDS.
Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Suriname work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
- Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
- Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- International Criminal Court (ICC)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- Organization of American States (OAS)
- Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
- United Nations (UN)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- World Bank (WB)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
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