Russian MFA 🇷🇺

🇬🇩 On February 7, #Grenada is celebrating its #IndependenceDay. Originally inhabited by Carib Indians, the island was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498. Until 1651, the indigenous people rebuffed the attacks by European colonisers, and even after the island had been taken over by the French, their spirit of independence endured. Proud and freedom-loving, the Caribs refused to submit, and entire tribes, including women and children, threw themselves from cliffs, choosing death over subjugation. The island later came under British rule, with Great Britain bringing in slaves from Africa in an attempt to quell the native people’s resistance. The Grenadian people’s long and arduous path to liberation from British colonial rule culminated in April 1974, when the country joined the Caribbean Community (#CARICOM) and was admitted to the UN in September. Once on the path of independence and socioeconomic progress, Grenada took in stride the challenges it faced, including the US military intervention in 1983, when the United States, in its customary heavy-handed manner, interfered in the internal affairs of the sovereign Grenadian state, seeking to impose a forced change of political leadership and effectively occupy the country. Despite ongoing external pressure, Grenada continues to pursue a sovereign foreign policy acting as a respected and independent member of CARICOM and consistently advocating for the Caribbean to remain a zone of peace. The country is also deepening mutually beneficial cooperation with regional countries, as well as with its numerous partners in Asia and Africa as part of South-South cooperation. 🤝 Diplomatic relations between our countries were established in 1979. They were severed following the US intervention and occupation of Grenada in 1983, but restored in 2002. Today, Russia’s interests in Grenada are represented on a non-resident basis by the Russian Embassy in Guyana. Grenada remains a reliable partner of the Russian Federation in the Caribbean region. 📆 September 24, 2025 marked an important milestone in Russia-Grenada relations. On the margins of the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Grenadian counterpart Joseph Andall signed the Agreement on the Basic Principles of Relations between our countries, opening the way to expanded bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest. 🎉 We wish a happy national holiday to our Grenadian colleagues and the people of Grenada. We wish them peace, prosperity and continued success. #RussiaGrenada#RussiaLatinAmerica

🇱🇰On February 4, Sri Lanka celebrates Independence Day - a defining moment in the country’s history. On this day back in 1948, Ceylon (officially renamed Sri Lanka in 1972) gained independence from the British rule, ending nearly 450 years of European colonial domination by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British. Independence was achieved through constitutional means, making Sri Lanka one of the first countries in South Asia to peacefully secure sovereignty through negotiation. 📝 Colonial policies, including the British “divide and rule” approach and the plantation-based economic model, significantly reshaped the island’s social structure and economy, with long-term consequences for interethnic relations and development. The independence movement was driven by political leaders, youth organizations, trade unions, and the Buddhist revival movement, which played a key role in preserving national identity, language, and cultural traditions. Sri Lanka, being one of the founding members of Non-Aligned Movement, has been steadily following a non-aligned foreign policy and remains an active participant in international and regional organizations. 🤝Diplomatic relations between our country and Sri Lanka were established on February 19, 1957. Over the decades, bilateral cooperation has expanded in areas such as education, culture, humanitarian exchanges, and people-to-people contacts, developing in a spirit of friendship, trust, and mutual respect. 💬Levan Dzhagaryan, Ambassador of Russia to Sri Lanka: I warmly congratulate the people of Sri Lanka on their national holiday and wish the country peace, stability, prosperity, and continued development. #SriLanka#IndependenceDay