Barbados President Jeffrey Bostic awarded Inter-American Defence Grand Medal
Key Points(5)
- President of Barbados, His Excellency The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, has been awarded the Inter-American Defence Grand Medal by the Inter-American Defence College (IADC), recognizing his contributions to hemispheric security cooperation and defence leadership across the region.
- The medal was presented during a recent ceremony held at the Organisation of American States (OAS) headquarters in Washington, D.C.
- Officials said Bostic was honoured for his longstanding engagement with the college, including his time as a student and defence attaché, as well as his broader role in strengthening regional partnerships in security and defence cooperation.
- During the ceremony, the Barbados leader reflected on the influence of the Inter-American Defence College on his professional development and leadership trajectory, describing it as a key institution in shaping regional security thinking.
- The award also highlighted his continued involvement with hemispheric institutions and his advocacy for collaborative approaches to security challenges across the Americas.
President of Barbados, His Excellency The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, has been awarded the Inter-American Defence Grand Medal by the Inter-American Defence College (IADC), recognizing his contributions to hemispheric security cooperation and defence leadership across the region.
The medal was presented during a recent ceremony held at the Organisation of American States (OAS) headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Officials said Bostic was honoured for his longstanding engagement with the college, including his time as a student and defence attaché, as well as his broader role in strengthening regional partnerships in security and defence cooperation.
During the ceremony, the Barbados leader reflected on the influence of the Inter-American Defence College on his professional development and leadership trajectory, describing it as a key institution in shaping regional security thinking.
The award also highlighted his continued involvement with hemispheric institutions and his advocacy for collaborative approaches to security challenges across the Americas.
In remarks shared on his official Instagram account, President Bostic said the recognition carried deep personal and national significance.
“I was deeply honoured to receive the Inter-American Defense Grand Medal from the Inter-American Defense College (IADC) during a recent visit to the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C.,” he wrote.
He noted his long-standing relationship with the institution, including his experience as a student and defence attaché, and praised the college’s role in developing leaders across the hemisphere.
“One of the College’s greatest strengths is its ability to help leaders see the connections between these challenges. Security, after all, is about far more than the absence of conflict. Security is the presence of justice, of opportunity, of resilience,” he said.
Bostic added that for small states such as Barbados, institutions like the IADC play an important role in fostering cooperation, knowledge-sharing and regional influence in global security discussions.
He said the honour represents not only a personal achievement but also recognition of Barbados’ broader commitment to peace, stability and collaboration in the hemisphere.
The president also expressed appreciation for the opportunity to address the graduation ceremony for the college’s 65th cohort, where he reiterated the importance of international cooperation in addressing evolving security challenges.
