Foreign ministers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have written to the United States government seeking assurances that its recent military build-up in the southern Caribbean will not destabilize the region or occur without prior consultation.
The move follows Washington’s decision last week to deploy an amphibious squadron, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, several destroyers, a guided-missile cruiser, and additional P8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft to U.S. Southern Command. The operation, authorized under former President Donald Trump’s administration, was announced as part of an effort to combat drug cartels in Latin America.
Venezuela has condemned the U.S. deployment, calling it a direct threat, and in response has mobilized troops along its borders.
While the CARICOM Secretariat has not issued a formal statement, Barbados’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Kerrie Symmonds confirmed that regional ministers met to discuss the situation. He said the meeting resulted in a decision to send a letter, drafted by St. Kitts and Nevis’ former prime minister Dr. Denzil Douglas, who currently chairs the Conference of Foreign Ministers, to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Symmonds explained that the letter seeks to ensure that Caribbean governments are informed in advance of any actions with potential regional impact. “What we are trying to do is work through diplomatic channels to make sure there are no surprises,” he said, adding that the aim is to strengthen dialogue and avoid misunderstandings.
The Barbados foreign minister outlined two primary concerns regarding the U.S. military presence: the risk of undermining the Caribbean’s long-held designation as a “zone of peace” and the implications for regional security. However, he acknowledged that the U.S. focus on narcotics and firearms trafficking aligns with regional priorities.
“To the extent that their efforts help to interdict illegal drugs and guns, we support that, because these problems affect Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and the wider region,” Symmonds said. He noted that CARICOM leaders have already declared gun violence a public health issue and continue to address it through regional collaboration with judiciaries and law enforcement.
Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar openly welcomed recent U.S. military action against a vessel allegedly linked to Venezuela-based drug traffickers. Speaking on Tuesday, she said: “Illegally trafficked drugs and arms have caused death and destruction in our society. I have no sympathy for traffickers, and I, along with most of the country, am happy that the U.S. naval deployment is having success in their mission.”
U.S. officials described the strike as a “lethal operation” targeting a vessel operated by a designated narco-terrorist organization.
Despite varying views across the region, CARICOM foreign ministers appear united in their call for transparency and consultation to ensure that U.S. military operations in the Caribbean do not compromise regional peace and security.
