WASHINGTON, CMC—The United States is being urged to send a high-level delegation to the Caribbean Community (CRICOM) leaders summit, which will be held in Barbados later this week.
Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Joaquin Castro, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Yvette Clarke, and Stacey Plaskett have sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the State Department to send the delegation to the February 19-21 summit.
In their February 15 letter, the US lawmakers said that the summit, which will be held under the theme “Strength in Unity: Forging Caribbean Resilience, Inclusive Growth, and Sustainable Development,” will provide the United States with the “opportunity to deepen its commitment to our mutually beneficial diplomatic, energy, economic, and security ties with partners in the Caribbean region.”
“The Caribbean is not just our neighbor but a key pillar of US national security. As the third border of the United States, the Caribbean is indispensable in addressing regional challenges, from countering illicit drug trafficking to curbing irregular migration and human smuggling.”
They said the Caribbean is essential to US trade and energy security, serving as a crucial hub for shipping lanes and a strategic partner in diversifying energy sources.
“It is a region where the United States remains the number one trading partner and welcomes millions of US citizens annually, while a vibrant Caribbean diaspora here in the United States solidifies our economic and cultural bridges. ”
The Lawmakers said that “bolstering cooperation with, and the capacity of, our Caribbean partners through high-level engagement serves as a force multiplier for the region’s litany of US national security and economic priorities.
“Moreover, as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) expands its influence in the Caribbean and Western Hemisphere through investments in energy and port infrastructure, sustained high-level.”
They said US engagement is necessary to keep PRC coercion at bay, noting that continued US support for economic development, natural disaster resilience, and democratic governance is crucial to providing an alternative to China’s pernicious model in the CARICOM area during a year with six national elections–including in two Taiwan-allied states—in the region.
They said engaging with CARICOM also supports the vital regional cooperation Washington has indicated is necessary to address the crisis in Haiti.
“As you know, CARICOM played an instrumental and indispensable role in facilitating a Transitional Presidential Council to lay the groundwork for a Haitian-led process for political and economic stability in Haiti.
“The Regular Meeting in Barbados will allow the United States to rally support for the Multinational Security Support Mission, bolster regional buy-in for a Haitian-led political process, and help address the hemispheric consequences arising from Haiti’s devastating security, economic, and humanitarian crises.”
The US lawmakers said that in the spirit of Rubo’s comments championing “a strategy that pays “closer attention to our neighborhood—the Western Hemisphere,” we respectfully urge you to take advantage of the opportunity the February CARICOM Regular Meeting provides as a unique forum that brings together all of the Caribbean region’s leaders.
“Continuing to send a robust and high-level US delegation to the CARICOM meeting—as the prior Administration did—would reaffirm our partnership and demonstrate that we stand with our Caribbean allies in promoting regional security, economic resilience, and democratic governance,” they wrote, urging Rubo to ensure that “we must show up for the Caribbean—this is in our national interest.”
Last week, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, urged regional leaders to cooperate in responding to new US policies.
Writing in his weekly column, Sir Ronald said two Executive Orders issued by President Donald Trump have sparked concern across the Caribbean, as they have in Central America and beyond.
One mandates the removal of illegal migrants from the US, while the other shutters the US Agency for International Development (USAID). This institution has long been a symbol of American foreign assistance.
Sir Ronald said that apart from immigration and USAID closure, it should be noted that in 2023, the US benefited from a trade surplus of US$7.45 billion with CARICOM countries.
“This indicates that CARICOM nations effectively financed the US$456.2 million they received in US aid through their substantial purchases of US goods, accounting for over 60 percent of their imports.
“The trade and aid figures underscore that CARICOM counties have room for negotiating a continuing mutually beneficial relationship between the US and CARICOM countries, provided they act together,” he wrote.
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