CARICOM foreign ministers are awaiting a response from the United States after formally requesting a meeting with the Trump administration to discuss Washington’s growing military presence in the region. The request comes as U.S.-Venezuela tensions continue to escalate and regional leaders express concern about the implications for Caribbean stability.
The U.S. has increased operations in the region as part of an international coalition, which includes Trinidad and Tobago, to combat narcotics trafficking. Last week, American missiles destroyed a vessel allegedly carrying drugs linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua criminal network, killing 11 people. Days later, Venezuelan aircraft flew over U.S. warships on consecutive days, prompting Washington to deploy ten stealth fighter jets to the Caribbean. President Donald Trump warned that Venezuelan planes risk being shot down if the flyovers continue, bluntly telling reporters when asked about possible military action against Venezuela, “Well, you’re gonna find out.”
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Venezuelan officials dismissed Trump’s remarks as propaganda, insisting the U.S. would not engage in direct military confrontation. However, the developments have heightened concerns across the Caribbean. Last week, CARICOM ministers, led by Dr. Denzil Douglas of St. Kitts, signed a letter requesting dialogue with the U.S. on its regional strategy. The correspondence emphasized the importance of consultation, particularly in light of Trinidad and Tobago’s strong stance on the issue.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has openly questioned the extent of the U.S. presence, drawing criticism from Jamaica’s Gleaner newspaper, which accused her of being too combative. Yet her government has underscored its determination to combat the hemispheric drug trade and associated violence.
While Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana have signaled support for U.S. efforts, Belize’s Foreign Minister Francis Fonseca stressed that CARICOM remains committed to preserving the Caribbean as a “zone of peace.” Fonseca noted that much of the concern may stem from inadequate communication, and he welcomed continued engagement with Washington to ensure transparency.
Regional leaders have not yet issued a collective CARICOM statement on the matter. Several were attending the Africa-Caricom Summit in Ethiopia this week. Persad-Bissessar has not confirmed whether she will raise the issue at the United Nations General Assembly later this month in New York, where the theme will be “Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.”
The U.S.-Venezuela standoff, which has dominated international headlines, is also expected to be a major topic of discussion at the upcoming Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference in The Bahamas. Trinidad and Tobago had planned to send a delegation but government sources indicated that funding was not approved.
