CARICOM foreign ministers are preparing to write U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, seeking assurances that the United States will provide advance notice of military operations that could affect the region, following growing unease over Washington’s escalating presence in Caribbean waters.
The move comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that American forces carried out a deadly strike on a Venezuelan vessel allegedly transporting drugs on September 2. The attack, which left 11 people dead, was the first publicly confirmed military action since the recent deployment of a U.S. naval armada to the Southern Caribbean.
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The U.S. buildup includes guided missile cruisers, the nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine USS Newport Newsequipped with Tomahawk missiles, and amphibious assault ships such as the USS San Antonio, USS Fort Lauderdale, and USS Iwo Jima. Together, the vessels carry approximately 4,500 personnel, including half from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, an elite rapid-response force of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Barbados Foreign Minister Kerrie Symmonds confirmed in an interview with Barbados Today that a draft letter, prepared by COFCOR chair Dr. Denzil Douglas of St. Kitts and Nevis, had been agreed upon during last week’s meeting of CARICOM foreign ministers. The letter, he said, urges closer dialogue and structured communication with Washington.
“What we are trying to do,” Symmonds explained, “is to work through diplomatic channels to ensure there are no surprises. Where feasible, we want prior notification of actions that could have a foreseeable regional impact, and regular opportunities to review the nature of our dialogue with the United States.”
Symmonds acknowledged that some operations may be classified, but stressed that stronger consultation would help prevent misunderstandings and build trust. He confirmed that CARICOM had already reached out to Secretary Rubio requesting an “open line of communication” to discuss the presence of U.S. military assets in the region.
The U.S. has justified its deployment by citing concerns over narcotics and arms trafficking. Symmonds noted that Caribbean states broadly support efforts to interdict drugs and illegal firearms, which continue to fuel crime and violence across the region. He pointed to Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago as countries grappling with gun-related crime at near crisis levels.
At the same time, Symmonds warned that the U.S. naval buildup has triggered unease among CARICOM governments, given the Caribbean’s longstanding commitment to maintaining the region as a “zone of peace.” He said the situation is further complicated by Washington’s indictment of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the $50 million bounty on his arrest, raising fears of deeper geopolitical confrontation.
Tensions escalated further after Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar welcomed the U.S. strike, saying the U.S. should “kill all” drug traffickers. Critics, including Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles and regional experts, have blasted her remarks as reckless and inconsistent with CARICOM’s commitment to diplomacy and rule of law.
Symmonds hinted that Persad-Bissessar’s blunt endorsement has only amplified regional concerns. “The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago has indicated very openly that the only people who should be worried about U.S. military activities are those engaged in enabling criminal activity,” he said. “Perhaps, the way she put it is what is at the root of this problem.”
While there is consensus among Caribbean governments on the need to confront drug and arms trafficking, Symmonds underscored that it must be done without undermining regional security or sovereignty. “We all want to see those scourges addressed,” he said, “but it must be within a framework that avoids missteps and maintains the Caribbean’s identity as a zone of peace.”
