A prominent Caribbean historian is urging regional leaders to consider the creation of a unified Caribbean military force as a response to growing global instability and external threats.
Dr Jerome Teelucksingh made the call during a recent interview, arguing that Caribbean nations can no longer rely solely on foreign powers for security and must take collective responsibility for their own defence.
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“With rising geopolitical conflicts and the Caribbean’s strategic location in international trade, a regional army is no longer optional,” Teelucksingh said. “We must be prepared to defend ourselves.”
Lessons from History
Teelucksingh pointed to the British West Indies Regiment, formed during World War I, as proof that regional military cooperation is possible. The regiment consisted of soldiers from across the Caribbean who served under British command.
Historical records from the United Kingdom’s National Army Museum indicate that more than 15,600 Caribbean men enlisted across 11 battalions, with Jamaicans forming the largest contingent. Caribbean troops also served during World War II, reinforcing the region’s longstanding military tradition.
“This idea is not new,” Teelucksingh said. “We have done it before. The only difference now is that the Caribbean would control its own military.”
Structure and Funding
The historian envisions a centralized military headquarters with shared command similar to defence systems in North America. He acknowledged that political rivalries could pose challenges but insisted they must not derail regional cooperation.
“We failed with the West Indies Federation, but that should not stop us from trying again,” he said. “We cannot afford small-minded politics.”
Teelucksingh admitted that funding would be uneven, with wealthier nations like Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago likely contributing more. However, he stressed that economic realities should not prevent collective action.
He also emphasized that the force must include English, Spanish, Dutch and French-speaking territories to ensure true regional unity.
Training and Technology
Teelucksingh proposed scholarship programmes funded by multinational corporations to train regional recruits. He also advocated for investment in modern defence technologies such as drones, artificial intelligence and robotics.
“We cannot depend on foreign countries to share advanced military technology,” he said. “We must develop our own research and innovation centres.”
He further suggested introducing military science programmes through partnerships between regional defence and education ministries.
Balancing the Budget
While supporting military investment, Teelucksingh cautioned against neglecting essential social services.
“We cannot spend on defence while our hospitals lack medicine or our schools fall behind,” he said.
He believes existing police and defence forces across the Caribbean could form the foundation of the regional army, making implementation more practical.
“We already have trained personnel. We don’t need to start from scratch.”
Teelucksingh estimates that a framework for the force could be developed within two years and does not believe it must operate under CARICOM, suggesting alternative regional structures.
Political Scientist Raises Doubts
Political scientist Dr Bishnu Ragoonath expressed skepticism about the proposal, saying regional political divisions make such an initiative difficult to achieve.
“The Caribbean has a history of failed regional projects,” Ragoonath said, referencing the collapse of the West Indies Federation. “Only UWI and cricket survived.”
He noted that even CARICOM struggles to implement key institutions such as the Caribbean Court of Justice and the Caribbean Single Market.
“If we cannot make existing institutions work, adding a military force will be extremely challenging,” he said.
No Unified Foreign Policy
Ragoonath said the absence of a shared foreign policy is a major obstacle.
“Trinidad, Barbados and Guyana all maintain separate embassies in Washington. That shows we do not speak with one voice.”
He clarified that former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s criticism of CARICOM was about reform, not abandonment.
Financial Reality
Ragoonath questioned how such a force would be funded.
“Some countries are struggling to pay their contributions to UWI. Where will the money come from?”
He dismissed the idea that a regional army could be operational within two years, saying the Caribbean still relies heavily on former colonial powers for security.
“Dialogue is important,” he said, “but we must be realistic.”
Adapted from reporting by Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
