The United States is in constant cooperation with Caribbean countries on regional security issues. As part of this cooperation, since 2009, representatives from the U.S. and Caribbean governments have met annually to advance the goals of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).
This year, the annual Caribbean-U.S. Security Cooperation Dialogue was held in the Dominican Republic on November 29 and 30, with representatives from the United States, the Dominican Republic and CARICOM member countries.
The key objectives of the Caribbean-U.S. Security Cooperation Dialogue are to promote social justice, increase public safety and security, and substantially reduce illicit trafficking and crime. The Dialogue, along with yearly technical working groups and assessments, help to evaluate CBSI’s impact on greater security integration and cooperation in the region.
In the past seven years, the U.S. government has provided more than $400 million to the Caribbean to address security threats in the region. These funds have aided in combatting illicit trafficking and organized crime, strengthening the rule of law, and establishing crime and violence prevention programs targeting at-risk youth and their communities. In addition, CBSI programs are strengthening regional cooperation in maritime and aerial surveillance, law enforcement, and border and port security.
