WASHINGTON, CMC—The USA is being urged to ship a high-level delegation to the Caribbean Group (CRICOM) leaders summit, which shall be held in Barbados later this week.
Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Rating Member of the Home International Affairs Committee, Joaquin Castro, Rating Member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Yvette Clarke, and Stacey Plaskett have despatched a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the State Division to ship the delegation to the February 19-21 summit.
Of their February 15 letter, the US lawmakers stated that the summit, which shall be held below the theme “Energy in Unity: Forging Caribbean Resilience, Inclusive Progress, and Sustainable Improvement,” will present the USA with the “alternative to deepen its dedication to our mutually useful diplomatic, power, financial, and safety ties with companions within the Caribbean area.”
“The Caribbean is not only our neighbor however a key pillar of US nationwide safety. Because the third border of the USA, the Caribbean is indispensable in addressing regional challenges, from countering illicit drug trafficking to curbing irregular migration and human smuggling.”
They stated the Caribbean is crucial to US commerce and power safety, serving as a vital hub for delivery lanes and a strategic companion in diversifying power sources.
“It’s a area the place the USA stays the primary buying and selling companion and welcomes thousands and thousands of US residents yearly, whereas a vibrant Caribbean diaspora right here in the USA solidifies our financial and cultural bridges. ”
The Lawmakers stated that “bolstering cooperation with, and the capability of, our Caribbean companions via high-level engagement serves as a drive multiplier for the area’s litany of US nationwide safety and financial priorities.
“Furthermore, because the Individuals’s Republic of China (PRC) expands its affect within the Caribbean and Western Hemisphere via investments in power and port infrastructure, sustained high-level.”
They stated US engagement is critical to maintain PRC coercion at bay, noting that continued US help for financial improvement, pure catastrophe resilience, and democratic governance is essential to offering an alternative choice to China’s pernicious mannequin within the CARICOM space throughout a 12 months with six nationwide elections–together with in two Taiwan-allied states—within the area.
They stated participating with CARICOM additionally helps the important regional cooperation Washington has indicated is critical to handle the disaster in Haiti.
“As you recognize, CARICOM performed an instrumental and indispensable position in facilitating a Transitional Presidential Council to put the groundwork for a Haitian-led course of for political and financial stability in Haiti.
“The Common Assembly in Barbados will enable the USA to rally help for the Multinational Safety Assist Mission, bolster regional buy-in for a Haitian-led political course of, and assist tackle the hemispheric penalties arising from Haiti’s devastating safety, financial, and humanitarian crises.”
The US lawmakers stated that within the spirit of Rubo’s feedback championing “a method that pays “nearer consideration to our neighborhood—the Western Hemisphere,” we respectfully urge you to make the most of the chance the February CARICOM Common Assembly supplies as a novel discussion board that brings collectively the entire Caribbean area’s leaders.
“Persevering with to ship a strong and high-level US delegation to the CARICOM assembly—because the prior Administration did—would reaffirm our partnership and display that we stand with our Caribbean allies in selling regional safety, financial resilience, and democratic governance,” they wrote, urging Rubo to make sure that “we should present up for the Caribbean—that is in our nationwide curiosity.”
Final week, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the USA, Sir Ronald Sanders, urged regional leaders to cooperate in responding to new US insurance policies.
Writing in his weekly column, Sir Ronald stated two Government Orders issued by President Donald Trump have sparked concern throughout the Caribbean, as they’ve in Central America and past.
One mandates the removing of unlawful migrants from the US, whereas the opposite shutters the US Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID). This establishment has lengthy been an emblem of American overseas help.
Sir Ronald stated that other than immigration and USAID closure, it ought to be famous that in 2023, the US benefited from a commerce surplus of US$7.45 billion with CARICOM international locations.
“This means that CARICOM nations successfully financed the US$456.2 million they obtained in US support via their substantial purchases of US items, accounting for over 60 % of their imports.
“The commerce and support figures underscore that CARICOM counties have room for negotiating a seamless mutually useful relationship between the US and CARICOM international locations, offered they act collectively,” he wrote.
