Elizabeth Morgan | Foreign policy dilemma facing CARICOM member states

A US State Department press release of April 28 was quite enlightening. It was a joint statement in support of Panama’s sovereignty issued jointly by the US, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago. 

The statement declared that these nations standing together in our shared mission to secure our hemisphere, reaffirm that the freedom of our region is non-negotiable and that they are monitoring with vigilance China’s targeted economic pressure and the recent actions that have affected Panama-flagged vessels.

What is interesting about this statement is that several of the signatories, including the CARICOM members, have a very strong cooperation partnership with the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

The US National Security Strategy (NSS) addressed in this column on December 10, 2025 made it clear that the US, through the implementation of the Monroe Doctrine and its Trump Corollary, intended to reassert its authority in the Western Hemisphere. The Trump administration pointed to its foreign power targets operating in the region as China, Russia, and Iran. The country with the strongest partnerships in the region is PRC. Twenty-two countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have signed on to its Belt and Road Initiative.

The US Administration had threatened, among others, that it would impose sanctions, including revoking visas and applying tariffs, taking back the Panama Canal, and sorting out Venezuela and Cuba. The US military was massed in the South Caribbean and boats blown up, ostensibly to deter drug cartels. It is also alleged that the US has intervened in elections in Central and South America to support right-wing candidates. The Trump administration has been carrying out its mission of reasserting its authority in the LAC.

SHIELD OF THE AMERICAS

The US NSS also included dealing with drug trafficking and drug cartels in the hemisphere. The US established the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, which is known as the Shield of the Americas. At a summit with leaders from LAC on March 7, this coalition was established by a presidential proclamation. LAC countries represented in Florida were Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago. 

Six other countries not in attendance at the Heads level also signed on. These are The Bahamas, Belize, Chile, Guatemala, Jamaica, and Peru. Note that major countries in LAC did not sign on, and these are Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela. Canada, as a Western Hemisphere country, is not participating.

So, CARICOM member states are weighing their relationship with the US and other partners:

China

Starting in the 1970s, several CARICOM member states recognised the PRC and began to build a trade and development partnership with that country. Nine CARICOM member states now have diplomatic relations with the PRC. These are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. They are signatories to the Belt and Road Initiative and they have strong economic and development partnerships.

Venezuela

It will be recalled that the US, in a military mission on January 3, removed the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro. They have, however, maintained his regime and endorsed his Vice- President Delcy Rodriguez as acting president. Rodriquez has recently visited two CARICOM countries, Grenada and Barbados, reportedly wearing a brooch proclaiming that the Essequibo region of Guyana belongs to Venezuela. This apparently did not prevent both Grenada and Barbados from signing cooperation agreements with Venezuela, including in energy. President Rodriquez is clear that there is no change in her country’s position on Guyana.

So, in terms of position, nothing has changed for Guyana. It seems they thought that they would have protection/support from the Trump administration now that they exert great influence in Venezuela.

The situation between Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) and Venezuela seems a bit frigid. There is still optimism in T&T about joint oil and gas projects, which are critical to their economy. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, however, was declared persona non grata under the Maduro regime when she openly aligned with the USA. It was curious that recently the former prime minister under the PNM, Stuart Young, met with Acting Venezuela President Delcy Rodriquez. It is not certain whether his mission was to thaw the freeze between the two governments. There is clearly a problem in this relationship.

There is actually a recent proposal that Jamaica should seek to resume importing oil from Venezuela, with US approval. Can Jamaica resume a relationship with this Venezuela? Does it want to?

On this column’s view of Venezuela, see article of December 2, 2025 titled ‘CARICOM trapped between Venezuela and the US’. CARICOM, with Petro-Caribe, was endeavouring to see Venezuela as a generous friend, while supporting Guyana’s territorial integrity. Venezuela could have been endeavouring to secure CARICOM’s abstention in this matter.

Cuba

Then there is Cuba. The Gleaner’s editorial of Monday, May 4 on CARICOM’s aid to Cuba was noted. The US continues to threaten the takeover of Cuba and to apply sanctions. Where do CARICOM countries stand on this? It is anyone’s guess. From previous actions, one would think that CARICOM member states support Cuba. But, it was noted that CARICOM members are not the only ones looking out for their own interests, as Cuba does too. Like CARICOM, Cuba supported Guyana’s right to maintain its territorial integrity, while maintaining a very strong alliance with Venezuela. For both Cuba and CARICOM countries, oil made Venezuela a much desired partner.

A CARICOM-Cuba summit was scheduled for March. In the circumstances, it has been postponed.

FOREIGN POLICY DILEMMA

It is stated in the Bible that a man cannot serve two masters. Well, here are CARICOM member states in their bilateral relations trying to determine how to manoeuvre in their foreign policy and which master, or masters, to serve. CARICOM countries are trying to walk between the raindrops, trying to stay under the radar as far as possible. They are grading the level of threat and importance to determine which relationship could be sacrificed.

For some, it seems quite clear in which direction countries are heading. The US State Department’s press release could be giving a clue.

The choices small states make, and the price that may have to be paid.

Submitted by Elizabeth Morgan, specialist in international trade policy and international politics. Send feedback to [email protected]