Trinidad and Tobago co-hosted the Caribbean Nations Security Conference (CANSEC), in Port of Spain, December 10-12, bringing together 21 nations to discuss enabling a regional approach to respond to natural disasters, crises, and common threats.
The U.S. Southern Command- (SOUTHCOM) sponsored annual regional security forum aims at fostering ties of cooperation, strengthening partnerships, and sharing lessons learned.
“The dynamic nature of today’s security environment demands nothing less than unified, innovative, and decisive action,” Air Vice Marshal Darryl Daniel, chief of Defense Staff of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, said in his opening remarks. “We are reminded of the pivotal role this conference plays in fostering regional collaboration, enhancing our collective capabilities, and building a secure future for our nations,” he added, thanking the region’s leaders for their commitment.
For his part, U.S. Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, SOUTHCOM commander, highlighted the importance of partnership and the shared history, cultures, and values of countries of the region. He cautioned participants about the advances of authoritarian and communist regimes, their exploitative and corrupt practices, as well as their use of disinformation and cybercrime to gain influence in the region. He also pointed to the threat of transnational criminal organizations and violent gangs, who enrich themselves through drug, arms, human, and wildlife trafficking, and urged support for Haiti as violence continues to escalate.
“The consequences are far reaching and only made worse in a region that is frequently besieged by natural disasters and environmental degradation,” said Adm. Holsey, who assumed command of SOUTHCOM from U.S. Army General (Ret.) Laura J. Richardson on November 7. “With so many leaders present, this week provides us with a unique opportunity to redouble our commitment to collaboration, cooperation, and partnership, as we address our common threats and challenges.”
Security and defense ministers, chiefs of defense, and other high-ranking officials from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago attended the conference. Observers included Canada, Colombia, France, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
Representatives from the Caribbean Community, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, the Regional Security System, the William J. Perry Center, the Inter-American Defense Board, and delegations from the U.S. National Guard Bureau and other U.S. government agencies, also took part as observers.
Identifying challenges and opportunities
CANSEC started off with a discussion on cyber challenges and recommendations to improve cybersecurity in the region. Under the theme, “Countering Threats Across Multi Domains with Current Technologies,” the session addressed the implementation of Data Analytics to improve decision-making across operational activities and underscored the importance of information sharing and collaboration to address common regional threats. Technologies such as Enhanced Domain Awareness and Artificial Intelligence were also considered as essential to the decision-making process of regional defense and security forces.
“Cybersecurity is critical to our shared prosperity and security. Malicious cyber activities threaten not only our economies, but also the very functioning of our democracies, freedoms, and values,” Adm. Holsey said. “State-sponsored actors deploy cyber espionage and information operations to gather intelligence and persuade audiences to support their interests. Our future security depends on transforming our ability to protect ourselves against these cyber threats and more.”
The second session, “Enabling a Whole of Region Approach to Respond to Natural Disasters and Crisis,” emphasized the importance of climate crisis mitigation and strengthening existing frameworks and cooperation for crisis management and resiliency in a region known to be prone to natural disasters. The session also addressed regional tools, agencies, and response mechanism available with the aim of enhancing current planning efforts to counter these challenges.
“Regional geography leaves Caribbean nations especially susceptible to the devastating effects of extreme weather events and natural disasters. To this end, our collective commitment to stand alongside our partners remains resolute,” Adm. Holsey added.
Continued efforts
As the conference came to a close, heads of participating delegations thanked attendees for their dedication to regional stability and peace and in advancing collective solutions toward this goal. As leaders shared words of unity, they urged for support for Haiti in reestablishing security.
“Haiti needs the support of all of you. The security mission that supports the Haitian National Police needs the support of everyone here to be able to carry on their mission,” Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, minister of Defense of the Dominican Republic, said in his closing remarks.
Vice Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman, chief of Defense Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force echoed Lt. Gen. Onofre’s words. “Instability anywhere in the Caribbean is instability for the entire region,” Vice Adm. Wemyss-Gorman said. “While I understand that deployment outside of your country is a challenging task […], I will continue to ask my chief colleagues to press on the importance of assisting Haiti.”
“I would like to remind us of an African proverb: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” Brigadier Carlos Lovell, chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force, concluded. “Based on the discussions here today and the commitment from each partner nation and SOUTHCOM, I believe that we are going far after CANSEC 2024.”
