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Trinidad and Tobago marked a turning point when it became the first country in the Caribbean to officially designate Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua (TdA) as a terrorist organization. This historic decision adopted in July 2025 and grounded in the country’s Anti-Terrorism Act and U.N. Security Council resolutions, is widely seen as a necessary declaration of war against a…
China has increased its presence in the Caribbean through loans, infrastructure, and technology, creating growing economic and political dependence in the region. This expansion affects national sovereignty, particularly in strategic sectors such as ports and telecommunications, and carries environmental risks. These developments pose a significant challenge to the region’s autonomy and stability. China’s strategic interests in the Caribbean Beijing considers…
The Caribbean region is accelerating its efforts to counter the growing cyber threats impacting its digital environment. This comprehensive strengthening includes updating national and regional strategies, establishing incident response teams, and enhancing intelligence sharing to coordinate actions against major digital incidents, while actively promoting widespread digital literacy. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has prioritized cybersecurity and digital literacy, recognizing the profound…
In a major international effort, the United Nations Security Council recently approved a historic resolution, sponsored by the United States and Panama, authorizing the creation of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti. The objective is clear and urgent: to directly confront organized crime, which for years has been spreading terror on the Caribbean island and perpetrating mass murders against…
The Dominican Republic has intensified its counternarcotics efforts, supported by robust strategic alliances with partner nations. The Caribbean nation is leveraging all its resources to block the air, sea, and land routes used by transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) attempting to move drugs from South America to the United States and Europe, the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated. “The Dominican…
The Tren de Aragua (TdA), a criminal organization that originated in a Venezuelan prison, has established itself as a principal transnational criminal actor in the Western Hemisphere. Its rapid expansion, combined with extreme levels of violence, marks a new phase of organized crime in Latin America and poses serious challenges to regional security. From prison gang to transnational network What…
Facing persistent threats to regional security and stability posed by transnational crime, Jamaica and the United States maintain a steadfast and vital security alliance. This partnership serves as a fundamental pillar for the security of both nations and the entire Caribbean region. Build on mutual trust and common strategic goals, this bilateral relationship is an essential engine for addressing the…
According to the World Customs Organization’s (WCO) 2025 report, criminal networks are increasingly infiltrating maritime logistics chains. The report details how corrupt port and logistics workers facilitate the massive movement of cocaine through Latin American ports, directly impacting international trade and regional security. Based on more than 2,600 global seizures made between 2023 and 2024, the report reveals that “internal…
The surge in Colombian cocaine production, coupled with Venezuela’s prolonged political and economic crisis, has dramatically reinforced the Caribbean as a primary drug route for illicit substances, especially cocaine, destined for the United States and Europe. In 2024, the French Antilles recorded unprecedented figures, including a massive 10.5-ton cocaine seizure off the coast of Martinique. Among the crew members detained…
Cooperation between the United States and the Caribbean has become an essential pillar of regional security, founded on a deep and enduring strategic alliance. Over the past four decades, a consistent framework of economic and security programs has enabled Caribbean nations to build capabilities to address transnational threats, contributing to the stability and prosperity of the entire Western Hemisphere. This…
The Caribbean faces a growing threat from drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, prompting its nations to strengthen regional alliances as a central response to their security challenges. These partnerships allow for the coordination of cross-border operations, intelligence sharing, and the implementation of financial countermeasures to combat criminal networks. Cooperation has become the backbone of a shared security system designed…
Brigadier General Ivo Moerman, commandant of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps, has built a distinguished career on a foundation of operational experience, beginning with his first assignment as a platoon commander in Curaçao. With more than 30 years of service, this early exposure to the region’s unique security landscape, combined with a background in mechanical engineering and a wide range…
