The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has reiterated the need to preserve the region as a Zone of Peace, amid concerns over increased security activity and recent United States military operations in Caribbean waters.
In a statement issued on October 18, the CARICOM Secretariat said regional leaders met to discuss several pressing issues, including the growing military presence in the area and its potential impact on Member States. However, Trinidad and Tobago reserved its position on the matter.
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries within the region and to safeguarding the safety and livelihoods of Caribbean citizens. CARICOM also emphasised the importance of dialogue and peaceful engagement in resolving disputes.
The call comes amid reports of recent US military strikes in the region that have killed at least 29 people, potentially including two Trinidadian nationals who were allegedly aboard a small vessel targeted near Venezuela earlier this week.
US President Donald Trump has defended the strikes, saying the United States is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels. However, legal experts have questioned the justification and warned that such actions may exceed the limits of international law.
Meanwhile, Trinidadian Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar expressed support for the US naval operations, stating that the “pain and suffering the cartels have inflicted on our nation is immense,” and that she has “no sympathy for traffickers.”
CARICOM said it remains willing to assist in efforts to maintain peace and stability across the Caribbean.
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
