In a powerful address at the 86th annual conference of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit emphasized the Caribbean’s commitment to maintaining itself as a zone of peace. He warned that any military escalation in the region would have dire consequences for all Caribbean nations. Skerrit’s remarks echoed those of Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who earlier called for an end to the United States’ military build-up off Venezuela’s coast, ostensibly aimed at combating drug trafficking. Both leaders stressed the importance of resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy rather than force. Skerrit highlighted the region’s historical struggles for freedom and independence, urging Caribbean nations to stand firm on these principles. He shared excerpts of Mottley’s speech on the Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders’ social media page, underscoring the need to speak truth to power. Mottley, in her opening address, described the current situation in the southern Caribbean as ‘extremely dangerous and untenable,’ emphasizing the region’s tragic history of being subjected to external powers’ violence. She called for unity in upholding the Caribbean as a zone of peace, a principle enshrined since Caricom’s inception. Mottley also rejected the notion of extrajudicial killings and the conflation of law enforcement with military action, advocating for the rule of law. The recent deployment of the USS Gerald Ford and over 10,000 U.S. troops to the Caribbean has raised concerns among regional leaders, who view it as a potential precursor to an invasion of Venezuela. The U.S. claims these actions are part of a counter-drug initiative, but critics argue they lack transparency and justification.