In a significant diplomatic development, officials from five Eastern Caribbean nations operating Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs convened with United States representatives to review substantial governance enhancements within the region’s economic citizenship framework. The high-level roundtable, hosted in Antigua and Barbuda, marked the fourth such collaborative meeting in approximately thirty months.
Co-chaired by Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Governor Timothy NJ Antoine and US Treasury Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Warren Ryan, the discussions included participation from international partners including the United Kingdom, European Commission, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission, and CARICOM IMPACS/Joint Regional Communications Centre. US Departments of State and Homeland Security also contributed to the multilateral dialogue.
Participants acknowledged the region’s considerable advancements in implementing the comprehensive risk mitigation framework known as the ‘Six Principles,’ initially established during the inaugural US-Caribbean Roundtable in February 2023. These principles encompass collective agreements on application denials, mandatory interviews, enhanced background checks, systematic audits, retrieval mechanisms for revoked passports, and standardized protocols regarding applicants from Russia and Belarus.
The timing of this meeting follows the landmark September 2025 signing of the agreement establishing the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA), which all five participating nations have subsequently enacted into domestic legislation. This independent regional regulatory body is poised to commence operations in 2026, tasked with establishing uniform industry standards, enforcing compliance, and publishing annual transparency reports.
The reform initiative has been characterized by extensive stakeholder consultations and robust political support, reflecting the critical importance of CBI programs to the economic resilience and socio-development objectives of Eastern Caribbean nations. The participating countries reaffirmed their commitment to ECCIRA’s successful implementation while welcoming continued international partnership in strengthening program integrity and sustainability.