The second administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has precipitated significant fractures within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), testing bilateral relations while undermining regional cohesion. This geopolitical shift mirrors divisions witnessed during Trump’s first term regarding Venezuela policy, creating a tumultuous backdrop for Caribbean foreign relations with Washington.
The recent U.S. proclamation imposing partial entry restrictions on nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica exemplifies Washington’s scattershot approach to CARICOM relations. Though temporarily suspended following diplomatic engagement, this episode highlights the underlying tensions between cordial bilateral relations and fundamentally different visions of international governance.
A critical fracture emerged with Trinidad and Tobago’s political transition in April 2025. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s government broke from CARICOM consensus by supporting increased U.S. military presence in the region through ‘Operation Southern Spear.’ This alignment with Washington marks a dramatic departure from Trinidad’s traditional foreign policy and has drawn criticism from regional partners.
The operation represents an escalation of U.S. pressure against Venezuela’s Maduro regime, targeting oil tankers carrying Venezuelan crude—a strategy with far-reaching implications for Caribbean energy security. Cuba and other nations reliant on Venezuelan shipments view these developments with particular concern.
Trinidad’s Foreign Ministry defends its cooperation, citing enhanced surveillance capabilities, joint military exercises, and successful narcotics interdiction efforts. The government has approved transit for U.S. military aircraft and installed American radar systems, framing these actions as beneficial to national security.
However, this position has sparked domestic criticism and regional backlash. Antigua and Barbuda issued a strongly worded statement criticizing Trinidad’s approach, prompting Persad-Bissessar to accuse CARICOM of aligning with ‘the Maduro narco government’ in social media posts that seemingly targeted a U.S. audience.
Most CARICOM members remain committed to traditional foreign policy principles emphasizing peace, multilateralism, and dialogue. The bloc’s October 2025 meeting reaffirmed these values, though Trinidad reserved its position, highlighting the growing divide.
Analysts suggest the Trump administration’s ‘Enlist and Expand’ strategy—dubbed the ‘Trump Corollary’ to the Monroe Doctrine—seeks to project U.S. hegemony throughout the Western Hemisphere. This ‘might makes right’ approach threatens to undermine CARICOM’s collective foreign policy effectiveness precisely when unity is most needed.
The fracture within CARICOM represents a significant departure from decades of coordinated foreign policy and threatens to weaken the bloc’s international standing if not effectively addressed by regional leaders.