CARICOM says it’s not fragmented, despite differences

At the close of the recently concluded CARICOM Heads of Government meeting, the region’s chair insisted that the bloc remains united — even amid sharp disagreements over foreign policy and responses to geopolitical tensions in the hemisphere.

CARICOM Chair and Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis was asked directly if the organisation was experiencing fracturing, following differing stances by member states on how to respond to external pressures and threats.

“CARICOM is not experiencing any levels of fragmentation,” Dr Drew said emphatically. He acknowledged that the region does not have a single, monolithic foreign policy, noting that sovereign states have latitude to pursue their own diplomatic positions. But he stressed that diversity of views — even on sensitive issues like military presence and external relations — did not equate to a breakdown in unity.

“If you look at CARICOM, we are not a political union… Trinidad & Tobago, or any other country being invited to a meeting, does not fragment CARICOM at all,” Dr Drew said, adding that the spectrum of international relationships held by member states “can actually enrich CARICOM, but it does not fracture CARICOM.” He continued, “There are some differences. Yes, but fracturing… is a very, very strong word at this particular time.”

Dr Drew also rejected the notion that decisions on major geopolitical issues — such as U.S. military presence in the Caribbean — should override national interests, saying each government acts to protect its citizens and sovereign interests. “I don’t think anything will override anybody’s national interests,” he said, while reiterating that ongoing debates presented opportunities for the Community to strengthen itself.

Trinidad & Tobago’s concerns

The meeting took place against a backdrop of growing regional unease over escalating tensions involving the United States, Venezuela, and Cuba. U.S. military actions against Venezuelan territory earlier this year — including strikes and the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro — triggered widespread diplomatic reactions across the Americas.

While most CARICOM states have urged dialogue and de-escalation, particularly around U.S. sanctions and military pressure on Cuba and Venezuela, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago did not stand with her neighbours, arguing that the region had remained silent when Venezuela had made repeated territorial claims against Trinidad and Tobago. She argued that CARICOM’s “zone of peace” posture failed to protect smaller states from threats.

Her government has also voiced support for stronger cooperation with the United States on security issues, including combating trafficking and violence, even as other CARICOM leaders push for a strictly multilateral and peaceful regional approach.

Despite these tensions, CARICOM’s leadership emphasised that the organisation’s strength lies in its ability to hold together in diversity, rather than through forced consensus.

In the coming months, the activities of CARICOM will be watched even more closely in the BVI, as the territory is taking steps to become a full member of the regional bloc.