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Updated April 3, 2019
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
In 2009, the United States developed the Caribbean Basin
million for the CBSI in the Consolidated Appropriations
Security Initiative (CBSI), a regional U.S. foreign
Act, 2019 (P.L. 116-6, H.J.Res. 31, conference report
assistance program, through a process of dialogue with
H.Rept. 116-9).
Caribbean countries. The initiative seeks to reduce illicit
trafficking in the region, advance public safety and security,
For FY2020, the Trump Administration requested $40.2
and promote social justice. Because of their geographic
million for the CBSI, about a 30% drop from that
location, many Caribbean nations are vulnerable to being
appropriated in FY2019.
used as transit countries for illicit drugs from South
America destined for the U.S. and European markets.
Coordinated by the State Department’s Bureau of Western
Strengthened U.S. counternarcotics cooperation with
Hemisphere affairs and implemented largely by the State
Mexico and Central America—through the Mérida
Department, USAID, and the Department of Defense, the
Initiative and the Central America Regional Security
CBSI has targeted U.S. assistance in five areas:
Initiative (CARSI)—led U.S. policymakers to anticipate a
Maritime and Aerial Security Cooperation,
potential increase in narcotics trafficking through the
including assistance to strengthen Caribbean
Caribbean. Many Caribbean countries have also suffered
maritime and aerial operations capability, improve
high rates of violent crime, including murder, often
radar coverage, and sustain those capabilities;
associated with drug trafficking activities.
Law Enforcement Capacity Building, including
President Obama announced the initiative at the fifth
assistance to improve law enforcement though
Summit of the Americas in April 2009. U.S. and Caribbean
police professionalization, anti-corruption training,
representatives followed up with several meetings and in
and community-based policing;
2010 held an inaugural Caribbean-U.S. Security
Cooperation Dialogue, which approved a declaration of
Border/Port Security and Firearms
principles, a framework for engagement, and a broad action
Interdiction, including support to improve
plan. Seven additional Caribbean-U.S. security dialogues
capacity to intercept smuggled narcotics, weapons,
have been held, with the most recent in November 2017 in
bulk cash, and other contraband at airports and
the Dominican Republic.
seaports;
Justice Sector Reform, including support to
In June 2017, the State Department released a U.S. strategy
increase the efficacy of prosecutors and criminal
for engagement in the Caribbean (required by P.L. 114-291,
courts and reform and strengthen juvenile justice
the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of
systems; and
2016). Among the priorities for engagement is security,
Crime Prevention and At-Risk Youth, including
with the objectives of strengthening mutual national
security and advancing the citizens’ safety through
assistance to populations vulnerable to being
victims of crime or at risk of recruitment into
programs to dismantle criminal and terrorist organizations,
criminal organizations.
curb the trafficking of illicit goods and people, strengthen
the rule of law, improve citizen security, and counter
Although the State Department has not published CBSI
vulnerability to terrorist threats—all efforts that have been
funding statistics by country, a February 2019 U.S.
central to the CBSI.
Government Accountability Office (GAO) report shows
that from FY2010 through FY2018, the Dominican
Congress has supported funding for the CBSI. From
Republic received almost 23% of CBSI funding, Jamaica
FY2010 through FY2019, Congress appropriated almost
just over 19%, 24% went to seven Eastern Caribbean
$617 million for the CBSI benefiting 13 Caribbean
countries, and 21% was for region-wide activities. The
countries—Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados,
GAO report also recommended that: (1) the State
Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana,
Department, along with USAID and other stakeholders,
Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the
should create an initiative-wide planning and reporting
Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago (see Table
mechanism for the CBSI that includes the ability to
1 and Figure 1). For each of FY2018 and FY2019, the
monitor, evaluate and report the results; and (2) the State
Trump Administration requested $36.2 million, about a
Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law
37% decrease from FY2017, but Congress rejected those
Enforcement Affairs should develop and implement a data
cuts. For FY2018, Congress appropriated $57.7 million in
management system for centrally collecting program
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141;
monitoring data for its CBSI activities.
H.R. 1625, Explanatory Statement, Division K), the same
as in FY2017. For FY2019, Congress appropriated $58
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Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
Figure 1. Caribbean Countries Receiving CBSI Assistance
Source: The Congressional Research Service.
Notes: Belize receives assistance under CARSI. Haiti receives security-related U.S. bilateral assistance.
Table 1. CBSI Funding By Foreign Aid Account, FY2010-FY2019 (U.S. $millions)
Fiscal Year
ESF
DA
INCLE
NADR
FMF
Total
FY2010
14.000
6.000
27.300
—
14.500
61.800
FY2011
17.000
—
37.500
6.400
16.500
77.400
FY2012
17.000
—
30.000
2.000
15.000
64.000
FY2013
18.802
—
30.000
2.000
9.494
60.296
FY2014
29.200
—
25.000
1.800
7.500
63.500
FY2015
27.000
—
25.000
1.500
5.000
58.500
FY2016
25.000
—
25.221
—
7.500
57.721
FY2017
25.000
—
25.200
—
7.500
57.700
FY2018 (est.)
25.000
—
25.200
—
7.500
57.700
FY2019 (est.)
25.250
—
25.250
—
7.500
58.000
Total
223.252
6.000
275.671
13.700
97.994
616.617
Sources: U.S. Department of State, Congressional Budget Justification for Foreign Operations, Annex: Regional Perspectives, Fiscal Year 2012
to FY2019. Explanatory Statement (Division K) to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, P.L. 115-141 (H.R. 1625). Conference Report to
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (H.Rept. 116-9 to P.L. 116-6).
Notes: ESF = Economic Support Fund; DA = Development Assistance; INCLE = International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement; NADR
= Nonproliferation, Anti-Terrorism, De-mining and Related Programs; and FMF = Foreign Military Financing.
Mark P. Sullivan, Specialist in Latin American Affairs
IF10789
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Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
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