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Updated July 15, 2019
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
In 2009, the United States developed the Caribbean Basin
Act, 2019 (P.L. 116-6, H.J.Res. 31, conference report
Security Initiative (CBSI), a regional U.S. foreign
H.Rept. 116-9).
assistance program, through a process of dialogue with
Caribbean countries. The initiative seeks to reduce illicit
For FY2020, the Trump Administration requested $40.2
trafficking in the region, advance public safety and security,
million for the CBSI, about a 30% drop from that
and promote social justice. Because of their geographic
appropriated in FY2019. However, the House-passed
location, many Caribbean nations are vulnerable to being
FY2020 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and
used as transit countries for illicit drugs from South
Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations measure,
America destined for the U.S. and European markets.
Division D of the minibus H.R. 2740 (which references the
Strengthened U.S. counternarcotics cooperation with
report, H.Rept. 116-78, to the House Appropriations
Mexico and Central America—through the Mérida
Committee-reported SFOPS bill, H.R. 2839) would provide
Initiative and the Central America Regional Security
not less than $58 million for the CBSI, the same amount
Initiative (CARSI)—led U.S. policymakers to anticipate a
provided in FY2019.
potential increase in narcotics trafficking through the
Caribbean. Many Caribbean countries have also suffered
Coordinated by the State Department’s Bureau of Western
high rates of violent crime, including murder, often
Hemisphere affairs and implemented largely by the State
associated with drug trafficking activities.
Department, USAID, and the Department of Defense, the
CBSI has targeted U.S. assistance in five areas:
President Obama announced the initiative at the fifth
Summit of the Americas in April 2009. U.S. and Caribbean
Maritime and Aerial Security Cooperation,
representatives followed up with several meetings and in
including assistance to strengthen Caribbean
2010 held an inaugural Caribbean-U.S. Security
maritime and aerial operations capability, improve
Cooperation Dialogue, which approved a declaration of
radar coverage, and sustain those capabilities;
principles, a framework for engagement, and a broad action
Law Enforcement Capacity Building, including
plan. Seven additional Caribbean-U.S. security cooperation
assistance to improve law enforcement though
dialogues have been held, with the most recent in May 2019
police professionalization, anti-corruption training,
in Washington, DC.
and community-based policing;
In June 2017, the State Department released a U.S. strategy
Border/Port Security and Firearms
for engagement in the Caribbean (required by P.L. 114-291,
Interdiction, including support to improve
the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of
capacity to intercept smuggled narcotics, weapons,
2016). Among the priorities for engagement is security,
bulk cash, and other contraband at airports and
with the objectives of strengthening mutual national
seaports;
security and advancing the citizens’ safety through
Justice Sector Reform, including support to
programs to dismantle criminal and terrorist organizations,
increase the efficacy of prosecutors and criminal
curb the trafficking of illicit goods and people, strengthen
courts and reform and strengthen juvenile justice
the rule of law, improve citizen security, and counter
systems; and
vulnerability to terrorist threats—all efforts that have been
Crime Prevention and At-Risk Youth, including
central to the CBSI.
assistance to populations vulnerable to being
victims of crime or at risk of recruitment into
Congress has supported funding for the CBSI. From
criminal organizations.
FY2010 through FY2019, Congress appropriated almost
$617 million for the CBSI benefiting 13 Caribbean
Although the State Department has not published CBSI
countries—Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados,
funding statistics by country, a February 2019 U.S.
Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana,
Government Accountability Office (GAO) report shows
Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the
that from FY2010 through FY2018, the Dominican
Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago (see Table
Republic received almost 23% of CBSI funding, Jamaica
1 and Figure 1). For each of FY2018 and FY2019, the
just over 19%, 24% went to seven Eastern Caribbean
Trump Administration requested $36.2 million, about a
countries, and 21% was for region-wide activities. The
37% decrease from FY2017, but Congress rejected those
GAO report also recommended that (1) the State
cuts. For FY2018, Congress appropriated $57.7 million in
Department, along with USAID and other stakeholders,
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141;
should create an initiative-wide planning and reporting
H.R. 1625, Explanatory Statement, Division K), the same
mechanism for the CBSI that includes the ability to
as in FY2017. For FY2019, Congress appropriated $58
monitor, evaluate and report the results; and (2) the State
million for the CBSI in the Consolidated Appropriations
Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law
Enforcement Affairs should develop and implement a data
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Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
management system for centrally collecting program
monitoring data for its CBSI activities.
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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