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Updated October 10, 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 $60 million ($2 million was added during
Initiative (CARSI)—led U.S. policymakers to anticipate a
House floor debate) for the CBSI, slightly more than the
potential increase in narcotics trafficking through the
amount provided in FY2019. The Senate Appropriations
Caribbean. Many Caribbean countries have also suffered
Committee-reported bill, S. 2583 (S.Rept. 116-126), would
high rates of violent crime, including murder, often
provide $57.7 million for the CBSI for FY2020.
associated with drug trafficking activities.
Coordinated by the State Department’s Bureau of Western
President Obama announced the initiative at the fifth
Hemisphere affairs and implemented largely by the State
Summit of the Americas in April 2009. U.S. and Caribbean
Department, USAID, and the Department of Defense, the
representatives followed up with several meetings and in
CBSI has targeted U.S. assistance in five areas:
2010 held an inaugural Caribbean-U.S. Security
Cooperation Dialogue, which approved a declaration of
Maritime and Aerial Security Cooperation,
principles, a framework for engagement, and a broad action
including assistance to strengthen Caribbean
plan. Seven additional Caribbean-U.S. security cooperation
maritime and aerial operations capability, improve
dialogues have been held, with the most recent in May 2019
radar coverage, and sustain those capabilities;
in Washington, DC.
Law Enforcement Capacity Building, including
assistance to improve law enforcement though
In June 2017, the State Department released a U.S. strategy
police professionalization, anti-corruption training,
for engagement in the Caribbean (required by P.L. 114-291,
and community-based policing;
the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of
Border/Port Security and Firearms
2016). Among the priorities for engagement is security,
Interdiction, including support to improve
with the objectives of strengthening mutual national
security and advancing the citizens’ safety through
capacity to intercept smuggled narcotics, weapons,
bulk cash, and other contraband at airports and
programs to dismantle criminal and terrorist organizations,
seaports;
curb the trafficking of illicit goods and people, strengthen
the rule of law, improve citizen security, and counter
Justice Sector Reform, including support to
vulnerability to terrorist threats—all efforts that have been
increase the efficacy of prosecutors and criminal
central to the CBSI.
courts and reform and strengthen juvenile justice
systems; and
Congress has supported funding for the CBSI. From
Crime Prevention and At-Risk Youth, including
FY2010 through FY2019, Congress appropriated almost
assistance to populations vulnerable to being
$617 million for the CBSI benefiting 13 Caribbean
victims of crime or at risk of recruitment into
countries—Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados,
criminal organizations.
Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana,
Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the
Although the State Department has not published CBSI
Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago (see Table
funding statistics by country, a February 2019 U.S.
1 and Figure 1). For each of FY2018 and FY2019, the
Government Accountability Office (GAO) report shows
Trump Administration requested $36.2 million, about a
that from FY2010 through FY2018, the Dominican
37% decrease from FY2017, but Congress rejected those
Republic received almost 23% of CBSI funding, Jamaica
cuts. For FY2018, Congress appropriated $57.7 million in
just over 19%, 24% went to seven Eastern Caribbean
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141;
countries, and 21% was for region-wide activities. The
H.R. 1625, Explanatory Statement, Division K), the same
GAO report also recommended that (1) the State
as in FY2017. For FY2019, Congress appropriated $58
Department, along with USAID and other stakeholders,
million for the CBSI in the Consolidated Appropriations
should create an initiative-wide planning and reporting
mechanism for the CBSI that includes the ability to
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Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
monitor, evaluate and report the results; and (2) the State
management system for centrally collecting program
Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law
monitoring data for its CBSI activities.
Enforcement Affairs should develop and implement a data
Figure 1. Caribbean Countries Receiving CBSI Assistance
Source: 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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