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Updated January 30, 2020
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
The United States developed the Caribbean Basin Security
Act, 2019 (P.L. 116-6, H.J.Res. 31, conference report
Initiative (CBSI), a regional U.S. foreign assistance
H.Rept. 116-9).
program, in 2009 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. Ultimately, Congress appropriated
location, many Caribbean nations are vulnerable to being
not less than $60 million for the CBSI for FY2020 (slightly
used as transit countries for illicit drugs from South
more than that provided in FY2019) in the Further
America destined for the U.S. and European markets.
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-94, H.R.
Strengthened U.S. counternarcotics cooperation with
1865, Explanatory Statement, Division G).
Mexico and Central America—through the Mérida
Initiative and the Central America Regional Security
Coordinated by the State Department’s Bureau of Western
Initiative (CARSI)—led U.S. policymakers to anticipate a
Hemisphere affairs and implemented largely by the State
potential increase in narcotics trafficking through the
Department, USAID, and the Department of Defense, the
Caribbean. Many Caribbean countries have also suffered
CBSI has targeted U.S. assistance in five areas:
high rates of violent crime, including murder, often
associated with drug trafficking activities.
Maritime and Aerial Security Cooperation,
including assistance to strengthen Caribbean
President Obama announced the initiative at the fifth
maritime and aerial operations capability, improve
Summit of the Americas in April 2009. U.S. and Caribbean
radar coverage, and sustain those capabilities;
representatives followed up with several meetings and in
Law Enforcement Capacity Building, including
2010 held an inaugural Caribbean-U.S. Security
assistance to improve law enforcement though
Cooperation Dialogue, which approved a declaration of
police professionalization, anti-corruption training,
principles, a framework for engagement, and a broad action
and community-based policing;
plan. Seven additional Caribbean-U.S. security cooperation
Border/Port Security and Firearms
dialogues have been held, with the most recent in May 2019
Interdiction, including support to improve
in Washington, DC.
capacity to intercept smuggled narcotics, weapons,
bulk cash, and other contraband at airports and
In June 2017, the State Department released a U.S. strategy
seaports;
for engagement in the Caribbean (required by P.L. 114-291,
the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of
Justice Sector Reform, including support to
2016). Among the priorities for engagement is security,
increase the efficacy of prosecutors and criminal
with the objectives of strengthening mutual national
courts and reform and strengthen juvenile justice
security and advancing the citizens’ safety through
systems; and
programs to dismantle criminal and terrorist organizations,
Crime Prevention and At-Risk Youth, including
curb the trafficking of illicit goods and people, strengthen
assistance to populations vulnerable to being
the rule of law, improve citizen security, and counter
victims of crime or at risk of recruitment into
vulnerability to terrorist threats—all efforts that have been
criminal organizations.
central to the CBSI.
Although the State Department has not published CBSI
Congress has supported funding for the CBSI. From
funding statistics by country, a February 2019 U.S.
FY2010 through FY2020, Congress appropriated almost
Government Accountability Office (GAO) report shows
$677 million for the CBSI benefiting 13 Caribbean
that from FY2010 through FY2018, the Dominican
countries—Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados,
Republic received almost 23% of CBSI funding, Jamaica
Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana,
just over 19%, 24% went to seven Eastern Caribbean
Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the
countries, and 21% was for region-wide activities. The
Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago (see Table
GAO report also recommended that (1) the State
1 and Figure 1). For each of FY2018 and FY2019, the
Department, along with USAID and other stakeholders,
Trump Administration requested $36.2 million, about a
should create an initiative-wide planning and reporting
37% decrease from FY2017, but Congress rejected those
mechanism for the CBSI that includes the ability to
cuts. For FY2018, Congress appropriated $57.7 million in
monitor, evaluate and report the results; and (2) the State
Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141;
H.R. 1625, Explanatory Statement, Division K), the same
Enforcement Affairs should develop and implement a data
as in FY2017. For FY2019, Congress appropriated $58
management system for centrally collecting program
million for the CBSI in the Consolidated Appropriations
monitoring data for its CBSI activities.
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Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
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
FY2020 (est.)
27.300
—
25.200
—
7.500
60.000
Total
250.552
6.000
300.871
13.700
105.494
676.617
Sources: U.S. Department of State, Congressional Budget Justification for Foreign Operations, Annex: Regional Perspectives, Fiscal Year 2012
to FY2020; Explanatory Statement (Division K) to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, P.L. 115-141; Conference Report to the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (H.Rept. 116-9 to P.L. 116-6); Explanatory Statement (Division G) to the Further Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-94).
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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