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Updated February 13, 2020
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
The United States developed the Caribbean Basin Security
H.J.Res. 31, conference report H.Rept. 116-9). For FY2020,
Initiative (CBSI), a regional U.S. foreign assistance
the Trump Administration requested $40.2 million for the
program, in 2009 through a process of dialogue with
CBSI, about a 30% drop from that appropriated in FY2019.
Caribbean countries. The initiative seeks to reduce illicit
Ultimately, Congress appropriated not less than $60 million
trafficking in the region, advance public safety and security,
for the CBSI for FY2020 (slightly more than FY2019) in
and promote social justice. Because of their geographic
the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L.
location, many Caribbean nations are vulnerable to being
116-94, H.R. 1865, Explanatory Statement, Division G).
used as transit countries for illicit drugs from South
America destined for the U.S. and European markets.
For FY2021, the Trump Administration is requesting $32
Strengthened U.S. counternarcotics cooperation with
million for the CBSI, a cut of almost 47% from that
Mexico and Central America—through the Mérida
appropriated in FY2020.
Initiative and the Central America Regional Security
Initiative (CARSI)—led U.S. policymakers to anticipate a
Coordinated by the State Department’s Bureau of Western
potential increase in narcotics trafficking through the
Hemisphere affairs and implemented largely by the State
Caribbean. Many Caribbean countries have also suffered
Department, USAID, and the Department of Defense, the
high rates of violent crime, including murder, often
CBSI has targeted U.S. assistance in five areas:
associated with drug trafficking activities.
Maritime and Aerial Security Cooperation,
President Obama announced the initiative at the fifth
including assistance to strengthen Caribbean
Summit of the Americas in April 2009. U.S. and Caribbean
maritime and aerial operations capability, improve
representatives followed up with several meetings and in
radar coverage, and sustain those capabilities;
2010 held an inaugural Caribbean-U.S. Security
Law Enforcement Capacity Building, including
Cooperation Dialogue, which approved a declaration of
assistance to improve law enforcement though
principles, a framework for engagement, and a broad action
police professionalization, anti-corruption training,
plan. Seven additional Caribbean-U.S. security cooperation
and community-based policing;
dialogues have been held, with the most recent in May 2019
Border/Port Security and Firearms
in Washington, DC.
Interdiction, including support to improve
capacity to intercept smuggled narcotics, weapons,
In June 2017, the State Department released a U.S. strategy
bulk cash, and other contraband at airports and
for engagement in the Caribbean (required by P.L. 114-291,
seaports;
the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of
2016). Among the priorities for engagement is security,
Justice Sector Reform, including support to
with the objectives of strengthening mutual national
increase the efficacy of prosecutors and criminal
security and advancing the citizens’ safety through
courts and reform and strengthen juvenile justice
programs to dismantle criminal and terrorist organizations,
systems; and
curb the trafficking of illicit goods and people, strengthen
Crime Prevention and At-Risk Youth, including
the rule of law, improve citizen security, and counter
assistance to populations vulnerable to being
vulnerability to terrorist threats—all efforts that have been
victims of crime or at risk of recruitment into
central to the CBSI.
criminal organizations.
Congress has supported funding for the CBSI. From
Although the State Department has not published CBSI
FY2010 through FY2020, Congress appropriated almost
funding statistics by country, a February 2019 U.S.
$677 million for the CBSI benefiting 13 Caribbean
Government Accountability Office (GAO) report shows
countries—Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados,
that from FY2010 through FY2018, the Dominican
Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana,
Republic received almost 23% of CBSI funding, Jamaica
Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the
just over 19%, 24% went to seven Eastern Caribbean
Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago (see Table
countries, and 21% was for region-wide activities. The
1 and Figure 1). For each of FY2018 and FY2019, the
GAO report also recommended that (1) the State
Trump Administration requested $36.2 million, about a
Department, along with USAID and other stakeholders,
37% decrease from FY2017, but Congress rejected those
should create an initiative-wide planning and reporting
cuts. For FY2018, Congress appropriated $57.7 million in
mechanism for the CBSI that includes the ability to
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141;
monitor, evaluate and report the results; and (2) the State
Department’s Bureau of In
H.R. 1625, Explanatory Statement, Division K). For
ternational Narcotics and Law
FY2019, Congress appropriated $58 million for the CBSI in
Enforcement Affairs should develop and implement a data
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L. 116-6,
management system for centrally collecting program
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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