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Updated July 24, 2020
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
The United States developed the Caribbean Basin Security
CBSI, about a 30% drop from that appropriated in FY2019.
Initiative (CBSI), a regional U.S. foreign assistance
Ultimately, Congress appropriated not less than $60 million
program, in 2009 through a process of dialogue with
for the CBSI for FY2020 in the Further Consolidated
Caribbean countries. The initiative seeks to reduce illicit
Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-94, H.R. 1865,
trafficking in the region, advance public safety and security,
Explanatory Statement, Division G).
and promote social justice. Because of their geographic
location, many Caribbean nations are vulnerable to being
For FY2021, the Administration requested $32 million for
used as transit countries for illicit drugs from South
the CBSI, a cut of almost 47% from that appropriated in
America destined for the U.S. and European markets.
FY2020. The House Appropriations Committee-reported
Strengthened U.S. counternarcotics cooperation with
bill, H.R. 7608 (H.Rept. 116-444), would provide a
Mexico and Central America—through the Mérida
minimum of $74.8 million, including $10 million to
Initiative and the Central America Regional Security
strengthen resilience to emergencies and disasters.
Initiative (CARSI)—led U.S. policymakers to anticipate a
potential increase in narcotics trafficking through the
Coordinated by the State Department’s Bureau of Western
Caribbean. Many Caribbean countries have also suffered
Hemisphere affairs and implemented largely by the State
high rates of violent crime, including murder, often
Department, USAID, and the Department of Defense, the
associated with drug trafficking activities.
CBSI has targeted U.S. assistance in five areas:
President Obama announced the initiative at the fifth
Maritime and Aerial Security Cooperation,
Summit of the Americas in April 2009. U.S. and Caribbean
including assistance to strengthen Caribbean
representatives followed up with several meetings and in
maritime and aerial operations capability, improve
2010 held an inaugural Caribbean-U.S. Security
radar coverage, and sustain those capabilities;
Cooperation Dialogue, which approved a declaration of
Law Enforcement Capacity Building, including
principles, a framework for engagement, and a broad action
assistance to improve law enforcement though
plan. Seven additional Caribbean-U.S. security cooperation
police professionalization, anti-corruption training,
dialogues have been held, with the most recent in May 2019
and community-based policing;
in Washington, DC.
Border/Port Security and Firearms
Interdiction, including support to improve
In June 2017, the State Department released a U.S. strategy
capacity to intercept smuggled narcotics, weapons,
for engagement in the Caribbean (required by P.L. 114-291,
bulk cash, and other contraband at airports and
the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of
seaports;
2016). Among the priorities for engagement is security,
with the objectives of strengthening mutual national
Justice Sector Reform, including support to
security and advancing citizens’ safety through programs to
increase the efficacy of prosecutors and criminal
dismantle criminal and terrorist organizations, curb the
courts and reform and strengthen juvenile justice
trafficking of illicit goods and people, strengthen the rule of
systems; and
law, and counter vulnerability to terrorist threats—all
Crime Prevention and At-Risk Youth, including
efforts 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 FY2020, Congress appropriated almost
$677 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, appropriating $57.7 million in the Consolidated
Department, along with USAID and other stakeholders,
Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. 115-141; H.R. 1625,
should create an initiative-wide planning and reporting
Explanatory Statement, Division K), and $58 million for the
mechanism for the CBSI that includes the ability to
CBSI in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L.
monitor, evaluate and report the results; and (2) the State
Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law
116-6, H.J.Res. 31, conference report H.Rept. 116-9). For
FY2020, the Administration requested $40.2 million for the
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: 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
25.000
—
25.200
—
7.500
57.700
FY2019
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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