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Updated March 31, 2022
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
The United States developed the Caribbean Basin Security
than 90 days after the bill’s enactment. In addition, the
Initiative (CBSI), a regional U.S. foreign assistance
report to the House-approved version of the foreign aid
program, in 2009 through a process of dialogue with
appropriations bill approved in July 2021 (H.Rept. 117-84
Caribbean countries. The initiative seeks to reduce illicit
to H.R. 4373) directs the Secretary of State to provide to the
trafficking in the region, advance public safety and security,
Committees on Appropriations a report on the uses of all
and promote social justice. Because of their geographic
CBSI funding on a country-by-country basis for each
location, many Caribbean nations are vulnerable to being
program, project, and activity for FY2010-FY2021 and to
used as transit countries for illicit drugs from South
integrate such information into the ForeignAssistance.gov
America destined for the U.S. and European markets.
website.
Strengthened U.S. counternarcotics cooperation with
Mexico and Central America led U.S. policymakers to
The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act
anticipate a potential increase in narcotics trafficking
(H.R. 4133), ordered reported by the House Foreign Affairs
through the Caribbean. Many Caribbean countries have also
Committee in September 2021, would authorize $74.8
suffered high rates of violent crime, including murder, often
million for the CBSI for each fiscal year from FY2022
associated with drug trafficking activities.
through FY2026 and would establish monitoring and
reporting requirements for the program. The House
President Obama announced the initiative at the fifth
approved a similar bill in the 116th Congress (H.R. 7703),
Summit of the Americas in 2009. U.S. and Caribbean
but the Senate did not consider the measure.
representatives held follow-up meetings and, in 2010, an
inaugural Caribbean-U.S. Security Cooperation Dialogue,
Coordinated by the State Department’s Bureau of Western
which approved a declaration of principles, a framework for
Hemisphere affairs and implemented largely by the State
engagement, and a broad action plan. In October 2020,
Department, USAID, and the Department of Defense, the
Caribbean and U.S. officials held the ninth dialogue
CBSI has targeted U.S. assistance in five areas:
virtually, with theme of strengthening regional coordination
to address shared security challenges.
Maritime and Aerial Security Cooperation,
including assistance to strengthen Caribbean
In 2017, the State Department released a U.S. strategy for
maritime and aerial operations capability, improve
engagement in the Caribbean (required by P.L. 114-291, the
radar coverage, and sustain those capabilities;
United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of
Law Enforcement Capacity Building, including
2016). Among the priorities for engagement is security,
assistance to improve law enforcement though
with the objectives of strengthening mutual national
police professionalization, anti-corruption training,
security and advancing citizens’ safety through programs to
and community-based policing;
dismantle criminal and terrorist organizations, curb the
Border/Port Security and Firearms
trafficking of illicit goods and people, strengthen the rule of
Interdiction, including support to improve
law, and counter vulnerability to terrorist threats—all
capacity to intercept smuggled narcotics, weapons,
efforts central to the CBSI.
bulk cash, and other contraband at airports and
seaports;
Congress has supported funding for the CBSI. From
FY2010 through FY2022, Congress appropriated $831
Justice Sector Reform, including support to
million for the CBSI, benefiting 13 Caribbean countries—
increase the efficacy of prosecutors and criminal
Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica,
courts and reform and strengthen juvenile justice
the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St.
systems; and
Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
Crime Prevention and At-Risk Youth, including
Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago (see Table 1 and
assistance to populations vulnerable to being
Figure 1). For FY2021, Congress appropriated not less than
victims of crime or at risk of recruitment into
$74.8 million for the CBSI in the Consolidated
criminal organizations.
Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260, Explanatory
Statement, Division K).
Although the State Department has not published CBSI
funding statistics by country, a February 2019 U.S.
For FY2022, the Biden Administration requested $66
Government Accountability Office (GAO) report shows
million for the CBSI, but in March 2022, Congress
that from FY2010 through FY2018, the Dominican
ultimately appropriated “not less than $80 million” in the
Republic received almost 23% of CBSI funding, Jamaica
Consolidated Appropriations Act 2022 (P.L. 117-103; H.R.
just over 19%, 24% went to seven Eastern Caribbean
2471), and required a spend plan for CBSI funds not later
countries, and 21% was for region-wide activities.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
Figure 1. Caribbean Countries Receiving CBSI Assistance
Source: Congressional Research Service.
Table 1. CBSI Funding By Foreign Aid Account, FY2010-FY2022 (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
27.300
—
25.200
—
7.500
60.000
FY2021 (est.)
32.300
—
35.000
—
7.500
74.800
FY2022 (est.)
35.000
—
35.000
—
10.000
80.000
Total
317.852
6.000
370.871
13.700
122.994
831.417
Sources: U.S. Department of State, Congressional Budget Justification for Foreign Operations, Annex: Regional Perspectives, FY2012 to
FY2021; 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); and Explanatory Statements (Division K) to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260)
and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (P.L. 117-103).
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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