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Updated May 16, 2022
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
The United States developed the Caribbean Basin Security
House-approved version of the foreign aid appropriations
Initiative (CBSI), a regional U.S. foreign assistance
bill approved in July 2021 (H.Rept. 117-84 to H.R. 4373)
program, in 2009 through a process of dialogue with
directed the Secretary of State to provide to the Committees
Caribbean countries. The initiative seeks to reduce illicit
on Appropriations a report on the uses of all CBSI funding
trafficking in the region, advance public safety and security,
on a country-by-country basis for each program, project,
and promote social justice. Because of their geographic
and activity for FY2010-FY2021 and to integrate such
location, many Caribbean nations are vulnerable to being
information into the ForeignAssistance.gov website.
used as transit countries for illicit drugs from South
America destined for the U.S. and European markets.
For FY2023, the Administration requested $63.5 million for
Strengthened U.S. counternarcotics cooperation with
the CBSI, almost 21% less than appropriated by Congress
Mexico and Central America led U.S. policymakers to
for FY2022 and 15% less than provided for FY2021.
anticipate a potential increase in narcotics trafficking
through the Caribbean. Many Caribbean countries have also
The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act
suffered high rates of violent crime, including murder, often
(H.R. 4133), passed by the House on April 27, 2022, would
associated with drug trafficking activities.
authorize $74.8 million for the CBSI for each fiscal year
from FY2022 through FY2026 and would establish
President Obama announced the initiative at the fifth
monitoring and reporting requirements for the program. In
Summit of the Americas in 2009. U.S. and Caribbean
addition, the bill would require the State Department, in
representatives held follow-up meetings and, in 2010, an
coordination with the U.S. Agency for International
inaugural Caribbean-U.S. Security Cooperation Dialogue,
Development (USAID) and the Inter-American Foundation,
which approved a declaration of principles, a framework for
to submit a strategy to prioritize efforts to increase disaster
engagement, and a broad action plan. In October 2020,
response and resilience.
Caribbean and U.S. officials held the ninth dialogue
virtually, with theme of strengthening regional coordination
Coordinated by the State Department’s Bureau of Western
to address shared security challenges.
Hemisphere affairs and implemented largely by the State
Department, USAID, and the Department of Defense, the
In 2017, the State Department released a U.S. strategy for
CBSI has targeted U.S. assistance in five areas:
engagement in the Caribbean (required by P.L. 114-291, the
Maritime and Aerial Security Cooperation, including
United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of
assistance to strengthen Caribbean maritime and aerial
2016). Among the priorities for engagement is security,
operations capability, improve radar coverage, and
with the objectives of strengthening mutual national
sustain those capabilities;
security and advancing citizens’ safety through programs to
dismantle criminal and terrorist organizations, curb the
Law Enforcement Capacity Building, including
trafficking of illicit goods and people, strengthen the rule of
assistance to improve law enforcement though police
law, and counter vulnerability to terrorist threats—all
professionalization, anti-corruption training, and
efforts central to the CBSI.
community-based policing;
Border/Port Security and Firearms Interdiction,
Congress has supported funding for the CBSI. From
including support to improve capacity to intercept
FY2010 through FY2022, Congress appropriated $831
smuggled narcotics, weapons, bulk cash, and other
million for the CBSI, benefiting 13 Caribbean countries—
contraband at airports and seaports;
Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica,
Justice Sector Reform, including support to increase
the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St.
the efficacy of prosecutors and criminal courts and
Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
reform and strengthen juvenile justice systems; and
Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago (see Table 1 and
Figure 1). For FY2021, Congress appropriated not less than
Crime Prevention and At-Risk Youth, including
$74.8 million for the CBSI in the Consolidated
assistance to populations vulnerable to being victims of
Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260, Explanatory
crime or at risk of recruitment into criminal
Statement, Division K).
organizations.
Although the State Department has not published CBSI
For FY2022, the Biden Administration requested $66
funding statistics by country, a February 2019 U.S.
million for the CBSI, but in March 2022, Congress
Government Accountability Office (GAO) report showed
ultimately appropriated “not less than $80 million” in the
that from FY2010 through FY2018, the Dominican
Consolidated Appropriations Act 2022 (P.L. 117-103; H.R.
Republic received almost 23% of CBSI funding, Jamaica
2471), and required a spend plan for CBSI funds not later
just over 19%, 24% went to seven Eastern Caribbean
than 90 days after the bill’s enactment. The report to the
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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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10789 · VERSION 27 · UPDATED