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Updated August 12, 2022
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
The United States developed the Caribbean Basin Security
for CBSI funds not later than 90 days after the bill’s
Initiative (CBSI), a regional U.S. foreign assistance
enactment.
program, in 2009 through a process of dialogue with
Caribbean countries. The initiative seeks to reduce illicit
For FY2023, the Administration requested $63.5 million for
trafficking in the region, advance public safety and security,
the CBSI, almost 21% less than appropriated by Congress
and promote social justice. Because of their geographic
for FY2022 and 15% less than provided for FY2021. The
location, many Caribbean nations are vulnerable to being
House Appropriations Committee’s reported FY2023
used as transit countries for illicit drugs from South
foreign aid appropriations bill, H.R. 8282 (H.Rept. 117-
America destined for the U.S. and European markets.
401), would provide for not less than $82 million for the
Strengthened U.S. counternarcotics cooperation with
CBSI and would require a spend plan for the funding. The
Mexico and Central America led U.S. policymakers to
explanatory statement to the Senate FY2023 foreign aid
anticipate a potential increase in narcotics trafficking
appropriations bill, S. 4662, would recommend not less
through the Caribbean. Many Caribbean countries have also
than $80 million for the CBSI and also would require a
suffered high rates of violent crime, including murder, often
spend plan.
associated with drug trafficking activities.
The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act
President Obama announced the initiative at the fifth
(H.R. 4133), passed by the House on April 27, 2022, would
Summit of the Americas in 2009, and, in 2010, U.S. and
authorize $74.8 million for the CBSI for each fiscal year
Caribbean representatives held an inaugural Caribbean-U.S.
from FY2022 through FY2026 and would establish
Security Cooperation Dialogue, which approved a
monitoring and reporting requirements for the program. In
declaration of principles, a framework for engagement, and
addition, the bill would require the State Department, in
a broad action plan. In May 2022, Caribbean and U.S.
coordination with the U.S. Agency for International
officials held the 10th security cooperation dialogue, with
Development (USAID) and the Inter-American Foundation,
discussions focused on combatting firearms trafficking,
to submit a strategy to prioritize efforts to increase disaster
countering illicit maritime trafficking and transnational
response and resilience.
organized crime, preventing youth crime and violence,
cybersecurity and cybercrime, and human trafficking.
Coordinated by the State Department’s Bureau of Western
Hemisphere affairs and implemented largely by the State
In 2017, the State Department released a U.S. strategy for
Department, USAID, and the Department of Defense, the
engagement in the Caribbean (required by P.L. 114-291, the
CBSI has targeted U.S. assistance in five areas:
United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of
Maritime and Aerial Security Cooperation, including
2016). Among the priorities for engagement is security,
assistance to strengthen Caribbean maritime and aerial
with the objectives of strengthening mutual national
operations capability, improve radar coverage, and
security and advancing citizens’ safety through programs to
sustain those capabilities;
dismantle criminal and terrorist organizations, curb the
trafficking of illicit goods and people, strengthen the rule of
Law Enforcement Capacity Building, including
law, and counter vulnerability to terrorist threats—all
assistance to improve law enforcement though police
efforts central to the CBSI.
professionalization, anti-corruption training, and
community-based policing;
Congress has supported funding for the CBSI. From
Border/Port Security and Firearms Interdiction,
FY2010 through FY2022, Congress appropriated $831
including support to improve capacity to intercept
million for the CBSI, benefiting 13 Caribbean countries—
smuggled narcotics, weapons, bulk cash, and other
Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica,
contraband at airports and seaports;
the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St.
Justice Sector Reform, including support to increase
Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
the efficacy of prosecutors and criminal courts and
Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago (see Table 1 and
reform and strengthen juvenile justice systems; and
Figure 1). For FY2021, Congress appropriated not less than
$74.8 million for the CBSI in the Consolidated
Crime Prevention and At-Risk Youth, including
Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260, Explanatory
assistance to populations vulnerable to being victims of
Statement, Division K). For FY2022, the Biden
crime or at risk of recruitment into criminal
Administration requested $66 million for the CBSI, but in
organizations.
March 2022, Congress ultimately appropriated “not less
Although the State Department has not published CBSI
than $80 million” in the Consolidated Appropriations Act
funding statistics by country, a February 2019 U.S.
2022 (P.L. 117-103; H.R. 2471), and required a spend plan
Government Accountability Office (GAO) report showed
that from FY2010 through FY2018, the Dominican
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Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
Republic received almost 23% of CBSI funding, Jamaica
just over 19%, 24% went to seven Eastern Caribbean
countries, and 21% was for region-wide activities.
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.
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Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
Mark P. Sullivan, Specialist in Latin American Affairs
IF10789
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