Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
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Updated April 28, 2023
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
The United States developed the Caribbean Basin Security
statement to the measure required a spend plan prior to the
Initiative (CBSI), a regional U.S. foreign assistance program, obligation of funds.
in 2009 through a process of dialogue with Caribbean
countries. The initiative seeks to reduce illicit trafficking in
For FY2024 the Biden Administration has requested $64.5
the region, advance public safety and security, and promote
million for the CBSI, 21% less than Congress appropriated
social justice. Because of their geographic location, many
for FY2023. The FY2024 request for CBSI includes $28
Caribbean nations are vulnerable to being used as transit
million of Economic Support Funds, $29 million of
countries for illicit drugs from South America destined for
International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement aid,
the U.S. and European markets. Strengthened U.S.
and $7.5 million of Foreign Military Financing.
counternarcotics cooperation with Mexico and Central
America led U.S. policymakers to anticipate a potential
The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act,
increase in narcotics trafficking through the Caribbean. Many introduced in the Senate (S. 841) in March 2023, would
Caribbean countries have also suffered high rates of violent
authorize $74.8 million for the CBSI for each fiscal year
crime, including murder, often associated with drug
from FY2023 through FY2027. A variation introduced in
trafficking activities.
the House (H.R. 1802) would authorize $82 million for the
CBSI for each fiscal year from FY2024 through FY2028.
President Obama announced the initiative at the fifth
Both H.R. 1802 and S. 841 would establish monitoring and
Summit of the Americas in 2009, and, in 2010, U.S. and
reporting requirements for the initiative. In addition, both
Caribbean representatives held an inaugural Caribbean-U.S.
bills would require the State Department, in coordination
Security Cooperation Dialogue, which approved a
with the U.S. Agency for International Development
declaration of principles, a framework for engagement, and
(USAID), the Inter-American Foundation, and the U.S.
a broad action plan. In May 2022, Caribbean and U.S.
International Development Finance Corporation to submit a
officials held the 10th security cooperation dialogue, with
strategy to prioritize efforts to increase disaster response
discussions focused on combatting firearms trafficking,
and resilience.
countering illicit maritime trafficking and transnational
organized crime, preventing youth crime and violence,
Coordinated by the State Department’s Bureau of Western
cybersecurity and cybercrime, and human trafficking.
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 FY2023, Congress appropriated
smuggled narcotics, weapons, bulk cash, and other
$913 million for the CBSI, benefiting 13 Caribbean
contraband at airports and seaports;
countries—Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados,
Justice Sector Reform, including support to increase
Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana,
the efficacy of prosecutors and criminal courts and
Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the
reform and strengthen juvenile justice systems; and
Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago (see Table
1 and Figure 1).
Crime Prevention and At-Risk Youth, including
assistance to populations vulnerable to being victims of
For FY2023, the Biden Administration requested $63.5
crime or at risk of recruitment into criminal
million for the CBSI, almost 21% less than appropriated by
organizations.
Congress for FY2022 and 15% less than provided for
Although the State Department has not published CBSI
FY2021. In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023
funding statistics by country, a February 2019 U.S.
(P.L. 117-328, Division K), Congress appropriated “not less
Government Accountability Office report showed that from
than $82 million” for the CBSI, and the explanatory
FY2010 through FY2018, the Dominican Republic received
almost 23% of CBSI funding, and Jamaica just over 19%.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
Some 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-FY2023 (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
32.300
—
35.000
—
7.500
74.800
FY2022 (est.)
35.000
—
35.000
—
10.000
80.000
FY2023 (est.)
37.000
—
35.000
—
10.000
82.000
FY2024 (req.)
28.000
—
29.000
—
7.500
64.500
Total
382.852
6.000
434.871
13.700
140.494
977.917
Sources: U.S. Department of State, Congressional Budget Justifications for Foreign Operations, FY2012 to FY2024; 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),
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (P.L. 117-103); the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328).
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.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
This In Focus updates an earlier version written by former CRS Specialist Mark Sullivan.
Karla I. Rios, Analyst in Latin American Affairs
IF10789
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Updated April 28, 2023
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
The United States developed the Caribbean Basin Security
statement to the measure required a spend plan prior to the
Initiative (CBSI), a regional U.S. foreign assistance program, obligation of funds.
in 2009 through a process of dialogue with Caribbean
countries. The initiative seeks to reduce illicit trafficking in
For FY2024 the Biden Administration has requested $64.5
the region, advance public safety and security, and promote
million for the CBSI, 21% less than Congress appropriated
social justice. Because of their geographic location, many
for FY2023. The FY2024 request for CBSI includes $28
Caribbean nations are vulnerable to being used as transit
million of Economic Support Funds, $29 million of
countries for illicit drugs from South America destined for
International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement aid,
the U.S. and European markets. Strengthened U.S.
and $7.5 million of Foreign Military Financing.
counternarcotics cooperation with Mexico and Central
America led U.S. policymakers to anticipate a potential
The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act,
increase in narcotics trafficking through the Caribbean. Many introduced in the Senate (S. 841) in March 2023, would
Caribbean countries have also suffered high rates of violent
authorize $74.8 million for the CBSI for each fiscal year
crime, including murder, often associated with drug
from FY2023 through FY2027. A variation introduced in
trafficking activities.
the House (H.R. 1802) would authorize $82 million for the
CBSI for each fiscal year from FY2024 through FY2028.
President Obama announced the initiative at the fifth
Both H.R. 1802 and S. 841 would establish monitoring and
Summit of the Americas in 2009, and, in 2010, U.S. and
reporting requirements for the initiative. In addition, both
Caribbean representatives held an inaugural Caribbean-U.S.
bills would require the State Department, in coordination
Security Cooperation Dialogue, which approved a
with the U.S. Agency for International Development
declaration of principles, a framework for engagement, and
(USAID), the Inter-American Foundation, and the U.S.
a broad action plan. In May 2022, Caribbean and U.S.
International Development Finance Corporation to submit a
officials held the 10th security cooperation dialogue, with
strategy to prioritize efforts to increase disaster response
discussions focused on combatting firearms trafficking,
and resilience.
countering illicit maritime trafficking and transnational
organized crime, preventing youth crime and violence,
Coordinated by the State Department’s Bureau of Western
cybersecurity and cybercrime, and human trafficking.
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 FY2023, Congress appropriated
smuggled narcotics, weapons, bulk cash, and other
$913 million for the CBSI, benefiting 13 Caribbean
contraband at airports and seaports;
countries—Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados,
Justice Sector Reform, including support to increase
Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana,
the efficacy of prosecutors and criminal courts and
Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the
reform and strengthen juvenile justice systems; and
Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago (see Table
1 and Figure 1).
Crime Prevention and At-Risk Youth, including
assistance to populations vulnerable to being victims of
For FY2023, the Biden Administration requested $63.5
crime or at risk of recruitment into criminal
million for the CBSI, almost 21% less than appropriated by
organizations.
Congress for FY2022 and 15% less than provided for
Although the State Department has not published CBSI
FY2021. In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023
funding statistics by country, a February 2019 U.S.
(P.L. 117-328, Division K), Congress appropriated “not less
Government Accountability Office report showed that from
than $82 million” for the CBSI, and the explanatory
FY2010 through FY2018, the Dominican Republic received
almost 23% of CBSI funding, and Jamaica just over 19%.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
Some 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-FY2023 (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
32.300
—
35.000
—
7.500
74.800
FY2022 (est.)
35.000
—
35.000
—
10.000
80.000
FY2023 (est.)
37.000
—
35.000
—
10.000
82.000
FY2024 (req.)
28.000
—
29.000
—
7.500
64.500
Total
382.852
6.000
434.871
13.700
140.494
977.917
Sources: U.S. Department of State, Congressional Budget Justifications for Foreign Operations, FY2012 to FY2024; 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),
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (P.L. 117-103); the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328).
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.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
This In Focus updates an earlier version written by former CRS Specialist Mark Sullivan.
Karla I. Rios, Analyst in Latin American Affairs
IF10789
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov