This is not the first time that influential Americans, and even regional influencers, have suggested that U.S. leaders and Congress should pay more attention to the Caribbean. Fears are increasing that any further lapses will create more space for emerging superpower China to win friends and influence governments in America’s backyard.
As leaders gather this week in Barbados for the first of their two main summits this year, a concerned group of American congressional representatives has asked the Trump administration to switch to regional leaders or China will eventually be the dominant player in the Caribbean. The group has written to new Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging Washington to send a high-level delegation to engage Caribbean prime ministers and presidents formally during their three-day summit, which starts on Wednesday.
The letter comes amid growing concerns in the U.S. about the speed at which China is winning friends in the Caribbean, with its state and private sector corporations investing billions in various areas, from commercial offshore oil production to state contracts from several governments in the 15-nation bloc.
The congressional representatives say time is running out for the U.S. as China moves in, and the way to beat back this is to engage the region formally and at a high-enough level.
“Continued U.S. support for economic development, natural disaster resilience, and democratic governance is crucial to provide an alternative to China’s pernicious model in the Caricom area, during a year with six national elections — including in two Taiwan-allied states — in the region,” the letter stated. “The meeting will provide the United States the opportunity to deepen its commitment to our mutually beneficial diplomatic, energy, economic, and security ties with partners in the Caribbean region.”
The missive to Rubio was initiated by members of Congress Joaquin Castro, a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere; Gregory Meeks, a member of Foreign Affairs; Yvette Clark, co-chair of the Congressional Caribbean Caucus; and Stacey Plaskett.
The concerned lawmakers appear to be reminding Washington that the Caribbean is right in the U.S. backyard — just off Florida — and should attract the type of attention it deserves because of trade, security, and other matters.
“The Caribbean is a key pillar of U.S. national security,” stated the letter. “As the third border of the United States, the Caribbean plays an indispensable role in addressing regional challenges, from countering illicit drug trafficking to curbing irregular migration and human smuggling. The Caribbean is essential to U.S. trade and energy security, serving as a crucial hub for shipping lanes and a strategic partner in diversifying energy sources.”
As the work week began and preparations heightened for the summit, it is unclear who will lead an American delegation, if any. For its part, the U.S. has engaged the region at the highest levels over the decades, from President Reagan in the 1980s to Clinton in 1997 to Obama in 2009 and others. Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken also met leaders, as did Hillary Rodham Clinton and others, but the current fear of the Congress representatives appears to be linked specifically to China’s growing influence in the region while the U.S. is otherwise engaged.
“It is a region where the United States remains the number-one trading partner and welcomes millions of U.S. citizens annually, while a vibrant Caribbean diaspora here in the United States solidifies our economic and cultural bridges. Bolstering cooperation with, and the capacity of, our Caribbean partners through high-level engagement serves as a force multiplier for the litany of U.S. national security and economic priorities in the region. Sustained high-level U.S. engagement is necessary to keep coercion at bay.”
Regional leaders like Guyanese President Irfaan Ali have suggested that China and its business owners are much more aggressive than Americans: They are snapping up most of the billion-dollar project opportunities in the region while governments struggle to get the attention of Washington and Congress.