In a move that is being widely viewed as a massive cave-in to U.S. pressure, the leadership of the Eastern Caribbean nation of Antigua has said that it is now willing to accept non-criminal deportees from the U.S., three weeks after Washington restricted visa travel for locals.
Late last year, Prime Minister Gaston Browne showed some political and sovereign strength when he announced that his federation with Barbuda would not allow the U.S. to set up a military radar base or any similar facility in the country, as the U.S. had been pressing Grenada and other nations to do. The system was eventually set up in Tobago, thanks to the strident support from the administration of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for almost every single move that the United States has made in the South Caribbean, as Washington has set its sights on removing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and taking control of the country and its petroleum resources.
Speaking on a Pointe FM radio show at the weekend, Browne admitted that the federation has signed an agreement with the U.S. to accept non-criminal deportees, as he denied that the deal is linked to recent partial restrictions on travel of the country’s citizens to the U.S.
“We signed an agreement which gives us the authority, not that we accept whomever, and that the United States will provide intelligence. I am reporting to my people. This is not supposed to remain a secret. We made it abundantly clear. We are not taking the criminal deportees from a third nation. We signed the agreement, which gives us the authority not to accept whomever. The U.S. will provide intelligence.”
Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle lashed out at Browne, saying he has caved in simply because of the massive negative reaction the governing party has received from the visa restriction on citizens traveling to the United States.
“We must strenuously object to this decision by the PM to turn our beloved nation into a repository for persons not wanted even by their home countries. We must protect. We must resist. We must reclaim Antigua and Barbuda,” he said.
The announcement came just hours after American military forces had snatched President Maduro and his wife in a lightning move early on Saturday.
The move forced Caribbean Community leaders into a pre-daybreak emergency meeting to discuss the issue as two of its member states — Guyana and Trinidad — share borders with Venezuela and already have the burden of hosting more than 100,000 Venezuelan economic migrants.
“Caricom is actively monitoring the situation, which is of grave concern to the region with possible implications for neighboring countries. Caricom will continue to update the people of the region as more information is received,” the bloc stated in a statement.
For its part, Trinidad, which had openly criticized its fellow bloc nations for their lukewarm support for the U.S., rushed to assure Venezuelans that it had nothing to do with Maduro’s departure in any way. “Earlier this morning, Saturday, 3rd January 2026, the United States commenced military operations within the territory of Venezuela. Trinidad and Tobago is NOT a participant in any of these ongoing military operations. Trinidad and Tobago continues to maintain peaceful relations with the people of Venezuela,” PM Persad-Bissessar stated in a social media post.
As an indication of how ideologically removed Trinidad is from most of the region on things American and Venezuelan, PM Persad-Bissessar was asked to react to a part of the Maduro indictment alleging that top Caribbean officials are seen to have been linked to organized cocaine trafficking from Venezuela to the U.S.
“I’m not surprised at all. As the story continues to unfold, I have no doubt that many respectable and celebrated people across all sectors of society will be exposed,” she said, days after referring to the 15-nation bloc as dysfunctional and unreliable.
Neighboring Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados says the region has to closely monitor developments as they unfold.
“It is fair to say that what we see unfold in Venezuela is uncharted territory. We live in exceedingly challenging times,” she said, supporting what she called the need for “matured conversations to take place” on simmering issues such as Venezuela.
Down south to Guyana, authorities there said they had stepped up the level of alertness by security forces in regions bordering Venezuela in the event of a surge of migrants crossing the river border.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips and other top officials were rushed to the northwestern region nearest to Venezuela to meet with troops and residents. He urged vigilance from residents and security forces.
“We’re focusing on ensuring that stability in Guyana is maintained, and we don’t have any unusual activity or activities inimical to our state of security here in Guyana. I can assure you that the police and the defense force are on a high state of readiness; a high state of alert. They have the troops deployed throughout Guyana, both on the borders, the hinterland, and on the coastland, and they’ve been conducting operations aimed at maintaining confidence in our society. Report any unusual activity,” he said.