Caracas maintains territorial, maritime, and border disputes with several Caribbean countries, leading to uneasy ties between Venezuela and many of its neighbors.
Security & Defense
Bogota presented evidence at an OAS session that Venezuela knowingly provides sanctuary and support to FARC and ELN rebels within its territory. Caracas responded by breaking diplomatic ties with its neighbor.
Central American leaders gathered in San Salvador July 20 to coordinate strategies for stemming the rising tide of violence caused by organized crime, particularly in the “northern triangle” of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.
The resignation of Carlos Castresana marks an alarming new juncture in the battle to regain control of state institutions from deeply entrenched criminal interests.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Barbados to support the recent launch of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. The agreement, proposed last year by U.S. President Barack Obama, provides funds for anti-corruption and counternarcotics operations in 15 Caribbean countries.
Recent civil unrest in Jamaica raised concerns about the goverment's ability to tackle criminal gangs and drug lords. Experts disagree on the prime minister’s future political prospects in the wake of turmoil in Tivoli Gardens sparked by the search for kingpin Christopher Coke.
Panama's Ambassador to the U.S. on why the region needs to address security challenges collectively.