Antigua and Barbuda has joined 19 other member states of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in voicing “deep concern” over the recent deployment of extra-regional military forces to the Caribbean.
In a joint declaration, the countries warned that the arrival of warships and other assets in the Southern Caribbean—announced by the United States as part of anti-drug trafficking operations—risked undermining peace and security in the region. Venezuela described the move as a provocation and “the greatest threat faced by Latin America in a century.”
The signatories, which include Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela, reaffirmed their commitment to protecting democracy, stability and development. They also pledged continued cooperation against organised crime and drug trafficking, but stressed that such efforts must be pursued “within the framework of respect for international law.”
