(Trinidad Guardian) Caribbean countries yesterday came in for high commendation from the US South Command for condemning the Russian aggression in Ukraine.
This was announced during the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Nation Security Conference (CANSEC) 2022 in Barbados.
Delivering his opening remarks, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere Daniel Erikson said the US and the Caribbean “must stand together against war and for peace.”
“The prosperity and security of the United States are linked to the growth and prosperity and security of the Caribbean,” Erikson said.
“Today, we meet in a zone of peace here in the Caribbean, we also meet against the backdrop of war. I would like to commend our Caribbean partners for condemning the Russian aggression in Ukraine. We must stand together against war and for peace.”
“CANSEC is a clear demonstration of the Department of Defense’s commitment to strengthen these bonds and commitments and partnerships. Department of Defense’s substantial engagement demonstrates our dedication to strengthen these relationships into addressing shared interests and threats,” he added.
SOUTHCOM Commander, US Army General Laura Richardson, in her address, indicated that one of the most imminent threats faced is transnational criminal organisations (TCOs).
“TCOs are poisoning the Caribbean and American people, trafficking in drugs, arms, humans and other illicit products and worsening corruption. Local gangs engage in violent crime, kidnapping and sexual assault. They are even involved in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, robbing the region of 20 to 30 per cent of fish stocks and costing the Caribbean $750 million each year,” Richardson said.
Another emerging threat that can’t be ignored is cyberattacks, Richardson added.
She said just last year, Microsoft reported that a China-based hacking group called NICKEL had conducted cyberattacks against 29 countries, including Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
“Cybercrimes have only increased in the region since the pandemic and we must do more together to defend ourselves in the cyber domain,” she said.
“Related to this is 5G, which will roll out in the region very soon. In the Caribbean, the US and other democratic societies, our citizens cherish personal privacy. But some telecommunication companies linked to the People’s Republic of China have been accused of allowing the PRC to access sensitive information about local citizens, which is a potential security risk for all of us.”
Richardson also noted that the gathering in the Caribbean for the event is at a critical moment in world history.
“Last month, the world witnessed Vladimir Putin start an unprovoked and horrific invasion of the sovereign nation of Ukraine. It was the most flagrant violation of the most fundamental principles the international community established after World War Two: self-determination and national sovereignty.
“For decades, Caribbean countries have long been champions of these sacred principles. A threat to democracy anywhere, is a threat to democracy everywhere. Caricom added their voice to the chorus of peace-loving democracies around the world condemning Russia’s invasion and calling for an immediate ceasefire. This region truly is a ‘Zone of Peace,’ as all Caricom members so eloquently stated last month. What we’re doing right here at CANSEC is working together to keep the Caribbean a Zone of Peace,” Richardson said.
She added that the recent crisis in Europe will undoubtedly impact the Caribbean and other regions in the world by way of increasing energy prices and supply chain disruptions.
“But I also know that the Caribbean faces unique cross-cutting threats in an ever-changing security environment.”
CANSEC is a US Southern Command-sponsored annual regional security forum to encourage defence and security leaders to strengthen ties of cooperation, discuss regional issues, examine challenges, share lessons learned and explore ways to improve cooperation on security matters. This year’s event ends today and is co-hosted by the Barbados Defence Force and SOUTHCOM.