Premier of Nevis, Mark Brantley, believes that the Caribbean, through CARICOM, should adopt a more measured and collective approach in responding to the Trump administration’s policies.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Sunday, Brantley emphasized the need for a thoughtful, flexible diplomatic strategy in the face of rapidly shifting global and hemispheric dynamics.
“Our region needs a well thought out and well-crafted diplomatic strategy which must be flexible enough to allow us to plan for and respond to a rapidly changing hemispheric and global environment,” Brantley said.
Caribbean leaders have recently voiced concerns over the Trump administration’s plans to impose visa restrictions on countries benefiting from Cuba’s medical missions. The US government claims that these nations are contributing to Cuba’s alleged exploitation of medical personnel.
The leaders are also responding to the threat of visa restrictions related to issues such as passport security, failure to share traveler information with the US, and the sale of citizenship to individuals from banned countries.
In his statement, Brantley stressed that the Caribbean, as the “third border” of the United States, must present a unified front and avoid responding unilaterally to these challenges.
“From Guyana in the South to The Bahamas in the North, our diplomatic strategy over the near term must be coordinated and agile and must respond not to the occupant of the White House but to the strategic interests of our Caribbean people. At best, the Caribbean needs a win in our engagement with the United States over the next 4 years. At worst, we can settle for a draw,” he said.
Brantley cautioned against emotional outbursts and unproductive criticism, particularly when it comes to the democratically elected leadership of the United States.
“Heaping odium and contempt upon a democratically elected President of the world’s leading superpower may make for good headlines but does not constitute a strategy. Bold statements from regional leaders about sovereignty may excite emotions at the local rum shop but have little impact in the real world of geopolitics,” he warned.
Brantley further argued that the Caribbean must recognize and respect the outcome of the US elections, where President Donald Trump won a decisive victory.
He explained that Trump had followed through on his campaign promises, particularly addressing the issues he claimed would “make America great again.”
“In the 2024 election, Trump won 31 out of 50 states, securing 77,284,118 votes, or 49.8 percent of the total, which is the second-highest vote total in US history. This landslide victory indicates that most American states and voters support his values and priorities,” Brantley said.
Reflecting on the broader geopolitical context, Brantley expressed concern that emotional reactions from some in the Caribbean and beyond were counterproductive.
“I have abiding faith in the intellectual capacity and innovation of our Caribbean civilization to navigate these uncharted and difficult waters. We have the talent. Now we must muster the political will,” he concluded.
This post was originally published on here
