CARICOM seeking talks with Trump

CARICOM Heads of Government have announced that they are seeking dialogue with newly reinstalled United States (US) President Donald Trump to discuss matters of urgent concern to the Caribbean, especially recent actions taken by the Trump administration. In furtherance of this quest, CARICOM is to extend an invitation for the US President to pay a visit to the region where he is likely to get a better feel of how the Caribbean feels on these matters and as a result be more responsive to Caribbean concerns. Wishful thinking?

The initiative to invite the US leader arose out of discussions held during the 48th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting which concluded in Barbados last Friday, February 21. The decision was announced by Antigua’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne who stressed that the radical changes being made by the US administration including in trade, immigration, and the withdrawal of US foreign aid along with its actions in leaving key international bodies such as the World Health Organisation and the global organisation on climate, can have major implications for Caribbean countries.

So far there has been no response from US sources with the new administration busy with its own radical agenda. There has been much comment and reaction in Caribbean circles about Trump’s heartless deportation policies, and in fact the CARICOM Heads specifically mentioned the removal of Temporary Protection Status by the

US government for more than a half million Haitians in the USA. However Caribbean governments are even more concerned about the broader policies and their impact on such issues as trade and the global financial system, as well as the social effects in areas such as health.

It is unclear how CARICOM expects President Trump to react. In his first administration an invitation had been extended to some CARICOM leaders to visit Washington, but from all reports this was far from a success. In addition, in recent years it is clear that the Caribbean is not a priority in US foreign policy terms and definitely is not high on Mr Trump’s agenda. While important, there does not seem to be much enthusiasm over the success of any such meeting.

But this should not deter CARICOM in its quest for some sort of resolution on critical issues as well as some clarity on US policy positions. These are concerns shared by many other regional blocs. For instance, the USA is partner to a trade agreement with its closest neighbours, Canada and Mexico, but it has not stopped the Trump administration from imposing further tariffs on both, or to put forward highly offensive territorial claims on Canada and the Gulf of Mexico. If it can treat its neighbours who are among its largest trading partners like that, what hope is there for the Caribbean?

Yet the matters are of such fundamental importance that every effort must be pursued for dialogue. We also need to seek common ground with other regional blocs and international groupings to combat the potential economic and social catastrophe that can envelop the world as a consequence. No individual grouping or country can by itself accomplish this. Solidarity and international cooperation must be the name of the game.