About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline

LOG IN
LOG IN


1 [1] (November 27, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/goverkv0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service inforrning th~ eag sI ative debate since 191-4 Caribbean Basin Security Initiative The United States developed the Caribbean Basin Security CBS Initiative (CBSI), a regional U.S. foreign assistance program, the in 2009 through a process of dialogue with Caribbean with countries. The initiative seeks to reduce illicit trafficking in Unit the region, advance public safety and security, and prevent and youth crime and violence. Because of their geographic location, many Caribbean nations are vulnerable to being For used as transit countries for illicit drugs from South America $81. destined for the U.S. and European markets. At the time of appr the CBSI's establishment, strengthened U.S. counternarcotics actio cooperation with Mexico and Central America led U.S. Hou policymakers to anticipate a potential increase in narcotics forei trafficking through the Caribbean. Many Caribbean countries legis also have suffered from high rates of violent crime, including $97. murder, often associated with drug trafficking activities. mad President Obama announced the CBSI at the fifth Summit zone of the Americas in 2009. In 2010, U.S. and Caribbean 479 representatives held an inaugural Caribbean-U.S. Security CBS Cooperation Dialogue, which approved a declaration of supp principles, a framework for engagement, and a broad action equi plan. In November 2023, Caribbean and U.S. officials held requ the 11 h Security Cooperation Dialogue to review progress illici under CBSI and set priorities; discussions focused on crim combatting firearms trafficking, countering illicit maritime trafficking and transnational organized crime, preventing Coo youth crime and violence, cybersecurity and cybercrime, He and efforts to address trafficking in persons. Dep In 2017, the State Department released a U.S. strategy for has t engagement in the Caribbean (required by P.L. 114-291, the * United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of a 2016). Among the priorities for engagement is security, o with the objectives of strengthening mutual national s security and advancing citizens' safety through programs to dismantle criminal and terrorist organizations, curb the * trafficking of illicit goods and people, strengthen the rule of a law, and counter vulnerability to terrorist threats-all p efforts central to the CBSI. c Congress has appropriated funding for the CBSI. From i FY2010 through FY2024, U.S. funding for the initiative s exceeded $942 million. The CBSI has included programs c benefiting 13 Caribbean countries-Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago-as well as regional activities (see * Table 1 and Figure 1). a The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L. o 118-47), provided not less than $88.0 million for the Acc CBSI. That sum is $23.5 million more than the Biden FY2 Administration requested for the initiative for FY2024 and of C $6.0 million more than the estimated allocation for the was Updated November 27, 2024 I in FY2023. The explanatory statement accompanying act directed that funds be prioritized for countries in the transit zones of illicit drug shipments toward the ed States that have increased interdiction of illicit drugs are most directly impacted by the crisis in Haiti. FY2025, the Biden Administration requested 0 million for the CBSI, 8.0% less than Congress opriated for FY2024. Congress has not concluded n on FY2025 appropriations and may draw from se-passed (H.R. 8771) and Senate-reported (S. 4797) gn assistance funding bills as it considers final lation. H.R. 8771 would designate not less than 5 million for the CBSI and would direct that funds e available for the initiative above the FY2024 level continue to prioritize countries that are in illicit drug transit s and that are most impacted by the crisis in Haiti. S. 7 would designate not less than $88 million for the I. S.Rept. 118-200, accompanying the bill, expresses ort for efforts to transfer, or otherwise acquire, pment for partner countries [in the Caribbean] that ire additional resources to better detect and interdict t drugs and investigate and dismantle transnational inal organizations. rdinated by the State Department's Bureau of Western misphere affairs and implemented largely by the State artment, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Department of Defense, the CBSI argeted U.S. assistance in five areas: Maritime and Aerial Security Cooperation, including ssistance to strengthen Caribbean maritime and aerial perations capability, improve radar coverage, and ustain those capabilities; Law Enforcement Capacity Building, including ssistance to improve law enforcement though police rofessionalization, anti-corruption training, and ommunity-based policing; * Border/Port Security and Firearms Interdiction, ncluding support to improve capacity to intercept muggled narcotics, weapons, bulk cash, and other ontraband at airports and seaports; ustice Sector Reform, including support to increase he efficacy of prosecutors and criminal courts and eform and strengthen juvenile justice systems; and Crime Prevention and At-Risk Youth, including ssistance to populations vulnerable to being victims of crime or at risk of recruitment into criminal rganizations. ording to the State Department, from FY2015 through 023, the Dominican Republic received roughly 29.3% BSI funding and Jamaica received about 18.8%; 16.6% for region-wide activities.