Caribbean Community Summit Opens, U.S. Military Actions Become Target of Criticism

[Global Times Comprehensive Report] On the 24th local time, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit officially opened in the Caribbean island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis. According to a report by the British "Guardian" on the 25th, the summit will last for four days and will be attended by representatives from 15 countries. Against the backdrop of the United States continuing military strikes against so-called "drug trafficking vessels" and maintaining an oil blockade against Cuba, U.S. intervention actions have become the focus of the summit. Attending leaders expressed unease and concern over a series of recent hardline measures by the U.S. government, calling for "constructive dialogue" to resolve differences.

Reports indicate that as the summit convenes, member countries of the Caribbean Community have expressed strong dissatisfaction with a series of hardline policies implemented by the U.S. in the region over the past year, including pressuring regional countries to reject Cuban medical missions and cooling relations with China. Additionally, the U.S. consideration of deploying military equipment in the Caribbean region has also raised alarms. The newly elected Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Godwin Friday, stated that the Caribbean region is facing "dual challenges from both internal and external sources," and that the international rules and norms that have been taken for granted for years are undergoing concerning changes.

The situation in Cuba has become one of the focal points of this summit. Several leaders warned that Cuba is facing severe economic difficulties, energy shortages, and increasing humanitarian pressures, and if the crisis persists, it will inevitably affect the entire Caribbean region. The outgoing CARICOM rotating chair, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, emphasized, "It must be clear that Cuba's long-term crisis will not be limited to Cuba." He called for support for "constructive dialogue" between Cuba and the U.S. aimed at easing tensions, promoting reform, and achieving stability. The new rotating chair, Prime Minister Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis, also called on the international community to provide humanitarian support to Cuba during the opening ceremony and suggested that CARICOM should serve as a bridge to promote dialogue among all parties.

In addition, U.S. military actions have also become a target of criticism. Since September 2025, the U.S. military has launched multiple strikes in the Caribbean under the pretext of combating "drug terrorists," primarily targeting suspected "drug traffickers" on small boats, resulting in at least 151 deaths, most of whom are from the Caribbean region. The most recent strike occurred on the 23rd of this month, resulting in three fatalities. The U.S. has yet to provide evidence that the targeted vessels were involved in drug trafficking, while families of the victims in the Caribbean have condemned these attacks. According to reports, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio is scheduled to arrive in St. Kitts and Nevis on the 25th to hold talks with leaders from the Caribbean region. Although the State Department has not yet released a specific list of participants for the talks, Rubio plans to discuss issues such as regional security, trade, and economic growth. (Zhou Yang)