Antigua PM Warns Against Military Buildup as U.S. Forces Escalate in Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne warned Friday that the Caribbean must remain a “zone of peace,” voicing alarm at a surge in U.S. military deployments in the region.
“While Antigua and Barbuda stands ready to work with all partners against traffickers, we are concerned with the buildup of military assets, including a nuclear submarine, indicating the possibility of military conflict,” Browne told the U.N. General Assembly. “We remind everyone that our hemisphere should be respected as a zone of peace, not a theater of military conflict”.
The comments came as Washington has bolstered its presence in the southern Caribbean with at least seven surface warships and a fast-attack submarine, part of what the Trump administration calls a crackdown on “narco-terrorist” cartels. In early September, U.S. forces struck a Venezuelan vessel alleged to be carrying narcotics, killing 11 people, in an operation that drew protests over legality and sovereignty. Venezuela responded by scrambling F-16 jets near a U.S. destroyer in a tense encounter officials described as provocative.
Analysts say the scale of the U.S. buildup raises broader questions about its purpose. While the Pentagon has framed the deployment as a counter-drug mission, experts note that many trafficking routes avoid the Caribbean altogether, suggesting a show of force directed partly at Venezuela’s government. Regional leaders have warned the buildup risks destabilizing smaller states caught in the middle.
Browne’s call, though brief, underscored a longstanding Caribbean position that peace and cooperation — not militarization — should guide hemispheric security. His remarks came in a speech that otherwise focused on climate change, global financing, and international law.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
