Caribbean regional integration and economic strategy

Caribbean leadership is shifting toward a vision that prioritizes collective capacity and strategic foresight to overcome the inherent constraints of small island states, such as limited markets and high import costs. This approach emphasizes economic diversification into sectors like the blue economy, digital services, and specialized manufacturing to mitigate risks from climate change and geopolitical competition.

Building on this vision, CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett has called for deeper regional integration to combat global uncertainty. This strategy seeks to move beyond traditional trade liberalization, focusing instead on food and energy security, digital transformation, and enhanced connectivity. Strengthening partnerships with Latin America and utilizing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy are viewed as essential steps to drive economic transformation and build resilience against technological shifts and investment competition.

However, internal divisions have emerged regarding how the bloc should manage foreign policy in relation to United States influence. Member states are currently split into three strategic directions: leveraging the benefits of US power, protecting against the asymmetric consequences of such influence, or pursuing a middle-ground diplomatic path. This tension reflects a broader debate on maintaining agency in a multipolar system. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has emerged as a leading advocate for multilateralism and collective action, while Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar represents a more pragmatic approach to working with predominant global powers.