CARICOM Concerned, Requests Information from the U.S. 

Belize’s Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca commented on the rising U.S. and Venezuela tensions following a U.S. strike in the southern Caribbean that killed 11 people on a suspected drug vessel.

Fonseca told reporters that Belize remains committed to cooperating with international partners on security issues such as narco-trafficking and human trafficking.

“Belize is very committed to working with our international partners, including the United States government, in combatting any criminal, illicit activity along our borders or in the region,” he said. “We are always very concerned as a government about narco-trafficking and human trafficking, so we are already working with many different countries, Mexico, the United States, and even Guatemala.”

He stated that Belize is “absolutely prepared to welcome any effort to tackle narcotrafficking in our region,” which he described as issues that pose “a real threat to the social fabric of our country, to our economic development and to our national security.”

Fonseca also pointed out CARICOM’s longstanding commitment to keeping the Caribbean a “zone of peace”. He said CARICOM members are seeking engagement with the Trump administration to be better informed of what is supporting the growing tension.

The U.S. strike has drawn international criticism, with legal experts warning it may have breached international law.