United on Crime!
In a recent show of regional solidarity, CARICOM leaders agreed to work together to combat crime, including an ambitious proposal to designate criminal gangs as terrorist organizations (see here, here, and here.) This move appears to signal a growing recognition of the urgent need to tackle escalating violence in the Caribbean through stronger cooperation, legislative changes, and enhanced law enforcement collaboration.
However, Divided on Ukraine?
In spite of the above, it appears that when it came to voting on a global issue at the United Nations, specifically the resolution titled Advancing a Comprehensive, Just, and Lasting Peace in Ukraine, CARICOM members were not as united (see here). The voting patterns reveal interesting divisions within the bloc, raising questions about CARICOM’s foreign policy cohesion.
While CARICOM stood together on tackling crime, the bloc appeared to be somewhat fractured when it came to the UN resolution on Ukraine.
How CARICOM Countries Voted on the UN Resolution
✅ Voted Yes (Supported the Resolution):
- Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago
❌ Voted No (Opposed the Resolution):
- Haiti
🤝 Abstained (Neither Supported Nor Opposed):
- Dominica, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
This voting pattern seems to highlight a lack of consensus on global affairs within CARICOM. While most member states supported the resolution, Haiti opposed it, and three nations opted for neutrality by abstaining.
What Does This Says About CARICOM’s Unity?
The contrast between regional unity on crime and divergence on international politics suggests that CARICOM is more effective at forming a common stance on internal matters than on global diplomatic issues.
While Caribbean nations share common security concerns, their foreign policy decisions are often influenced by historical ties, geopolitical alignments, and economic dependencies. Some CARICOM countries may have abstained from the UN vote to maintain relationships with multiple global powers, while others took a firmer stance in support of Ukraine.
Final Thoughts
CARICOM’s commitment to tackling crime is a promising development, but its apparent divided stance on the UN resolution underscores the challenges of achieving a unified foreign policy. As the region strengthens cooperation on crime, will CARICOM also work toward a more cohesive global diplomatic approach? Only time will tell, but for now, the contrast between regional solidarity and international division is striking.
caribbeansignal.com is the personal blog of Amit Uttamchandani. Posts or comments made by Amit on this blog represent His personal views, opinions, thoughts, et cetera.