REASON FOR THE CONFERENCE
The Caribbean Nations Security Conference (CANSEC) is an annual U.S. Southern Command-sponsored forum that allows defense and public-security leaders from participating nations to strengthen ties, discuss regional issues, examine challenges, share successes and lessons learned, and explore ways to enhance security cooperation and build on prior successes.
CONFERENCE THEME
Multinational cooperation in a changing operational environment.
CO-HOSTS
Barbados Defence Force and United States Southern Command.
COUNTRIES INVITED TO PARTICIPATE (*co-host)
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, *Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the *United States.
OTHER COUNTRIES INVITED TO PARTICIPATE (North American and European partners)
Canada, France, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mexico, the United Kingdom.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SCHEDULED TO PARTICIPATE (four invited regional organizations)
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Caribbean Community’s Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), Regional Security System (Eastern Caribbean), and the Inter-American Defense Board (Organization of American States).
DESCRIPTION OF REGIONAL SECURITY COOPERATION
Active collaboration between defense and public security forces to support regional stability and citizen security. Security cooperation commonly takes place during internationally supported security operations, such as counter-illicit trafficking missions and disaster relief operations, but also includes other engagements such as multinational exercises, subject matter expert exchanges, and training.
BARBADOS’ HISTORY AS HOST OF CANSEC
Barbados was the first Regional Security System country to host CANSEC almost two decades ago when the region’s defense leaders met in Bridgetown for the regional security conference in 2004.