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Press Release | Nov. 12, 2019

U.S. to Co-host Caribbean Security Conference in Miami with Canada, European Partners

MIAMI – Defense leaders from the United States, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom will co-host military and public-security leaders from nations and territories in the Caribbean at U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Nov. 14-15, 2019.  Discussions will focus on the effective use of regional security cooperation mechanisms to support disaster relief operations and missions countering transnational threats.

U.S. Navy Adm. Craig Faller will welcome more than 100 invited participants to the 2019 Caribbean Nations Security Conference (CANSEC) 8 a.m., Thursday. His welcoming remarks will be open to the press.

Ronald Jackson, executive director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and Lt. Col. Michael Jones, acting director of the Caribbean Community’s Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) will attend representing their regional institutions.

CDEMA will update participants on the agency’s integration efforts in support of a comprehensive disaster management strategy during the first day of the conference, which will explore improving regional coordination and operational capacity to plan and conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

Day two of CANSEC will focus on regional efforts to counter transnational threats. CARICOM IMPACS will update participants on its work to implement a regional architecture supporting CARICOM-led actions that strengthen security and reduce crime.

This year’s CANSEC discussions will add to ongoing U.S. dialogue with Caribbean partners on security. In April, the U.S. State Department hosted a ministerial meeting with Caribbean leaders on disaster resilience. In May, the State Department hosted its eighth security cooperation dialogue with Caribbean leaders. And in October, Barbados hosted Caribbean delegations during the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Caribbean Resilience Partnership working group.

The ongoing dialogue is part of the U.S. Strategy for Engagement in the Caribbean. Dubbed U.S.-Caribbean 2020, the multi-year strategy aims to increase the security, prosperity, and well-being of the people of the United States and the Caribbean.

Support for the Caribbean from Canada, France, the Royal Netherlands and the United Kingdom underscores those countries’ longstanding support to the region and the commitment of like-minded nations that work closely with security partners in the Caribbean.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• U.S. Southern Command:

https://www.southcom.mil/ 

• U.S.-Caribbean 2020 Strategy:
https://www.state.gov/u-s-strategy-for-engagement-in-the-caribbean/#Caribbean 

• U.S.-Caribbean Resilience Partnership ministerial meeting April 12, 2019 at USSOUTHCOM
(VIDEO)

 

• Eighth U.S.-Caribbean security cooperation dialogue May 16, 2019:

(VIDEO) https://video.state.gov/detail/videos/top-stories/video/6037640342001/eighth-caribbean-united-states-security-cooperation-dialogue?autoStart=true 

• Inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Caribbean Resilience Partnership working group Oct. 23-34, 2019, in Barbados

https://www.state.gov/united-states-announces-1-5-million-to-advance-resilience-and-energy-initiatives-in-the-caribbean/ 

• Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)

https://www.cdema.org/about-us  

• Caribbean Community Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS)

https://www.caricomimpacs.org/aboutus 
 

COMMANDER'S PRIORITIES