By Marlon Bute
The recent threat of U.S. visa revocations for Caribbean government officials over their participation in Cuba’s medical programme has triggered a wave of public defiance from some regional leaders. Some have boldly declared they are prepared to lose their U.S. visas rather than yield to pressure.
But this response, while emotionally satisfying, misses the real danger.
This is not just about visas. The United States is demonstrating both the willingness and capability to act against the region in ways that could inflict severe economic damage. This is not a fight about symbolism — it’s a test of whether Caribbean nations can exercise their sovereignty without jeopardising economic survival.
Public bravado achieves little. Strategic diplomacy is the only logical path forward.
The economic reality: U.S. leverage over the Caribbean
The Caribbean’s economic dependence on the United States is staggering. According to data from the International Trade Centre (ITC), the 15 nations of CARICOM source up to 94% of their food imports from the United States (2018). This includes:
- 94% of cereal imports
- 90% of edible fruits and nuts
- 90% of edible vegetables and tubers
- 91% of sugars and confectionery
Although the region still grows many of these products locally, the majority of what is consumed is imported. This includes poultry, beef, pork, cereals, fruits, vegetables, soaps, pharmaceuticals, and even fish — products that should be supplied in greater volumes by regional producers.
It takes six weeks for a chicken to be table-ready, yet SVG alone imports over $40 million in poultry annually. Even pork is imported, forcing local farmers — including my 84-year-old father — to compete against foreign products of unknown quality and rearing conditions.
When I was home in SVG on a visit last October, I checked four supermarkets looking for market for local pork and was told by them that they prefer to import. It wasn’t a question of quality, I imagine, nor price, but because it’s easier to import than to even recognise that by buying local, they would be offering a better-quality product, at a lower cost, that we know is produced safely, while also helping the local economy.
Short crops such as carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, cabbage, and sweet peppers are still grown in SVG and across the Caribbean. However, imports from the U.S. have overtaken local production in supermarkets and food supply chains.
Beyond food, the region is also economically tethered to the U.S. financial system:
- Remittances from the United States are a lifeline for thousands of Caribbean families.
- Correspondent banking relationships, which allow money to flow between local banks and the global system, are controlled by U.S. institutions.
This level of exposure makes the region extremely vulnerable to U.S. action. If Washington chooses to escalate, it can choke off financial access, disrupt trade, and cripple entire economies overnight.
If Caribbean leaders believe Washington wouldn’t take such steps, they need only look at Cuba and Venezuela — two nations that have been economically strangled by U.S. sanctions.
The Caribbean cannot afford to invite similar retaliation through reckless public defiance.
Lessons from U.S. foreign policy: no nation is immune
If Caribbean leaders believe that historical ties or friendly relations will shield them from U.S. pressure, they should look at how Washington treats its closest allies.
Days ago, the U.S. imposed punitive tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium, — despite Canada being one of its largest trade partners and closest allies. And it’s threatening to expand and increase the tariffs — resulting so far in uncertainty among business owners and consumers.
If the U.S. can turn against Canada — a G7 nation — over trade, what makes small Caribbean economies think they are untouchable?
Consider Cuba, Venezuela, and historically, Washington’s destabilising influence in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The best way to protect sovereignty is to exercise it intelligently, not through unnecessary provocations.
The danger of public grandstanding
Some Caribbean leaders have responded to the visa threat by saying: “We don’t care about your visas.”
This approach is short-sighted for several reasons:
1. Visa revocation is just the first step.
- If Caribbean governments escalate, Washington could respond with sanctions, trade restrictions, or financial penalties.
2. The U.S. wields its economic power without hesitation.
- Washington has no issue weaponising financial systems against weaker nations to enforce compliance.
3. The Caribbean is not prepared for an economic battle.
- We lack regional trade infrastructure to offset U.S. economic retaliation.
- Financial restrictions or sanctions could cripple Caribbean economies in ways that would take years to recover from.
What should CARICOM do?
Rather than engaging in public defiance, the region must take a strategic and diplomatic approach to preserve sovereignty while avoiding economic fallout.
1. Quiet diplomacy, not public confrontation
- Engage U.S. officials privately to de-escalate tensions.
- Make it clear that Caribbean partnerships with Cuba are not acts of hostility against the U.S.
2. Safeguard economic stability
- Protect correspondent banking relationships, trade channels, and remittance flows to ensure economic resilience.
- Any escalation with Washington must be calculated, not reckless.
3. Reduce economic dependence on the U.S.
- The fact that CARICOM nations import up to 94% of their food from the U.S. is a crisis.
- We must invest in regional agriculture and manufacturing to reduce dependence on U.S. imports.
- A strong regional economy gives us leverage in global diplomacy — without it, we remain hostages to external pressure.
Closing thoughts
The Caribbean must stand firm on its right to independent foreign policy–but it must do so intelligently.
Defending sovereignty does not mean engaging in symbolic battles that risk economic collapse. It means ensuring that the region remains politically resilient and economically stable in the face of external pressure.
Quiet diplomacy is not weakness — it is a strategy for long-term survival.
Caribbean leaders must ask themselves: Do we want to make bold statements, or do we want to secure our economies and protect our people?
The answer should be clear.
The opinions presented in this content belong to the author and may not necessarily reflect the perspectives or editorial stance of iWitness News. Opinion pieces can be submitted to [email protected].
Caribbean leaders are sell out. they are traitors. they have already sold out their sovereignty to china. they keep oppressing their people. staying in power for 25 years and more. so go fix that first..
This is really one man trying to bully the rest of world. The caribbean needs to stand up to this bully. The actions and impacts if any would be short-lived and adjustments would be needed to lessen the impact but we cannot allow ourselves to be bullied by a want to be dictator.
Give me a break! Why should the CARICOM leaders kiss Trump arse? They have been importing too man food products that can be grown and produce in the islands and that should stop. They also don’t need to visit the US because they can attend meetings in other countries to discuss issues that affect all CARICOM nations and other countries.
This also gives CARICOM an opportunity to open trade with Canada who would be willing to help because of the US attitude dealing with Canada. Then there are African nations who are heavily involved in new technology that can move CARICOM nations forward.
The points addressed in this article to condescending for Caribbean nations who fought slavery and push back against apartheid that tried to keep them down for many years.
Cuba and Venezuela have survived the pressure America has been imposing on them for many years and so can the CARICOM nations.
It’s time to get up and stand up for our rights! No arse kissing
Kudos me bwoy. Caricom should start taking care of their own food. This would probably free them from IMF and World Bank monies. There is so much arable lands in the Caribbean. It would be a shame not to use it. Stop thinking these people are your friends.
#3 is what has to be worked on expeditiously.
Generally well argued but the long term replacement of the plantocracy in most of the Caribbean by small, unmechanized peasant enterprises few young people want to engage in is the root cause of the heavy dependence on imported food.
The small scale of peasant farming and other production means there is no prospect that investment in regional agriculture, let alone local manufacturing, would ever reduce dependence on U.S. (and Chinese) imports.
In short, we have no cards to play — none — in combating political pressure from the United States.
We must submit to the will of the Americans or suffer the dire consequences which would also include the loss of migration opportunities and the forcible return of thousands of undocumented immigrants.