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Guyana, Trinidad refuse to sign CARICOM statement against US military action in Cuba
…move sparks concerns on regional solidarity
(Kaieteur News) – Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago have reserved their positions on CARICOM’s statement on the U.S. government’s “ongoing and intensifying economic, commercial, and financial measures” being imposed on Cuba.
The two countries are the lone CARICOM states that are part of the Shield of the Americas – a U.S.-led security framework launched by President Donald Trump at a March 2026 summit in Miami. The 17-nation body is focused on fighting transnational criminal organizations, stopping illegal immigration, and countering Chinese influence.
President Irfaan Ali with regional leaders at the Shield of the Americas summit held in Miami, Florida in March 2026. (Irfaan Ali Facebook page)
Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali was among leaders from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago who were invited by President Trump for the Summit.
On Wednesday, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) expressed its “profound concern” over what is transpiring in Cuba.
“The COFCOR reminds that the mounting hardships facing the Cuban people also seriously impact CARICOM nationals studying and living in Cuba, whose well-being remains a priority for the Community.
These measures compound the trade and economic embargo imposed on Cuba for over six decades, which has had a deleterious effect on the lives and livelihoods of the Cuban people,” the statement said.
Further, COFCOR said it “unequivocally affirms Cuba’s sovereign right to import and receive fuel, and condemns the obstruction of energy supplies to Cuba, which has precipitated a grave humanitarian crisis.”
The Region’s Foreign and Community Relations body reiterated the need to preserve the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace and “expresses alarm at recent statements that suggest the possibility of military aggression against the Republic of Cuba.”
“…any such action would inflict unnecessary human suffering, impose grave material costs, and fundamentally destabilize the security architecture of the entire Caribbean region.
As a matter of international law and in solidarity with the resolutions adopted year after year by the overwhelming majority of United Nations member states, the COFCOR reaffirms that Cuba poses no threat to any nation, that it stands as a peaceful and cooperative member of the international community, and that the continued application of these unilateral coercive measures constitutes an unjustifiable violation of human rights, the principles of free trade, and the fundamental norms governing relations among sovereign states,” COFCOR said.
The relationship between Cuba and the United States has been strained and fragile for decades and over the last few weeks deteriorated significantly. The U.S. has accused the Spanish-speaking country of being a national security threat while imposing oil blockade and sanctions on the country. Last week, the U.S. went further to indict former leader Raúl Castro for murder. The U.S. has accused Castro over the 1996 downing of two planes, an incident that killed four people and fuelled diplomatic tensions between Washington and the Caribbean island.
The BBC reported last week that both China and Russia condemned the U.S. decision to charge Castro with murder. The Chinese foreign ministry called on the U.S. to stop using “coercion” and “threats” against its ally, while the Kremlin said the pressure being exerted on Havana “borders on violence”.
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Sir. Ronald Sanders
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As they were the only 2 YES MAN/ YESWOMAN invited to the SHIELD OF THE
AMERICAS (meaning- Shielding the USA) from what ? Oh, they cannot vote
NO to anything Trump does, want to do. An owner always has leash on his dogs
to prevent them straying too far.