The U.S. is driving multimillion-dollar investment in Caribbean ports to strengthen its influence

The U.S. State Department announced a plan to allocate 10 million dollars to strengthen the port infrastructure in the Caribbean, as part of a roundtable discussion with leaders from the U.S. maritime industry and port authorities in the region.

The event, held on Monday in Washington, brought together representatives from the private sector and Caribbean officials to promote what the Department of State referred to as commercial diplomacy and the protection of critical infrastructure in the region, according to an official statement  from the Office of the Spokesperson published on their website.

The funds will be channeled through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), a program launched in 2010 that brings together the U.S. and 13 partner Caribbean countries, including Jamaica, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Dominican Republic.

According to the statement, this event underscores the U.S. commitment to strengthening economic cooperation and developing high-quality infrastructure in the Caribbean port sector.

The participants discussed the expansion of investment from the U.S. private sector and the identification of opportunities to strengthen port infrastructure, trade, and tourism across the region, while at the same time maintaining ethical and transparent business practices.