Yesterday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved an amended version of H.R. 4368, the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act. The bill was introduced by Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) and Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). It now moves to the House floor for further consideration.
The proposed legislation aims to update and authorize the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), which focuses on strengthening maritime and border security, fighting transnational organized crime, disrupting illicit financial networks, enhancing law enforcement and prosecutorial capacity, combating corruption, and improving resilience to natural disasters in the Caribbean region.
“After cutting off the economic oxygen sustaining Maduro’s regime, the United States is back where it belongs in the Caribbean, standing shoulder to shoulder with our partners and taking on criminal networks,” said Rep. María Elvira Salazar. “But the work is not finished. Transnational gangs, narco-traffickers, and corrupt networks, backed by Communist Cuba, Communist China, Russia, and Iran, continue to undermine the rule of law across the region. This bill draws a clear line: the Caribbean is not for sale. It strengthens security, confronts corruption, and makes clear that America, not Beijing or Havana, is the partner of choice in our hemisphere. America First means the Americas first.”
The bill emphasizes collaboration with democratic allies such as Jamaica, Guyana, and the Dominican Republic while excluding cooperation with authoritarian governments.
H.R. 4368 seeks to reinforce U.S. commitment to regional security by expanding CBSI’s mission to address current threats including transnational criminal organizations and malign influence from authoritarian regimes. The initiative also aims to improve regional resilience against natural disasters.
Congresswoman Salazar has consistently supported CBSI during her tenure in Congress as a means of reinforcing U.S.–Caribbean partnerships amid evolving security challenges.
Established in 2010, CBSI has been instrumental in helping countries in the Caribbean combat organized crime and strengthen their justice systems.
The new legislation would provide long-term authorization for CBSI activities focused on civilian safety and regional stability through enhanced law enforcement capabilities and strategic cooperation.