Through multilateral and bilateral programs the U.S. builds partner capacity (maritime law enforcement, port/border security, justice-sector training), provides equipment and technical assistance (e.g., Coast Guard/SAFE-boat upgrades, vessel/aircraft support), and funds development programs (USAID resilience, economic growth and climate-adaptation projects; CARICOM/US resilience finance). These efforts are organized under initiatives such as the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (security) and USAID regional economic/resilience programs (economic growth).
The most pressing transnational threats are drug trafficking (maritime cocaine flows), illicit arms trafficking, human smuggling/irregular migration, and organized-crime networks that enable money laundering and gang activity across the Caribbean corridor.
"Illegal migration" in the Caribbean generally means irregular movements without authorization (smuggling, undocumented departures/arrivals). Common routes include sea passages from South America and between Lesser Antilles islands toward larger Caribbean states or onward to the U.S.; affected populations include Haitian migrants as well as people transiting from South America and the region.
Typical U.S. assistance includes: law-enforcement training and capacity building (police, prosecutors, maritime law enforcement), equipment transfers and maintenance (coast guard/intercept vessels, surveillance), intelligence and information‑sharing with regional partners, and joint operations/exercises. These are delivered via CBSI, INL (State Department), DEA, Coast Guard/SOUTHCOM and bilateral embassy programs.
A Secretary of State’s national-day statement signals formal diplomatic recognition and goodwill, reaffirms bilateral priorities and cooperation, and publicly commits U.S. political support—helping sustain partnerships, reassure publics and partner governments, and set the tone for policy and program collaboration.
Recent measures by Grenada include strengthening its Coast Guard and law-enforcement capacity (fleet upgrades and patrols), participation in regional security cooperation under CBSI/CARICOM frameworks, and domestic justice-sector efforts to disrupt trafficking networks; Grenada also engages in regional resilience and development initiatives to reduce vulnerabilities that drive illicit activity.