St. Lucia Calls for Calm Amid US and Venezuela Military Movements in the Caribbean

Saint Lucia is vigilantly observing the escalating tensions between Venezuela and Guyana, alongside the recent deployment of U.S. military resources in the southern Caribbean, purportedly aimed at combating drug trafficking. Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre articulated concerns during a Cabinet briefing, emphasizing the necessity for regional tranquility. “Saint Lucia is firmly opposed to any form of violence,” he declared, underscoring the nation’s commitment to peaceful resolutions. Pierre highlighted that Saint Lucia will remain attentive to developments while waiting for CARICOM’s formal response, as dictated by the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which establishes a framework for foreign policy coordination. The current CARICOM chair, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness, is occupied with his country’s impending elections, potentially delaying a unified statement on the situation. The diplomatic standoff particularly intensifies following Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's mobilization of militia members to safeguard national interests and Guyana's advancements in defense capabilities concerning the contentious Essequibo region.