PM Gaston Browne (Facebook)

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“I don’t see it as a threat”.

That was the response from Prime Minister Gaston Browne regarding the latest development of Antigua and Barbuda being placed on a watch list by the USA.

The draft list is a document of countries whose citizens could face new travel restrictions to the United States, according to reporting by the New York Times on a proposed Trump administration travel ban.

The twin-island nation appears on the so-called yellow tier of countries that would be given 60 days to address security concerns or potentially face more severe restrictions. Fellow Eastern Caribbean nations Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia are also included in this category.

These concerns include inadequate passport security practices, failure to share traveller information with the United States, and the selling of citizenship to individuals from banned countries.

While on the Browne and Browne Show on Saturday, Browne revealed that there should not be anything to worry about for the twin-island nation as these banned countries would not be eligible for the CIP.

“I can’t tell United States what to do but any reasonable person would recognize that Antigua and Barbuda is not a threat to the US and we have been very cooperative, and I am not saying this out of fear.

“I am going to ensure that our country is not disrespected by anyone and all I am asking the United States to do, President Trump and all in his government is to recognize that we are a sovereign country and there’s no need for this kind of muscular rhetoric threats and so on. Where there are any gaps, I have indicated that we’re willing to address those gaps and to make sure that we do not become a problem to the security of the United States because we recognize that our interests are mutual, our security interests are mutual. We will not promote any kind of acrimony with the United States but at the same time we will stand in principle and defend our sovereignty, we will defend our country and its people,” Browne said.

The draft proposal reportedly identifies 43 countries across three tiers of severity, representing a significant expansion of travel restrictions compared to those implemented during President Trump’s first term.

More severe restrictions would apply to nations on the orange and red tiers. Haiti appears on the orange list of 10 countries whose citizens would face sharp restrictions but not a complete ban. Under this classification, affluent business travellers might still be permitted entry, while those seeking immigrant or tourist visas would face significant obstacles.

Cuba is the only Caribbean nation included in the most restrictive red tier, which would completely bar citizens from entering the United States. This tier includes 11 countries total, with the others being Afghanistan, Bhutan, Iran, Libya,

North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.

The State Department reportedly developed the list several weeks ago, and changes are expected before any final policy reaches the White House for approval.