Antigua and Barbuda is among 20 member states of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) that have expressed “deep concern” about the recent deployment of extra-regional military forces to the Caribbean.

In a joint declaration, the countries cautioned that the arrival of warships and other assets in the Southern Caribbean—announced by the United States as part of its anti-drug trafficking operations—could undermine regional peace and security. Venezuela, in particular, has labeled the move as provocation and “the greatest threat faced by Latin America in a century.”

The signatories, which include Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela, stressed their collective commitment to safeguarding democracy, stability and development across the region.

At the same time, they reaffirmed their intention to continue working together against transnational organised crime and drug trafficking, but underscored that such efforts must take place “within the framework of respect for international law.”