Prime Minister Gaston Browne (left), United States Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, Commander of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) (right)
United States Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, Commander of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), paid an official visit to Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday for a series of high-level discussions with government and military officials.
Admiral Holsey met with Prime Minister Gaston Browne and senior Cabinet members during a closed-door session at the Office of the Prime Minister. While no details were released regarding the agenda, the meeting was described by local officials as a “courtesy call.”
Ahead of the talks, Prime Minister Browne emphasized that Antigua and Barbuda remains firmly committed to maintaining the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace. “That is non-negotiable,” Browne stated. He added that the twin-island nation has “no appetite for geopolitical spats,” noting that “Antigua and Barbuda is too small to be having enemies.”
The U.S. Admiral also held meetings with Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Telbert Benjamin and senior officers of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF). Those discussions centered on preparations for the 2026 Tradewinds military exercise, which Antigua and Barbuda will host next June, marking the sixth time the country has served as host.
Brigadier Benjamin explained that the upcoming Tradewinds exercise will take on added importance as it will form part of national security preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), scheduled to be held in Antigua and Barbuda in the second half of 2026.
“We plan to involve all branches of our security apparatus — the ABDF, Coast Guard, Air Wing, ONDCP, and the Police Force — in the Tradewinds exercise,” Brigadier Benjamin said. He described the U.S. as a “key partner” in the region’s security architecture and stressed that Admiral Holsey’s visit was both routine and strategic.
“There’s nothing unusual about this engagement,” Benjamin added. “We fall under the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility, and as hosts of next year’s Tradewinds exercise, it’s only natural that Admiral Holsey would visit to assess infrastructure and coordination plans. We’ve been in regular contact with him and his team.”
The U.S. Southern Command oversees U.S. military operations and partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on regional stability, security cooperation, and disaster response. Admiral Holsey’s stop in Antigua formed part of a broader Caribbean engagement tour, which includes similar visits to other regional allies.
Typical white strategy. Send a white-washed Black Face to try to deceive, flatter and entrap Black leadership and people for their own devilish, self-centered plans!. Send him back to his
Orangutan employer with a stern warning. We will NOT be enlisted in the army of the anti-christ! Try the “cool” PMs down south. They may have wealth but are seriously lacking in integrity and moral tenacity as history has shown us, from their deeply racist hero, M.G. the bespectacled rice endorser to the sinister players in our own backyard.
So why can’t we know what they discussed? If anything doesn’t any decision they may have made impact all of us? I’m not saying it should have been a press con but at least provide us with some details… Guess it will be in the Cabinet notes
Strong diplomatic move by PM Browne reminding the world that the Caribbean is a zone of peace, not a military playground.
Nothing wrong with a courtesy visit, but I hope we’re staying true to the “Zone of Peace” idea. These big powers always come with their own interests we just have to make sure Antigua doesn’t get caught in the middle of any global games
Every time dem big navy man come ‘round, I start to wonder what dem really up to. “Courtesy call” sound nice, but me hope dem nah eye up no base or secret deal.
ntigua small but wise! I glad the PM remind them we not inna no war business. Let dem big countries fight dey own battles we just want peace and progress
Good to see Antigua maintaining its Zone of Peace stance even while engaging with the U.S. military. Diplomacy is all about balance cooperation without losing independence. PM Browne played that one smart.
I like that the PM made it clear Antigua not picking sides. Too many small countries end up paying the price for big-country politics.
let them know in advance you are not in stupidness PM
Me like how Gaston handle it polite but firm. “Zone of Peace” must mean just that no missiles, no meddling, no nonsense.
Let’s be real, the U.S. don’t visit for “courtesy.” There’s always an agenda. We just have to make sure our leaders keep their eyes open and protect our national interests
Respect to Admiral Holsey, but Antigua must always remember: we a sovereign nation, not nobody’s pawn. Peace over power every time.