Antigua and Barbuda Urges Stronger Regional Security Cooperation at Defence Ministers Meeting

Antigua and Barbuda has called for greater cooperation among countries in the Americas as regional leaders continue discussions on addressing growing and evolving security threats.

Minister of Foreign Affairs E.P. Chet Greene made the call while representing Antigua and Barbuda at the 17th Conference of Defence Ministers of the Americas currently underway in Cusco, Peru.

In his address, Greene highlighted the importance of the conference as a key forum for strengthening dialogue, cooperation, and mutual understanding among defence leaders across the hemisphere.

He said that while countries may differ in size, geography, and capabilities, they share a collective responsibility to protect peace, preserve democratic values, and ensure the safety and security of their people.

“The security challenges confronting the Americas no longer fit neatly within national borders or traditional definitions of defence,” Greene said.

The minister pointed to the changing nature of security threats, including organized crime, cyber threats, illicit financial networks, and activities aimed at weakening democratic institutions.

He said these challenges are increasingly interconnected and require countries to work together in developing effective responses.

“Consequently, our response must be equally interconnected,” Greene stated.

Speaking from the perspective of a Small Island Developing State, Greene said Antigua and Barbuda views national security as closely tied to sustainable development.

He explained that the country’s economic resilience depends heavily on secure maritime routes, safe aviation networks, reliable digital infrastructure, and strong regional partnerships.

“Any disruption to these systems carries consequences that extend far beyond national borders,” he said.

The Foreign Affairs Minister also addressed the impact of transnational criminal organizations across the Caribbean, noting that criminal networks continue to exploit maritime spaces to facilitate the trafficking of narcotics, illegal firearms, persons, and illicit financial assets.

He said these activities contribute to violence, undermine institutions, and threaten the social and economic progress of communities throughout the region.

Greene also noted that while the Caribbean has not experienced terrorism at the scale seen in some other parts of the world, the region must remain alert to emerging threats.

He identified violent extremism, cyber-enabled radicalization, illicit financial flows, and the misuse of new technologies as areas requiring continued attention and coordinated action.

The minister stressed that no single country has the capacity to tackle these challenges alone, regardless of its available resources.

He said collective action, stronger partnerships, and sustained cooperation among nations remain critical to protecting the security and stability of the Americas.