Trump's divide-and-rule Caribbean tactics
United states President Donald Trump's invitation to five Caribbean leaders to meet him at his Florida resortMar-a-Lago will likely be seen in the region as aclassic American tactic of divide and conquer.
The invitation appears linked to the support of the five – Jamaica, Haiti, The Bahamas, St. Lucia and the Dominican Republic– for a U.S.-backed vote at the hemispheric Organization of American states (OAS) to withhold recognition of "the legitimacy" of the new term of VenezuelanPresident Nicolas Maduro.
Other Caribbean nations that either abstained or voted against were left off the list, though it has become the custom for American presidents to meet Caribbean leaders as a broader group, mostly within the 15-member entity known as the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM. Of the five, only the Dominican Republic is not a member.
White House Press SecretarySarah Sanderssaid in a statement that Trump would use Friday's meeting to thank the leaders for their support for peace and democracy in Venezuela. Trade, energy and security were also mentioned as agenda items.
Meeting with UN chief
Washington has clearly been irritated by CARICOM's efforts to champion a negotiated solution to the crisis in Venezuela where Maduro is facing a challenge from opposition leader Juan Guaido who proclaimed himself interim president in January when the president was due to begin his second term following last year's elections.
CARICOM even sent a delegation to see United NationsSecretary-GeneralAntonio Guterres to press its case.
At a summit in St. Kitts and Nevis in late February, the regional bloc reiterated its stance. "The people of Venezuela must be allowed to decide their own future in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter – non-intervention, non-interference, prohibition of threats or use of force, respect for the rule of law, human rights and democracy," a statement said.
The Maracaibo oil platform in Venezuela, which is operating a cheap oil program for the Caribbean and Central America. /VCG Photo
All this flies in the face of the American stance, with Trump on Tuesday, after meeting Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, reaffirming that "all options" are being considered in his drive to topple Maduro, who is presiding over an economy that is in shambles.
CARICOM has, publicly at least, maintained a unified position of non-interference in Venezuela, despite the split vote at the OAS. Apart from the four CARICOM Trump summit invitees, Guyana also voted yes but will not be represented atMar-a-Lago, perhaps because PresidentDavid Granger, whose government faces an early election after losing a no-confidence motion, is undergoing medical treatment.
For the record, St. Vincent,Dominica, and the Grenadines and Suriname voted no; Trinidad and Tobago, which has become home to thousands of Venezuelan refugees, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize,St. Kitts and Nevis abstained, while Grenada, where the U.S. last staged a military intervention in the region, was not present.
A confidante of Dominica's prime minister was among the first to react to the summit invitations with a warning that the unity of the region could be under threat. Unnamed CARICOM sources were also quoted in the Trinidad Guardian newspaper as sayingthe meeting “is an obvious move to divide CARICOM on the Venezuela issue, at least.
"There'll no doubt be an attempt for the five countries to emerge in support of Guaido and they'll get some goodies,” the sources claimed.
Caribbean flags displayed at a West Indian Day Parade in New York. /VCG Photo
St. Lucia's Prime Minister Allan Chastenet did not mention Venezuela when he issued a brief statement that said his focus in Florida would be on security, energy, and expanding trade and investment opportunities.
Some nations feel a sense of loyalty to Venezuela, whosepreferential energy initiative known as PetroCaribe, had served as a financial lifelinefor them, particularly during the global financial crisis when oil prices soared. However, its impact has declined as the Madura administration battles falling oil production and a deteriorating economy. In addition, the program has become embroiled in a corruption scandal in Haiti, which was memorably disparagedby Trump, allegedly, as well as African nations.
Reset of relations
Many feel that the U.S., despiteportraying the Caribbean as its third border, has neglected the region, which struggles with some of the highestdebt-to-GDP ratios in the world.
Meanwhile, the area has seen opportunities for economic support from Venezuela and China. No surprise then that the White House release talked about "countering China's predatory economic practices," though that reference may have made for uncomfortable reading in the capitals of three of the summit countries which have excellent relations with Beijing.
The summit, however, does offerthe United states an opportunity to reset its relations with the Caribbean, though one can never be sure whether Trump will rise to the occasion.
(Top image: A banner displayed at a West IndianDay Parade in New York. /VCG Photo)
