Prime Minister Gaston Browne has written to U.S. President Donald J. Trump expressing Antigua and Barbuda’s concern over the growing military build-up in international waters shared by Caribbean States. He has called for renewed diplomatic engagement between the U.S and Venezuela to prevent escalation in the Caribbean region.
In his letter, Prime Minister Browne reaffirmed the Caribbean’s longstanding commitment to being a Zone of Peace, noting that the region has earned its reputation as one of the few places in the world where calm and stability still offer respite in an increasingly turbulent international environment.
He emphasized that the economies of Caribbean small states — particularly tourism-dependent nations — are highly vulnerable to geopolitical tensions. “A hint of armed confrontation in our waters reverberates instantly through hotel bookings, airlines, foreign investment, and the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of families,” the Prime Minister wrote. Military action near Caribbean shores, he warned, could cast “a long shadow” over an industry central to regional development and economic security.
Prime Minister Browne urged President Trump to “follow your instincts which, as far as I have seen, are rooted in dialogue and negotiation,” highlighting that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has signalled willingness to engage in direct discussions. He emphasised that diplomacy, though sometimes slow and imperfect, “delivers fewer sorrows than the alternatives.”
Antigua and Barbuda, the Prime Minister said, stands ready to support any international initiative that reduces tensions and opens channels for constructive negotiation. The letter underscores that the nation’s only objective is to safeguard regional peace and ensure that the Caribbean — “your near-shore neighbour and long-standing friend” — remains an area of stability.
Prime Minister Browne concluded by reaffirming Antigua and Barbuda’s respect for the United States and the enduring friendship between the two nations. “We value the United States as a friend and as a force for good,” he wrote, calling for diplomacy to prevail.
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda will continue to engage regional and international partners to uphold the peace, security, and prosperity of the Caribbean.
