Jafaz Ally | Combating regional security threats

In the list of priorities for the Caribbean, security warrants a place at the top. Security is larger than protecting one’s borders. It is a multi-faceted process that involves several actors and many issues. In 2026, two aspects of regional security that should be prioritised are climate resilience and guaranteeing sovereignty.

Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact on the Caribbean serves as a stark reminder of the climate crisis the world has entered. Within the last 10 years, hurricanes in the region have led to over 4,000 fatalities and US$200 billion in infrastructural damage. Consequently, regional economies are being strained by the diversion of funds away from productive investment toward recovering from these destructive storms.

And yet, global climate governance continues to fail in securing the urgent action needed. 2026 began with a blow when, on January 7, the United States withdrew from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, a foundational treaty signed by all UN member states. If global powers continue to fail the climate, what hope do small states have for protecting themselves?

These failures, however, should not deter the region from doing its part in managing the climate crisis. Although small, the Caribbean hosts vast carbon sinks, including over 25 million hectares of rainforests and 10% of the world’s coral reefs. Their preservation not only maintains natural barriers during extreme weather events like hurricanes, but is also meaningful in mitigating the global climate crisis.

Another dimension of the region’s security challenge lies in shifts in US foreign policy. Of concern is the Trump administration’s scant regard for state sovereignty, as evidenced by its recent intervention in Venezuela, which sets a worrying precedent for the region. Protecting our sovereignty in this new landscape requires careful diplomacy, which underscores the importance of CARICOM acting as a collective voice in global politics.

Jafaz Ally is a student at the University of Cambridge. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in History and Politics.