US-Caribbean Relations

Relationship between USA and Caribbean Nations

For a long period of time now the relationship between USA and Caribbean nations has been sour. The two parties have differed on a lot social, political and economic issues. Recently, about 11 Caribbean states differed with President Trump move to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem. The nations chose to support the UN’s general assembly’s decision therefore criticizing the president’s move. Caribbean nations were also in disagreement with the US policy concerning deportation of its citizens who had been sentenced for more than one year in the country. They claimed that their citizens were being deported back and no information concerning their sentences were being availed by the US. Thirdly, Caribbean nations also claimed that the subsidies offered by US to rum producers in their territories negatively impacted the trade economies of the rest of the Caribbean. These differences in opinion concerning certain issues has been a recipe for disaster for both parties. There is therefore need for both world’s to put their differences aside and work together to grow their economies (Braveboy-Wagner & Griffin, 2017).

Resources and Potential for Collaboration

Caribbean nations are richly endowed with natural resources, flora and fauna. Most of these resources are yet to be tapped. The strategy here is for the US to work with these nations by exploiting these resources, producing finished products from them an availing them to the international market. Caribbean nations have a lot of minerals which include; limestone, salt and gypsum. These nations also produce and export a lot of agricultural produce such as sugarcane, banana, coffee and tobacco. The nations have access to long sandy beaches. It is basically an ideal tourist destination. The tropical rain forests in the region also provides good habitat for wild animals to survive in. Its people have unique values and beliefs that they abide by. Their culture is conservative (Laurent & Caribbean Community, 2007). Imagine all these diversity in one region. It is all about aligning yourself with growing economies and using them to benefit yourself and this exactly what US must do.

Economic Growth Rates and Benefits

According to Perry (2016), the economic growth rates of Caribbean countries are twice that of Europe. This goes to show the massive rate at which the Caribbean economies are growing. The symbiotic relationship fostered between the US and these will ensure that the both nations benefit from the pact. Caribbean nations will have more job opportunities as a result of industrialization whereas the US will be able to obtain products from the nation at subsidized prices.

Methods to Improve the Relationship

There are severally methods that US can employ in order to better its relationship with Caribbean nations. First, US may encourage learning institutions in the country to conduct exchange programs with other universities in the Caribbean. In so doing, certain notions such that the one claiming Caribbean nations are banana republics will come to an end. More bilateral agreements between The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the US should be signed in order to improve trade. Memoranda between the two nation concerning certain issues should also be signed periodically. International forums between the US and member states of CARICOM should also be conducted from time to time to identify and resolve issues as they arise (In Lewis, In Gilbert-Roberts, & Byron, 2018).

Conclusion

In a nutshell, there is a lot that these nations have to offer it is high time that citizens stopped stereotyping on the Caribbean values, beliefs and way of life. The Caribbean offers a unique market that is raw and untapped, this is the opportune time for the US to join and grow together with the region’s economies.

References

Braveboy-Wagner, J. A., & Griffin, C. E. (2017). Historical dictionary of United States-Caribbean relations.

In Lewis, P., In Gilbert-Roberts, T. -A., & Byron, J. (2018). Pan-Caribbean integration: Beyond CARICOM.

Laurent, E., & Caribbean Community. (2007). Understanding international trade: A CARICOM perspective.

Perry, L. (2016). The cultural politics of U.S. immigration: Gender, race, and media.