The Caribbean under pressure: What role for Europe?
fanny.pollet@i…
Wed, 05/20/2026 – 11:19
10 minutes
The Caribbean region is experiencing its most severe geopolitical turmoil in decades. The second Trump administration has proclaimed a renewed effort to assert US dominance over the Americas. In January 2026, Washington removed Venezuela’s President Maduro from power, leaving Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez in place. It then increased pressure on Cuba, threatening regime change in Havana. Countries across Central America and the Caribbean, either out of fear of Trump’s retaliation or because they align ideologically with his agenda, are adapting to the new US posture towards the Western Hemisphere. Non-state actors, including organised criminal groups, are also recalibrating their strategies in response to this new reality.
Amid wars in Europe and in the Middle East, a case could be made to avoid engaging in remote regions. However, that would be short-sighted. This Brief argues for increased EU engagement in Central America and the Caribbean. Events in the Caribbean have an impact on European security, by putting critical infrastructure at risk, altering …read more
