By| Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News|
— The 50th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government concluded on Friday, February 27, 2026, with regional leaders taking a firm, cautionary stance regarding recent United States military strikes in the Caribbean Sea. CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Terrance Drew, clarified that the regional bloc has not yet endorsed or supported the operations, pending a thorough investigation into their legality under international law.
The issue dominated the closing press conference as leaders grappled with the humanitarian and legal fallout of Washington’s intensified counternarcotics campaign.
The Campaign: “Operation Southern Spear”
Since September 2025, the Trump administration has conducted a series of lethal kinetic strikes against small vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
- The Death Toll: As of late February 2026, at least 151 people have been killed in approximately 44 separate strikes.
- The “Narco-Terrorist” Designation: U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has categorized the targets as “narco-terrorists” linked to groups like the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua and the Colombian ELN.
- The “Armed Conflict” Argument: President Donald Trump has defended the strikes, characterizing the campaign as a state of “armed conflict” with cartels, which the U.S. argues justifies the use of lethal force under war powers.
CARICOM’s Stand on Principle
Prime Minister Drew emphasized that CARICOM’s primary concern is the adherence to international legal norms and the protection of due process.
- Information Gathering: Member states, including St. Lucia, are currently gathering detailed information on specific incidents that have occurred near their territorial waters.
- Legal Scrutiny: Regional leaders are questioning whether the strikes—often carried out against unarmed individuals on small boats—comply with international humanitarian law or constitute extrajudicial killings.
- Unified Response Pending: Dr. Drew noted that a “complete and comprehensive response” will only be issued once CARICOM has a full understanding of the facts.
“CARICOM stands on principle to make sure that anything that is done… has to follow particular international laws… getting all of that information would ensure the response given can be a complete and comprehensive response.” — Dr. Terrance Drew
A Growing Legal Challenge
The scrutiny within CARICOM is mirrored by legal actions already taking place. In January 2026, families from Trinidad and Tobago filed a lawsuit in U.S. courts over the deaths of relatives killed in an October 14 strike, marking the first major legal challenge to the campaign’s bypass of standard maritime interdiction and arrest protocols.
