Political-Security Interests

Abstract

Given their small size and small armies (where they exist), the Caricom states—excluding the unique case of Haiti, which, as discussed in the last chapter, early in its history occupied the Dominican Republic—have not had the capacity to engage, and do not desire to engage, in external military adventurism. The gains to be had from any such adventurism, presumably targeted on neighbors that share a common history, culture, and identity, would be hard for them to envisage. As a Barbadian minister of external affairs once noted, “We have neither the resources nor the desire to exercise military power. We have little land but we do not (like some with even more than they can properly handle) want to acquire others. We have no quarrels to pursue and do not regard any state as a natural opponent.”¹ Nevertheless, the fact that these states have not engaged in any overt hostilities does not mean that they have not had to deal with military and political threats from others. As noted in the last chapter, small states are particularly vulnerable to external pressures.