Event Recap

New Atlanticist

Mar 1, 2021

CARICOM chairman: It’s time for a ‘reset’ in US-Caribbean relations

By Larry Luxner

The world’s inequitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines is threatening the Caribbean’s economic recovery, and climate change is quickly becoming an “existential threat” to all low-lying island states, warns Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Keith Rowley.

Caribbean Climate Change & Climate Action

The Atlantic Council hosted, on February 26, 2021, a conversation with Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Keith Rowley, on “Re-Setting US-Caribbean Relations.” The Prime Minister spoke in his role as Chair of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, which had just concluded its intersessional Heads of Government Meetings. The conversation launched the work of the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center’s new Caribbean Initiative.

COVID-19 has highlighted a new iteration of great power competition in vaccine distribution and commercialization. The pandemic brings to the forefront why the future of the Caribbean—with a population of almost 50 million—is critical for the United States. Tied together by geography and history, Prime Minister Keith Rowley spoke about the region’s global challenges and how resetting US-Caribbean relations can contribute to hemispheric security and prosperity.

This live event was part of the Atlantic Council Front Page event series, our premier ideas platform spotlighting global leaders who are championing constructive solutions to global challenges.

An #ACFrontPage Event

Atlantic Council Front Page is our premier live ideas platform for global leaders to discuss the defining challenges of our time. #ACFrontPage is a high-level event series featuring top newsmakers across multiple digital platforms. Harnessing the convening power and expertise of the Council’s sixteen programs and centers, #ACFrontPage leverages the Council’s capabilities in social media, press, and digital outreach to spotlight the world’s most prominent leaders and the most compelling ideas across sectors and engage new audiences eager for nonpartisan and constructive solutions to current global challenges. This widely promoted program features the Council’s most important guests and content serving as the highlight of our programming.

Speaker

Dr. the Honourable Keith Christopher Rowley

Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago;
Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

In conversation with

Staff

Jason Marczak

Vice President and Senior Director

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Americas Caribbean

Introductory remarks

Staff

Frederick Kempe

President and CEO

Europe & Eurasia German

Closing remarks

Melanie Chen
Board Director
Atlantic Council

The Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center broadens understanding of regional transformations and delivers constructive, results-oriented solutions to inform how the public and private sectors can advance hemispheric prosperity.

Learn more