Miami: Last week, the Northern Caribbean Security Summit (NOCSS) was held in Miami, and it was attended by foreign and federal partners, who were welcomed by the Seventh Coast Guard District and the U.S. Department of State.
During the summit, leaders, military personnel, and law enforcement representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, The Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands gathered to discuss regional security interests. They reaffirmed their joint commitment to addressing them.
The Northern Caribbean Security Summit (NOCSS) aimed to strengthen existing partnerships to combat transnational criminal organizations that engage in the trafficking of migrants, drugs, weapons, and money, which pose a significant threat to both regional and homeland security.
Participants at the NOCSS acknowledged the importance of enhanced strategic coordination, training for better interoperability, and sharing intelligence information to address this challenge effectively.
The attendees of the summit comprised Ms Usha E. Pitts; Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Nassau; Hon. Wayne Munroe, the Minister of National Security for The Bahamas; Hon. Keith Bell, the Minister of Labour and Immigration; His Excellency Nigel Dakin, the Governor of the Turks & Caicos Islands; Rear Adm. Brendan C. McPherson, who is the commander of Coast Guard District Seven and director of the Homeland Security Task Force.
Moreover, Southeast; John Priddy, the executive director of Customs and Border Protection Air & Marine Operations Southeast Region and deputy director of Joint Task Force – East; and Renita D. Foster, the special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Caribbean Division.
Rear Adm. Brendan C. McPherson, the Seventh Coast Guard District commander and director of HSTF-SE, emphasized the summit’s significance by stating that there is no better time than now to address the challenges that may arise in the future.
He also acknowledged the joint commitment of the leaders who attended the summit, which reflects their willingness to work together in these partnerships. He added that by working together, they will be able to prevent transnational criminal organizations from accessing the northern Caribbean islands, promoting safety, security, and prosperity throughout the entire region.
The Northern Caribbean Security Summit brought together several leaders from different organizations, including the Royal Bahamas Police Forcethe, Royal Bahamas Defence Force, and the Department of Justice.
During the summit, the attendees discussed various topics, such as the increasing threat posed by transnational organized crime, human smuggling networks, illegal trafficking of narcotics and weapons, and countering China’s regional influence. They also explored the potential for greater strategic partner engagement in ongoing operations to combat regional violence and instability.
The Northern Caribbean Security Summit also focused on the future of Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT), which is a combined partnership between various organizations, including the Coast Guard, U.S. Customs, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Marine Operations, Border Protection Air and law enforcement entities of The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands, aimed at combating drug smuggling.
OPBAT is considered a critical component of regional cooperation in the northern Caribbean. Its assets are used to address human smuggling cases and search and rescue operations within its jurisdiction. Despite its effectiveness, the participants at the summit recognized the need for a broader security dialogue, which may involve modifying the OPBAT agreement or signing additional contracts.
 was held in Miami, and it was attended by foreign and federal partners, who were welcomed by the Seventh Coast Guard District and the U.S. Department of State.){kind=link}