Its future will inevitably affect us. Its close proximity to the United States means that poverty, political instability, and environmental degradation in the Caribbean can directly affect U.S. well-being. The United States is also concerned about narcotics trafficking through the region. The continued cooperation of the governments of these small islands in drug interdiction efforts is a major U.S. foreign policy objective. That cooperation is affected not just by the perception of the U.S. as a helpful friend and neighbor, but also by the ability of the governments to sustain effective efforts in the face of economic hardships, loss of traditional sources of income, and lack of economic alternatives.
Immigration is another area of continuing U.S. concern.
Deterioration in political conditions in these small countries will increase the likelihood of illegal immigration in search of a better life in their large neighbors to the north. For these reasons, the U.S. has a strong interest in promoting political stability in the region. The small countries of the Caribbean region have weak governmental institutions, as reflected in their shortage of qualified personnel with skills needed to carry out the policy analysis, negotiations and even routine paperwork necessary for governments to make and implement informed decisions and execute their mandates. Weak governmental institutions limit these countries' ability to take advantage of opportunities in the world market and resources offered by multilateral institutions. Weak institutions also limit their ability to protect the natural environment which is the foundation for the critically important tourism industry in the region.