American Foreign Policy in the English-speaking Caribbean : From the Eighteenth to the Twenty-first Century

This book traces American engagement in the English-speaking Caribbean from the eighteenth to the twenty-first century, and is the first to examine the policies of Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump in this context. Focusing on The Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana as case studies, the book describes the growth of the English-speaking Caribbean and highlights American interest and foreign relations in this region from European discovery up through the post-9/11 era to today (1492-2019). The book demonstrates the unique relationship between America and the former British colonies, shedding light on U.S. foreign policy with the Caribbean in general and at a bilateral level with the four selected countries, providing a useful survey for students, scholars, diplomats, policymakers, governments officials, and anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of U.S. – Caribbean relations. Contents 6 Abbreviations 8 About the Author 10 List of Figures 11 List of Tables 12 Chapter 1: Introduction 13 Why the English-speaking Caribbean? 15 Selection of Case Studies 17 American Interest and Policy in the English-speaking Caribbean 19 Power, Interest, and Ideology 21 Roadmap 23 References 24 Chapter 2: The Growth of the English-speaking Caribbean and American Relations (1492–1945) 25 Case Study 1: The Bahamas 27 Settlement 27 A Tourist and Smuggling Economy 28 Case Study 2: Trinidad and Tobago 30 Spanish Colonialism 30 British Colonialism 30 From Agriculture to the Petroleum Industry – The Beginning of American Interest 32 Opposition to Crown Colony, World War II, and the ‘American Occupation’ 34 Case Study 3: Jamaica 37 Settlement 37 Slavery, Rebellion, and Resistance 38 Jamaican Economic Development and US Influence 39 Case Study 4: British Guiana (Guyana) 40 Resource Endowments and American Interest 42 Conclusion 43 References 45 Chapter 3: From European Domination to American Hegemony: The Caribbean in the Context of US Foreign Policy (1823–1945) 46 References 54 Chapter 4: United States—Caribbean Relations During the Cold War (1945–1989) 55 Decolonization, Anglo-American Rapprochement, and the Cold War (1950s and 1960s) 56 Case Study 1: Trinidad and Tobago 56 The Chaguaramas Base Controversy (1958–1961) 57 Case Study 2: British Guiana 60 The Cold War and the Caribbean’s Socialist Experiment (1970s and 1980s) 65 Case Study 3: Jamaica 65 The PNP and Michael Manley 66 Bauxite and Alumina Industries 68 Cuba and Angola 69 Destabilization 71 Toward Neoliberalism 72 Conclusion 74 References 75 Chapter 5: The United States and the Caribbean in the Post-Cold War Era (1990s to 2000s) 77 Drug Trafficking 78 Historical Development of International Drug Control 79 Current Multilateral Drug Control System 80 The Caribbean and the “War on Drugs” 83 International Trade Policy 86 Cold War Trade 87 Post-Cold War Trade–1990s and Beyond 90 Conclusion 92 References 93 Chapter 6: From President George W. Bush to President Barack Obama (2001–2016) 95 US Foreign Policy Under George W. Bush 95 US Foreign Policy Under Barack Obama 99 Twenty-first Century US Engagement 101 Five Areas of Twenty-first Century US Engagement in the Caribbean 102 Development: Millennium Challenge Account 103 Health Diplomacy 104 Humanitarian Assistance: Food Aid, Disaster Relief, and Reconstruction 105 Food for Peace: P.L. 480 Title II Food Aid 105 Disaster Relief and Reconstruction 105 Energy Diplomacy 105 Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas 105 Caribbean Energy Security Initiative 106 Security Engagement 107 Third Border Initiative 107 Caribbean Basin Security Initiative 107 Tradewinds 108 Bilateral Foreign Assistance Trends in the Caribbean 108 Jamaica 109 Guyana 110 The Bahamas 111 Trinidad and Tobago 111 Foreign Aid: Republicans vs Democrats 112 Conclusion 113 References 115 Chapter 7: The Impact of the Trump Administration on US: Caribbean Relations (2017–2019) 118 The Caribbean and the Trump Administration: Disinterest or Engagement? 118 President Trump’s Foreign Policy Priorities: Impact on the Caribbean 121 Trump Trade Wars 122 Renegotiating Trade Agreements 123 Conclusion 141 References 143 Chapter 8: Conclusion 144 Index 147 Front Matter ....Pages i-xv Introduction (Samantha S. S. Chaitram)....Pages 1-12 The Growth of the English-speaking Caribbean and American Relations (1492–1945) (Samantha S. S. Chaitram)....Pages 13-33 From European Domination to American Hegemony: The Caribbean in the Context of US Foreign Policy (1823–1945) (Samantha S. S. Chaitram)....Pages 35-43 United States—Caribbean Relations During the Cold War (1945–1989) (Samantha S. S. Chaitram)....Pages 45-66 The United States and the Caribbean in the Post-Cold War Era (1990s to 2000s) (Samantha S. S. Chaitram)....Pages 67-84 From President George W. Bush to President Barack Obama (2001–2016) (Samantha S. S. Chaitram)....Pages 85-107 The Impact of the Trump Administration on US: Caribbean Relations (2017–2019) (Samantha S. S. Chaitram)....Pages 109-134 Conclusion (Samantha S. S. Chaitram)....Pages 135-137 Back Matter ....Pages 139-143