Ben Popham & Matthew Gransden (XB44) and William Liffick & Nick Diehl (Littoral Dynamics) explore regional training as the smarter security strategy in the Caribbean.
The debate between American exceptionalism and American overreach has re-emerged with urgency following the US’ recent and ongoing kinetic strikes targeting suspected drug trafficking operations off the coast of Venezuela and in the Caribbean.
At a tense UN Security Council session, Russia condemned the actions as a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty, branding them as yet another example of US overreach under the guise of global security enforcement (UNSC, 2025).
This paper critically examines whether such military interventions reflect a genuine commitment to international order or a pattern of unilateralism cloaked in moral authority.
Drawing on perspectives from both sides of the Atlantic, specifically the US and UK, this analysis adopts a multifaceted and international lens to explore how these actions are framed, justified and received globally.
By juxtaposing American strategic narratives with British diplomatic scepticism and broader international reactions, the piece seeks to interrogate where the line lies between leadership and dominance in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.
Perspectives and approaches
From the perspective of the US, the recent strikes near Venezuelan waters are a continuation of its decades-long War on Drugs, an effort framed as both a domestic imperative and a contribution to hemispheric stability.
US officials argue that Venezuelan drug cartels, with alleged ties to the Maduro regime, function not merely as criminal networks but as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (DOS, 2025) that pose a direct threat to American lives and interests.
By designating certain cartel factions as terrorist entities, the US justifies the use of kinetic force under its own counterterrorism authorities, even beyond its borders.
Notably, the US is not a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which limits its legal exposure in maritime operations but also draws criticism over its selective adherence to international norms.
For Washington, these actions are less about territorial boundaries and more about projecting deterrence against what is viewed as a growing narco-state on its doorstep.
From the UK’s perspective, the situation demands a more cautious and diplomatically balanced approach. While the UK shares US’s concerns about the destabilising influence of transnational drug networks – particularly given the proximity of British Overseas Territories like the British Virgin Islands (BVI) to major trafficking routes – it remains wary of the potential for military escalation in an already volatile region.
The UK emphasises the importance of regional security; specifically, drug-related corruption and violence threaten the governance and economic stability of its Caribbean territories.
However, British policymakers are equally concerned about the broader implications of unilateral military kinetic action, particularly when it risks undermining international legal frameworks and human rights protections. Unlike the US, the UK is a signatory to UNCLOS and maintains a more conservative posture regarding extraterritorial force.
London advocates for a multilateral response rooted in law enforcement cooperation, capacity building and respect for sovereignty, cautioning that counter-narcotics efforts must not come at the expense of civilian safety or regional trust.
This stance is demonstrated with reporting of the decision by UK government to suspend sharing of specific intelligence via the Joint Interagency Task Force South with the US (Sky News, 2025).
Despite the close alliance within the Five Eyes community, Canada, which shares a similar stance typically to the UK, issued a statement from its Department of National Defence, distancing itself from the strikes, making it clear that it still operates jointly with the US Coast Guard but that those activities were “separate and distinct from the activities … involving other branches of the United States military” (CBC, 2025).
A sustained, cost‑effective alternative to kinetic strikes lies in the investment in regional law enforcement training and capacity‑building. Consider this: A unit of high‐end drones such as the MQ‑9 Reaper, estimated at over US$20m per unit for acquisition.
If just one strike were conducted using such a drone (not even counting the full operational, support, surveillance and personnel costs), the budget consumed would easily match the price tag of a multi‑year training program (Gertler, 2018).
In contrast, the existence of regional centres like the Caribbean Regional Drug Law Enforcement Training Centre (REDTRAC) in Jamaica demonstrates how training agencies are already deployed across the Caribbean to strengthen drug‑law‑enforcement, customs and border‑control capabilities (Ministry of National Security, 2025). Simpler training initiatives highlight that targeted interventions can be achieved at a modest cost.
Meanwhile, the BVI is already grappling with a dramatic surge in drug‑trafficking interdictions (including its largest ever maritime seizure in March 2024) and linked crime waves (BVI News, 2024).
Therefore, by channelling resources into a multi-year regional training and capacity‑building plan for law‑enforcement, customs, judiciary and community policing networks, at a fraction of the tens of millions that single kinetic strikes entail, regional stability can be enhanced without escalating militarized responses.
The outcome? Fewer high‑cost, high‑risk strikes, more sustained local capacity and less danger of unintended consequences or regional blow‑back.
Conclusion
The complex challenges posed by drug trafficking and instability in the Caribbean demand a strategic shift away from costly and risky kinetic strikes toward sustainable, long-term solutions.
Investing in robust regional law enforcement training programs offers a far more effective path to enhancing security and stability in smaller Caribbean states.
Both the US and the UK have a critical role to play in funding and supporting capacity-building initiatives that empower local authorities to disrupt illicit networks without provoking escalation or international backlash.
Such investments not only prove more cost-efficient but also foster greater regional cooperation, respect for sovereignty and respect for human rights.
Ultimately, prioritising training over military action aligns with the goal of creating durable security architectures that benefit all stakeholders while minimising the risks inherent in unilateral force.
“An exciting transatlantic collaboration”
“The partnership between XB44 and Littoral Dynamics reflects an exciting transatlantic collaboration. By combining complementary expertise, shared values and a commitment to operational excellence, we are able to deliver deeper insight, greater capability and truly innovative solutions. Working together is not only effective, it’s energising, forward-thinking and a genuine force multiplier.” – Ben Popham, CEO, XB44
“In the complex theatre of global stability, every edge matters. This collaboration is a strategic multiplier in the international realm. It signals a new era where our combined capability becomes the new global standard for training and capacity building.” – William Liffick, CEO & Founder, Littoral Dynamics
References
- BVI News, 2024. “Police Make Largest Ever Maritime Drug Bust in BVI.” [6 March] – https://bvinews.com/police-make-largest-ever-maritime-drug-bust-in-bvi/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- CBC, 2025. “Why U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats have Canada ‘between a rock and a hard place” – https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/us-airstrikes-caribbean-drug-smugglers-9.6932751
- Gertler, Jeremiah, 2018. U.S. Unmanned Aerial Systems (CRS Report No. R42136). Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service – https://sgp.fas.org/crs/natsec/R42136.pdf
- Ministry of National Security (Jamaica), 2025. “Caribbean Regional Drug Law Enforcement Training Centre – REDTRAC.” [accessed 20 October] – https://www.mns.gov.jm/caribbean-regional-drug-law-enforcement-training-centre-redtrac?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Sky News, 2025. “UK stops some intelligence sharing with US over boat strikes in Caribbean” – https://news.sky.com/story/uk-stops-some-intelligence-sharing-with-us-over-boat-strikes-in-caribbean-13468750
- United Nations Security Council, 2025. “Security Council Press Release SC/16190.” [October 2025] United Nations – https://press.un.org/en/2025/sc16190.doc.htm
- U.S. Department of State, 2025. “Foreign Terrorist Organizations.” [accessed 20 October] – https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations
XB44 Ltd & Littoral Dynamics LLC
XB44 are a UK-based company specialising in maritime and land-based security consultancy, training and investigations, delivering bespoke solutions to address complex security challenges that bridge operational and strategic domains. XB44 has established itself as a trusted provider to government, corporate and private clients delivering solutions globally.
Littoral Dynamics is a US-based security and training consultancy specialising in the study and application of operational preparedness across governmental, commercial and maritime domains. Its expertise encompasses crisis management, intelligence analysis, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, irregular warfare and hybrid threats, integrating both conceptual and applied perspectives.