US Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, Commander of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), arrives in Antigua and Barbuda today for high-level discussions with Prime Minister Gaston Browne on security cooperation and shared challenges facing the Eastern Caribbean.
The October 14th to 15th visit — which includes stops in both Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada — marks Admiral Holsey’s first trip to the twin-island nation since he assumed command of SOUTHCOM in November 2024.
According to a press release sent to media houses yesterday, the commander will also meet with Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell during the regional tour.
Admiral Holsey’s agenda in Antigua and Barbuda includes a meeting with Chief of Defence Staff of Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) Brigadier Telbert Benjamin, with discussions expected to focus on transnational organized crime, illicit trafficking, and border security concerns affecting the region.
The meetings come as the prepares for Exercise Tradewinds 2026, a multinational security and disaster response exercise scheduled for June 3-17, 2026.
The ABDF has been actively engaged in planning sessions with local, regional, and international partners ahead of the exercise, which involves Caribbean nations and international allies.
In Grenada, Admiral Holsey is scheduled to meet with the Acting Commissioner of the Royal Grenada Police Force, Randy Connaught, to address similar security challenges.
The visit to Grenada comes as that nation carefully reviews a request from the Trump administration to deploy radar and other equipment at the Maurice Bishop International Airport, according to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The request to Grenada is part of Washington’s ramped-up presence in the southern Caribbean, allegedly targeting drug cartels operating from Venezuela.
The government of Grenada confirmed last week that it is assessing the request in technical consultations with the Grenada Airports Authority and other relevant agencies.
The proposed radar installation has sparked local and regional concerns, particularly as tensions escalate between Washington and Caracas.
Last month, Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López warned neighbouring Caribbean nations against allowing the United States to drag them into armed conflict, stating that Venezuela would respond if is attacked from their territories.
The meetings between Admiral Holsey and regional leaders represent a continuation of longstanding security collaboration between the United States and Eastern Caribbean nations. SOUTHCOM has maintained partnerships with countries in the region to address shared security threats and strengthen collective defense capabilities.
According to the US Southern Command, both Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada are described as vital contributors to collective security efforts among like-minded nations working to enhance stability in the Eastern Caribbean.
The visit comes as Caribbean nations continue to grapple with transnational criminal networks that exploit the region’s maritime geography for illicit activities. Small island developing states face particular vulnerabilities to organized crime due to limited resources and expansive territorial waters requiring surveillance and protection.
Admiral Holsey’s meetings with Prime Ministers Browne and Mitchell are expected to reaffirm bilateral security cooperation and explore opportunities for enhanced collaboration on emerging threats. The discussions will likely address resource sharing, training initiatives, and intelligence coordination among regional partners.
The visit, according to the US Southern Command, characterizes “America’s commitment to partnering with Eastern Caribbean nations to advance regional security and stability”.
About The Author
