Costa Rica is determined to maintain a demilitarised approach to internal security despite the increasing challenge from violent transnational organized crime largely linked to the trade in illegal narcotics.
Suriname’s national army remains critically deficient in terms of air transport and maritime surveillance aircraft. It is an open question whether country’s armed forces will prove equal to the task of combating transnational organised crime.
The Jamaican Defence Forces have retained their cutting edge due to a skillful balancing of priorities with resources, the weak economy notwithstanding.
The capabilities of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force will be significantly boosted in the current phase of modernisation but the air wing still lacks resources.
India can become a player of significance as its current MR/ LTA – the Dornier Do-228 – is admirably suited to meet the requirements of Caribbean Air Arms.
The Dutch Shipbuilding Company Damen’s success in the Western Hemisphere has important lessons for ship manufacturers who wish to export small and medium sized patrol vessels to the region and elsewhere.
For Trinidad and Tobago, having two Air Arms has led to duplication of effort that has rendered existing assets less effective than they otherwise might have been. A faulty procurement process has also led to an incompatibility of both aircraft and avionics.
Costa Rica’s Challenge: Maintaining Internal Security without an Army
Costa Rica is determined to maintain a demilitarised approach to internal security despite the increasing challenge from violent transnational organized crime largely linked to the trade in illegal narcotics.