The Western Hemisphere has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic though the impact has been felt more acutely by certain countries and within certain communities. While by no means uniform, the English-speaking Caribbean has largely avoided the worst of the initial phase of the public health crisis through a combination of good luck and good work. However, the same cannot be said for the economic and social effects of the crisis in a region that is heavily dependent on trade and tourism. The Office of the Secretary of Defense and the US Southern Command are concerned how preparedness for hurricane season might interact with the challenges of the pandemic combined with other persistent crime and security issues. There is a continued need for strengthening both military to military cooperation as well as broader inter-agency and international efforts to reduce the risk presented by the myriad of threats facing the region today.
