In the early hours of Saturday, October 18, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) issued a statement on the “security build-up in the region.” The document struck a familiar chord of regional caution: reaffirming the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, reiterating the need for dialogue and adherence to international law, and emphasising respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. Yet, the very wording of that statement, and several underlying dynamics, invite deeper reflec