The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Regiment will be expanded as part of a broader shift in the British Overseas Territory’s security strategy, the TCI government announced in March 2026. Premier Charles Washington Misick announced the expansion during his March 18 State of the State address as part of a larger overhaul of TCI’s security posture, including strengthening the Royal TCI Police Force and the Border Force to tackle illegal migration and gang violence. The changes will bolster the regiment’s ability to contribute to regional stability, Misick said.
The TCI Regiment was created in 2020 and consists of six full-time officers and about 40 Marine Reservists. The United Kingdom, which is responsible for TCI’s defense, helped organize the regiment and trained some of its officers at the Royal Sandhurst Military Academy. The regiment is part of the British Armed Forces. Lt. Col Ennis Grant commands the regiment, which also contributes to disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and border protection in addition to its role as the islands’ primary defense force.
Details of the regiment’s overhaul haven’t been announced, but Misick characterized it as bolstering “enforcement, technology and defence … to keep the country strong today and secure tomorrow,” reported Magnetic Media, a news outlet based in The Bahamas and TCI.
Misick said national security no longer can be viewed solely as a policing issue, pointing to increased pressure of illegal migration. The TCI Regiment will play a greater role in border security and intelligence gathering, he said in his address, according to Magnetic Media.
To that end, the TCI Regiment maritime troop coordinated with the Royal TCI Police in a maritime interdiction on March 20 that intercepted a vessel carrying 143 migrants. The interception protected the stability of the vessel, and no one was injured, according to a TCI government news release. “This operation underscores the TCI Regiment’s unwavering commitment to maintaining the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Islands. Through an elevated operational posture and seamless collaboration with local and regional partners, the Regiment continues to prioritize national security and the protection of our maritime borders,” the release stated.
In further efforts to promote the professionalization and capacity of the TCI Regiment, Gov. Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam met with senior members of the Jamaican Defence Force in a March 23 visit. Discussions included more frequent joint training exercises, strengthening maritime domain awareness and tightening border security, reported the TCI Sun newspaper.