The United States Department of War’s senior official in charge of coordinating counter-narcotics policy and other U.S. diplomatic, military and law enforcement officials met with counterparts in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) and Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) in February 2026. The itinerary included a visit to RBDF’s headquarter to discuss counternarcotics strategies and attending the Fourth Northern Caribbean Security Summit, where U.S. and regional leaders discussed avenues to increase stability and prosperity in a critical area for combating transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and disrupting drug-smuggling networks.
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of War (DASW) for Counternarcotics and Stabilization Policy Michael “Mike” Buemi discussed bilateral relations and continuing efforts between The Bahamas and the U.S. to dismantle TCOs and stem the flow of drug smuggling in the Caribbean region during a February 10 visit to RBDF headquarters. “We welcome the opportunity to engage with the DASW Buemi and reaffirm our commitment to fostering strong partnerships that support national security, regional and international cooperation, and shared interests,” an RBDF news release stated.
Buemi, a former U.S. Army infantry officer and combat veteran, led high-profile investigations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to dismantle drug-smuggling rings in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. In his role at the Department of War (DOW), Buemi oversees strategies for countering drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, financial crime, piracy and small unmanned aerial systems. His portfolio fosters interagency coordination to disrupt illicit networks and promote global stability, according to his official DOW biography.
RBDF Deputy Commander Defence Force Capt. Natasha Miller and members of the RBDF executive leadership welcomed Buemi to discuss “shared security interests focused on countering narcotics flows, ongoing cooperation initiatives and opportunities to further strengthen bilateral relations in support of regional stability and maritime domain awareness,” according to the RBDF release.
Buemi then joined other senior U.S. officials, including Kimberly Furnish, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in The Bahamas, to the Northern Caribbean Security Summit in TCI. Also attending were U.S. Coast Guard Southeast District Commander Rear Adm. Adam Chamie, and representatives from the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection, according to an embassy news release.
Participants in the February 13 summit discussed drug trafficking, illegal migration, cybersecurity threats, gun smuggling and the ongoing crisis in Haiti as part of a framework designed to promote regional security and stability. The U.S. delegation emphasized Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT), a four-decade multinational effort to disrupt drug-smuggling operations. “Through enhanced domain awareness, joint investigations and capacity building initiatives, the United States continues to work hand-in-hand with Bahamian and regional partners to dismantle transnational criminal organizations, interdict illicit cargo and strengthen maritime security — making both the United States and The Bahamas safer for all citizens,” the embassy release stated.
“Our destinies are intertwined. By working together — across borders, across agencies, and across communities — we can build a safer, more secure, and more prosperous northern Caribbean,” Furnish said at the summit.