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the Regional Security System (RSS) and those islands in the region who count, in some measure, on the UK's financial support and professional encouragement. Other tasks undertaken by WIGS - particularly cooperation with USN and USCG units in joint CN operations, and hurricane relief will continue to require her services also. Staffing is underway to identify which of the three Attache posts in the Caribbean is to be cut under the savings measures. The Caribbean is increasingly seen by the US as an area where they, too, wish to see good government and political steadiness, and UK earns important credit with Washington for the small but significant part we play in bolstering the fragile stability of the region.
MILITARY ASSISTANCE
4.
We have 21 LSP deployed amongst the island states of the Lesser Antilles to the east, and to the south we have committed, for over 2 years now, substantial aid to Colombia in her stance against drugs production and trafficking. Despite the fact that our support to the region in terms of security and defence isssues is, by comparison with the US and Canadians, small, UK training with its clear emphasis on the apolitical and high standards is, however, universally preferred in the Caribbean. The contribution made to the RSS by UK LSP is very evident and is remarked upon widely; with plans afoot to expand the organisation to include other countries in the region, and despite the fact that local personnel are undoubtedly gaining in experience and proficiency, there is a likely to be a requirement for our LSP to remain in place for the forseeable future. The RSS annual exercise, TRADEWINDS, continues to reflect well on the manner in which the organisation is maturing and gaining acceptance within the region, and we will continue to try and support this series together with our annual exchange exercise with the Jamaican Defence Force. We will persevere in reducing the high cost of bringing students from the region to UK for training courses, by sending trainers territories concerned instead; and we are re-examining the scope for gifting UK shelf-expired equipment. To many of the small local defence or coastguard forces such equipment has a beneficial effect out of all proportion to the worth of the stores to us. A little goes a long way here.
CENTRAL AMERICA
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
5.
Traditionally a region of military regimes with a long history of instability and a reputation for internal supression and distrust of their
their neighbours, the period has seen a tentative move towards democracy, regional disarmament and political integration. Democracy remains, however,
however, fragile. The hosting by Mexico of the first ever Ibero-American summit conference in July 1991 brought the country to prominence, both locally and throughout the region, and the prospect of a free trade agreement between Mexico, USA and Canada (The North America Free-Trade Agreement) (NAFTA) has helped spark a mini
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D-2 SECRET UK EYES A