The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Atlantic Centre to tackle maritime security threats and transnational organised crime across the Atlantic.

The MoU was signed by Lt. Col. Michael Jones, Executive Director, CARICOM IMPACS and Rear Admiral Nuno António de Noronha Bragança, Coordinator, The Atlantic Centre on 3 June 2026. It establishes a formal framework for the two organisations to pool their expertise as well as conduct joint training initiatives and research on emerging cross-border threats impacting the Caribbean and the wider Atlantic Region.

As criminal networks become more sophisticated, this partnership connects Caribbean security infrastructure directly with a European-backed multilateral centre of excellence. The collaboration will focus on three core pillars, beginning with joint research and analysis to study emerging transnational risks like environmental crime and “Blue Crime”, which involves maritime-based criminal activity. Additionally, they will prioritise training and capacity building to strengthen the hands-on skills of regional security personnel through shared workshops, exercises and specialised programmes. Finally, the partnership will drive strategic policy dialogue by creating a direct line of communication to share non-sensitive information, operational insights and best practices across the Atlantic.

Col. Jones noted that the partnership brings the Caribbean and wider Atlantic security communities into close alignment, creating a unified front against cross-border crime. "Combining our regional operational insights with The Atlantic Centre's research and training capabilities allows us to build an evidence-based defence against the complex maritime threats facing our Member States”, he explained.

The Atlantic Centre, based out of the Portuguese Ministry of National Defence in Lisbon, operates as a prominent think tank and capacity-building hub for countries across the Atlantic Basin.

The signing took place during The Atlantic Centre’s VI Maritime Security Course, which was conducted from 2- 4 June 2026 at Ponta Delgada in the Azores under the theme “Blue Crime: Transnational Challenges in the Atlantic”. Participants in the course explored the evolving maritime security landscape and the cross-border challenges posed by environmental crime, illegal fishing, critical infrastructure threats and trafficking of various contraband.