The Virgin Islands of the United States is a group of Caribbean islands that are part of the United States and are federally recognized unorganized territories. They are situated in the Lesser Antilles’ Leeward Islands, east of Puerto Rico and west of the British Virgin Islands, and are geographically a part of the Virgin Islands archipelago. The three main islands of Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas, along with 50 ancillary small islands and cays, make up the U.S. Virgin Islands. The territory’s entire land area is 133.73 square miles (346.36 km2). On the island of St. Thomas, Charlotte Amalie serves as the territory’s capital.
Background
The archipelago was split into two territorial divisions during the 17th century, one English and the other Danish. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, the island’s economy was based on slave labor-produced sugarcane. The Danish section was bought by the US in 1917; it had been in economic decline ever since slavery was abolished in 1848.
Today, tourism dominates the economy, contributing 30% to the local GDP and 27% of all jobs (in 2014 official website). Cruise ships bring in 45% of the 2.5 million tourists who visit the islands annually.
They are a federally recognized but unincorporated territory. Virgin Islanders are U.S. citizens, although they are not allowed to cast in in presidential elections. The Independent Citizens Movement (ICM), the Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands, and the Republican Party of the Virgin Islands are the three main political parties in the U.S. Virgin Islands. More candidates are running as independents.
They elect a representative to Congress at the federal level from a sizable congressional district. While the elected delegate is permitted to vote in committee, they are not permitted to participate in floor votes. The United Nations Committee on decolonization has controversially dismissed the federal government’s attempts to normalize the unincorporated territory status, and the Islands are currently on the UN list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.
Having diplomatic ties with St. Kitts
St. Kitts and Nevis are positioned favorably in the Leeward Islands, close to vital maritime trade routes for the US. Drug traffickers are drawn to St. Kitts and Nevis because of its proximity to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The government of St. Kitts and Nevis collaborates with the US in the fight against illegal drugs to address this danger. A maritime law enforcement agreement between the Government and the United States was signed in 1995. In 1996, an overflight/order-to-land modification was added to the agreement. A revised extradition agreement and a mutual legal assistance agreement were also signed by St. Kitts and Nevis and the United States in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Among Americans, St. Kitts and Nevis are well-known.
After the events of September 11, 2001, tourism suffered, nevertheless, in recent years, the islands have experienced an increase in visitors. Fewer than 1,000 Americans are living on the island, but they make up a sizable student portion. There are several different U.S. interests in the Caribbean, including political, security, and economic considerations. The Caribbean is referred to by the Bush Administration as America’s “third border”, and developments there have a direct bearing on domestic security in the country. On security, trade, health, the environment, education, regional democracy, and other hemispheric issues, it asserts that Caribbean countries are “essential partners”.
Caribbean regions’ diplomatic relations
The connection between the Islands and the Caribbean is marked by strong economic ties, collaboration on security and anti-drug initiatives, and a sizable U.S. foreign aid program. Various initiatives to improve democracy, advance economic development, reduce poverty, and fight the AIDS epidemic in the region are supported by U.S. funding. Despite the tight ties the United States has with the majority of the Caribbean countries, there have been occasional conflicts in the wake of multiple catastrophic storms in 2004. For instance, after Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide left office in February 2004, ties with the Caribbean countries deteriorated. Recently, Caribbean nations that rely on tourism have expressed concern over possible adverse consequences on their economies from the new United States.
