<P> Situated largely on the Caribbean Plate , the region comprises more than 700 islands , islets , reefs and cays . ( See the list . ) These islands generally form island arcs that delineate the eastern and northern edges of the Caribbean Sea . The Caribbean islands , consisting of the Greater Antilles on the north and the Lesser Antilles on the south and east ( including the Leeward Antilles ) , are part of the somewhat larger West Indies grouping , which also includes the Lucayan Archipelago ( comprising the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands ) . The Lucayans and , less commonly , Bermuda , are also sometimes considered Caribbean despite the fact that none of these islands border the Caribbean Sea . In a wider sense , the mainland countries and territories of Belize and the Guyanas ( Guyana , Suriname and French Guiana ) are often included due to their political and cultural ties with the region . </P>
by what name are the island countries in the caribbean sea sometimes called
Greater Antilles on the north Lesser Antilles on the south and east