ECNETNews, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. March 24, 2025: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to embark on a significant diplomatic mission to the Caribbean this week, engaging in high-level meetings with leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). This three-nation tour aims to enhance U.S. involvement in regional affairs.
On Wednesday, Rubio will arrive in Kingston, Jamaica, where he will meet with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and a delegation of CARICOM leaders. They will address critical issues including U.S. foreign policy, security, trade, and migration.
Among the key attendees of the Kingston discussions will be Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, representing CARICOM; Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Stuart Young, who oversees regional security; and Fritz Alphonse Jean, the newly appointed head of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council.
This visit comes at a crucial time as Caribbean leaders voice concerns over rising insecurity in Haiti, evolving U.S. immigration policies, misinformation regarding Cuban medical professionals in the region, and potential economic repercussions from a proposed policy that may increase port fees on ships linked to China entering the U.S.
“Meeting with Secretary Rubio represents a vital opportunity to fortify U.S.-Caribbean relations and ensure our pressing issues are addressed,” stated Prime Minister Stuart Young, who will be accompanied by Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Dr. Amery Browne.
After his engagements in Jamaica, Secretary Rubio will proceed to Guyana and Suriname, where he will confer with Presidents Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi. Both nations are CARICOM members and emerging energy leaders in the region.
Rubio’s meetings are intended to strengthen U.S. partnerships as apprehensions grow surrounding the suspension of the humanitarian parole program and the reduction of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian and Venezuelan individuals, which could destabilize vulnerable communities.
Rubio previously visited the Caribbean in February, making a stop in the Dominican Republic. He has yet to address the ongoing crisis in Haiti, which shares an island with the Dominican Republic.
