On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio convened with leaders from the Eastern Caribbean and the Bahamas, emphasizing the critical need for heightened regional collaboration to address pressing issues such as drug and firearms trafficking and illegal migration—factors that contribute significantly to violence and instability. He encouraged Caribbean nations to improve intelligence-sharing, security initiatives, and border security, promoting programs like the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.
Rubio also called on partnering nations to make responsible and transparent choices when selecting vendors and contractors for essential infrastructure projects. He highlighted the importance of safeguarding these projects against risks related to privacy and security, especially from potentially harmful influences, including the Chinese Communist Party. Furthermore, he reiterated the U.S. commitment to ensuring accountability for officials within the Cuban regime, foreign governments, and those implicated in the regime’s forced labor practices, notably regarding Cuba’s medical missions.
With hurricane season approaching in less than a month, Secretary Rubio announced the revival of two U.S.-managed programs aimed at bolstering early warning systems and facilitating rapid, life-saving support throughout the Caribbean region.
The meeting included prominent figures such as Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Philip Davis of The Bahamas, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre of Saint Lucia, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada, and Prime Minister Terrance Drew of Saint Kitts and Nevis.