U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Jamaica, Guyana, and Suriname next week, engaging with regional leaders to address pressing issues, notably the security crisis in Haiti and potential U.S. policy impacts. His visit follows a summit in Barbados aimed at enhancing Caribbean relations and stability.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to undertake his inaugural official visit to the Caribbean next week, encompassing a tour of Jamaica, Guyana, and Suriname. This trip aims to foster dialogues with regional leaders regarding numerous urgent issues affecting the Caribbean nations.
Commencing in Jamaica, Secretary Rubio will engage with Prime Minister Andrew Holness. Subsequently, he will proceed to Guyana and Suriname to conduct discussions with President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi, respectively.
Rubio’s forthcoming visit follows a recent regional summit in Barbados, where Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, the CARICOM Chairwoman, extended an invitation to President Donald Trump to visit the Caribbean. She expressed aspirations that senior officials from the administration would partake in the visit, leading to confirmations from Mauricio Claver-Carone, Trump’s special envoy to the Americas.
The summit in Kingston will also witness the participation of Prime Minister Mottley, where she represents CARICOM, alongside Prime Minister Stuart Young from Trinidad and Tobago and a representative from Haiti’s transitional government, led by Fritz Alphonse Jean, who will convene with Rubio.
The upcoming visit holds significance as Caribbean leaders convey increasing anxiety over the deteriorating security situation in Haiti, which poses risks of regional destabilization. Additionally, certain policy changes contemplated by the United States may adversely impact Caribbean economies.
Prime Minister Mottley has called an emergency virtual meeting to address potential repercussions arising from a proposed increase in port fees for China-linked vessels, a policy adjustment already raising alarm within the U.S. agricultural sector and the Caribbean. Regional leaders have articulated concerns regarding the Trump administration’s strategies, including proposed U.S. visa restrictions for high-ranking officials and nationals from six Caribbean nations, notably Cuba and Haiti.
Furthermore, Rubio disclosed last month that individuals participating in Cuba’s medical missions might face U.S. visa cancellations. Reports indicate that loyalists of President Trump are considering a broader travel ban affecting Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, and various Eastern Caribbean countries.
While the U.S. State Department has yet to comment on Rubio’s itinerary or the proposed travel restrictions, a spokesperson has defended visa limitations, justifying that these aim at individuals “responsible for or involved in forced labour elements of the Cuban regime’s exploitative labour export.” Caribbean leaders counter the accusations, asserting no participation in forced labour, although The Bahamas’ Prime Minister acknowledged that payments to Cuban medical professionals do not directly reach them but are routed through a Havana agency.
As Haiti contends with a deepening gang crisis, the United Nations International Organization for Migration recently reported the displacement of over 60,000 individuals from Port-au-Prince due to violent outbreaks in merely one month. The absolute occurrence of gang violence targeting essential institutions has led to mounting concerns.
Despite the Biden administration’s support for CARICOM’s mediation efforts following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, Haiti remains ensnared in political turmoil and escalating gang violence. Concurrently, Rubio’s visit will also seek to address regional crises, specifically the escalating tensions between Guyana and Venezuela over territorial disputes linked to ExxonMobil’s offshore operations. The United States has issued a stern warning to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro regarding incursions into Guyanese waters.
In summary, Secretary Marco Rubio’s upcoming visit to the Caribbean reflects a strategic effort to engage regional leaders on pressing matters, particularly the critical security situation in Haiti and emerging tensions regarding U.S. policy impacts. This diplomatic mission illustrates the ongoing commitment of the United States to collaborate with Caribbean nations amidst significant regional challenges. The implications of U.S. policy adjustments on Caribbean economies will continue to be a focal point of discussion in these engagements.
Original Source: newsroom.gy
