BASSETERRE — United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio stood before CARICOM Heads of Government in Basseterre on Tuesday and delivered a pointed message: Washington is returning its focus to the Caribbean — and it means business.
Addressing leaders at the St. Kitts Marriott Beach Resort during the 50th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government, Rubio — who flew overnight from Washington following the State of the Union address — framed his presence as a deliberate signal of renewed U.S. commitment to the region.
“The stronger, the safer, the more prosperous, and the more secure that all of your countries are, the stronger, safer, more secure, and prosperous the United States is going to be,” Rubio told the gathering.
Transnational crime topped his agenda. Rubio warned that criminal organisations now wield “funding and power that rival if not exceed that of many of the nation-states they threaten,” and pledged deeper U.S. cooperation with Caribbean governments to confront them — including cracking down on U.S.-sourced weapons flowing to these groups.
On Venezuela, Rubio reported significant progress following Nicolás Maduro’s removal, noting the release of political prisoners and the reopening of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas — developments he said could make a recovered Venezuela a future energy partner for Caribbean nations.
Energy cooperation and attracting U.S. investment to diversify Caribbean economies also featured prominently in his remarks.
Notably, it was the first time in a decade a sitting U.S. Secretary of State joined a CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting — a fact not lost on regional leaders gathered in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
“This will be a personal priority to me,” Rubio affirmed.