Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda has categorically dismissed rumors suggesting that the United States sought to establish a military base or deploy military assets in the Caribbean nation. Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Browne emphasized that no such request had been made by Washington and reiterated his government’s unwavering commitment to peace and neutrality. ‘There has been no request from the United States to establish a military base in Antigua and Barbuda,’ Browne stated firmly. ‘And even if such a request were made, our answer would be no.’ The Prime Minister underscored Antigua and Barbuda’s dedication to maintaining regional stability and independence in its foreign policy, rejecting any alignment with global military powers. ‘We have absolutely no interest in hosting any form of military assets in our country,’ he declared. ‘We are happy to remain a peaceful nation without military bases.’ Browne’s remarks come amid heightened regional discussions about defense cooperation with the United States, particularly following reports that Grenada is reviewing a U.S. proposal to install a radar system at the Maurice Bishop International Airport. The recent visit of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) commander Admiral Alvin Holsey to the Eastern Caribbean has further fueled speculation about American security initiatives in the region. Admiral Holsey met with Prime Ministers Browne and Dickon Mitchell of Grenada to discuss disaster preparedness, regional security partnerships, and maritime domain awareness. While Browne welcomed civil and humanitarian cooperation with the United States—especially in areas like disaster relief, maritime safety, and law enforcement—he made it clear that Antigua and Barbuda would not entertain military basing or armament agreements. ‘Our engagement must always be about peace, development, and the safety of our people,’ Browne affirmed. ‘We are not in the business of hosting military operations for any country.’