In a historic diplomatic engagement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio convened with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders in Saint Kitts and Nevis amid escalating regional tensions. The high-level summit marked the first visit by a U.S. Cabinet official to the dual-island nation, notable as the birthplace of American founding father Alexander Hamilton.
The discussions centered on mounting apprehensions regarding Cuba’s deteriorating economic situation, exacerbated by recent disruptions in Venezuelan oil shipments following President Nicolás Maduro’s removal. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness articulated collective concerns, warning that “a prolonged crisis in Cuba will not remain confined to Cuba” and emphasizing potential regional destabilization and migration consequences.
Despite historical tensions, Secretary Rubio adopted a measured diplomatic approach, seeking sustained cooperation on multiple fronts including Venezuela’s political transition and Haiti’s ongoing crisis. The Cuban-American diplomat, who has historically advocated for regime change in Havana, notably moderated his rhetoric while maintaining pressure through threatened sanctions against nations supplying oil to Cuba.
The summit revealed divergent regional perspectives. Prime Minister Terrance Drew of host nation Saint Kitts and Nevis, himself a Cuba-educated physician, appealed for humanitarian assistance while acknowledging Cuba’s worsening conditions including food scarcity and power outages. Conversely, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar criticized communist governance while praising U.S. intervention in Venezuela and its positive impact on reducing regional arms trafficking.
The diplomatic gathering occurred against the backdrop of the Trump administration’s “Donroe Doctrine,” which emphasizes unilateral intervention to advance U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere. Recent U.S. military actions against alleged drug trafficking operations in Caribbean waters have drawn international scrutiny regarding their legal and ethical foundations.