U.S. Secretary of State Tours Caribbean with Focus on Energy and Migration

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Jamaica as part of a regional tour aimed at strengthening energy security and addressing migration challenges in the Caribbean. The trip includes visits to Guyana and Suriname.

A key priority for Rubio is reducing the Caribbean’s dependence on Venezuelan oil. His visit comes just days after President Donald Trump imposed fresh sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports and threatened a 25% tariff on imports from countries that continue to buy oil from Venezuela. The State Department said Rubio will advocate for Caribbean nations to diversify their energy supplies, a move officials argue will lower costs and enhance economic stability in the region.

Rubio’s discussions will also touch on the deepening crisis in Haiti, where a multinational peacekeeping force, led by Kenya, has struggled to curb gang violence. On Tuesday, Rubio spoke with Kenya’s president about the security situation, though the State Department provided no details on the conversation. While the U.S. has extended waivers to continue funding the security force, it remains unclear how long the financial support will last.

Rubio is also expected to face questions from regional leaders regarding U.S. sanctions on Cuba, specifically those targeting programmes that send Cuban doctors and nurses abroad. Latin American leaders have criticised the sanctions, arguing they restrict access to vital medical services.

On his social media account Rubio stated, “On my way to Jamaica to meet with Caribbean partners to strengthen our hemisphere’s security and counter transnational crime. We’ll work together to crack down on illegal immigration, violence and contraband in our region, and hold accountable those who perpetrate financial fraud against vulnerable Americans. Always focused on what’s best for Americans first.”