By Elsie Kamsiyochi
The United States is seeking to deepen its engagement with the Caribbean at a moment of rising regional anxiety, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Caribbean leaders to strengthen cooperation against criminal gangs while concerns mounted over the humanitarian and political fallout from Washington’s tightening pressure on Cuba.
Speaking in Basseterre during a closed-door plenary session of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Rubio framed the meeting as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to refocus U.S. foreign policy on the Western Hemisphere after what he described as years of neglect.
He emphasized that transnational crime, particularly drug trafficking and heavily armed gangs operating across borders, posed a shared threat that required closer coordination between Washington and Caribbean governments.
According to a transcript of his remarks, Rubio told regional leaders that the United States wanted to “rebuild and construct a new dynamic” in the hemisphere, one rooted in partnership on issues such as security, migration and law enforcement.
He singled out international criminal networks that use Caribbean routes to traffic narcotics, noting that many of these groups are well-armed and increasingly sophisticated.
Rubio acknowledged that some of the weapons fueling gang violence originate in the United States, pledging that American law enforcement agencies were intensifying efforts to curb illegal firearms flows.
The secretary of state also referenced the U.S. government’s hardening stance on criminal gangs in Haiti, where spiraling violence has destabilized the country and driven waves of migration.
He argued that unchecked gang power in one nation can quickly become a regional problem, spilling across borders and overwhelming neighboring states.
While Cuba was not explicitly mentioned in Rubio’s public remarks, it loomed large over the discussions. The Trump administration has been tightening economic pressure on Havana by blocking oil shipments, a move that has exacerbated fuel shortages and deepened an already severe humanitarian crisis on the island.
The policy comes in the aftermath of the U.S.-backed seizure of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, long a key ally of Cuba, further isolating the Cuban government.
On the same day as Rubio’s meeting, the U.S. Treasury Department announced it would allow limited sales of Venezuelan oil destined for Cuba, provided the transactions do not benefit Cuba’s military or government.
Treasury officials described the step as an act of support for the Cuban people, alongside a separate U.S. pledge of $9 million in humanitarian aid to be delivered through the Catholic Church. The move suggested a narrow easing of restrictions even as broader pressure on Havana remains in place.
Regional leaders, however, warned that prolonged instability in Cuba could reverberate throughout the Caribbean. Ahead of Rubio’s arrival, Andrew Holness called for a unified CARICOM response, stressing that economic collapse or social unrest in Cuba would not remain confined to the island.
He cautioned that worsening conditions could drive increased migration, strain regional security and disrupt fragile Caribbean economies that are still recovering from recent shocks.
Holness urged constructive dialogue between Havana and Washington, arguing that de-escalation and reform would better serve the region than isolation alone.
He highlighted Cuba’s long-standing role in sending doctors and teachers across the Caribbean, a program that has bolstered healthcare systems but which Washington has criticized as a key source of foreign currency for the Cuban state.
The meeting’s host, Prime Minister Terrance Drew of Saint Kitts and Nevis, echoed those concerns, warning that a destabilized Cuba would inevitably destabilize its neighbors. He suggested that CARICOM could act as a bridge for dialogue, helping to prevent the crisis from cascading into a broader regional emergency.
Rubio, for his part, also touched on political developments in Venezuela, saying interim authorities had taken steps such as releasing political prisoners since Maduro’s removal.
But he stressed that lasting legitimacy would depend on free and democratic elections, reinforcing Washington’s insistence on political reform as a condition for normalization.
The gathering underscored the delicate balancing act facing Caribbean leaders: welcoming renewed U.S. attention and security cooperation while navigating the potential consequences of American pressure on Cuba.
As crime, migration and economic uncertainty intersect across the region, Rubio’s visit highlighted how deeply interconnected Caribbean stability has become with U.S. policy choices — and how closely the region is watching Washington’s next moves.
Source Reuters
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