U.S. Secretary of State Hon. Marco Rubio delivered a significant address to Caribbean leaders during the plenary session of the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) February 25th.
Addressing the region’s leaders collectively, Secretary Rubio underscored the urgency of strengthened cooperation between the United States and CARICOM, particularly in confronting transnational crime, advancing energy collaboration, and re-centering the Caribbean within U.S. foreign policy priorities.
On the matter of regional security and the proliferation of illegal firearms, Secretary Rubio acknowledged the shared responsibility of the United States and Caribbean nations in addressing the flow of weapons fueling violence across the region.
“We recognize that many of these groups are buying weaponry from the United States, and that we are committed and continue to work very hard with our law enforcement agencies to shut that down,” Rubio stated during plenary.
He further emphasized that the United States and Caribbean nations would need to cooperate more to tackle international criminal groups involved in drug trafficking through the region, highlighting the importance of intelligence-sharing, coordinated enforcement, and sustained law-enforcement collaboration.
Beyond security, Secretary Rubio pledged deeper engagement between the United States and CARICOM on matters of economic development and energy security. He affirmed that Washington seeks to “rebuild and construct a new dynamic in this Western Hemisphere in which we partner with all of you on the issues we share in common.”
In a notable acknowledgment of the region’s strategic importance, Secretary Rubio declared, “We are giving priority to the Western Hemisphere after largely being ignored for a very long time,” signaling what he described as a renewed and intentional focus on hemispheric partnerships.
Prime Minister and CARICOM Chairman, Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, welcomed Secretary Rubio’s forthright engagement and reaffirmed CARICOM’s commitment to constructive partnerships grounded in mutual respect and shared responsibility.
The Prime Minister underscored that CARICOM’s strength lies in its unity and collective voice, and emphasized that any deepened cooperation must advance the safety, sovereignty, and sustainable development of the Caribbean people.