Overview
- U.S. State Department readouts dated February 25 detailed Secretary Marco Rubio’s meetings with Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew and Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on the sidelines of the CARICOM summit in Basseterre.
- Rubio and Drew discussed bolstering regional security to counter transnational crime and end illegal immigration, and the United States highlighted Saint Kitts and Nevis’ longstanding partnership with Taiwan.
- In talks with Persad-Bissessar, both governments reaffirmed commitments to energy security, efforts to curb illegal narcotics and firearms trafficking, and deeper bilateral security cooperation.
- Rubio acknowledged Persad-Bissessar’s public support for U.S. military operations in the South Caribbean Sea, praising Trinidad and Tobago as a strong regional partner.
- Addressing CARICOM leaders, Rubio defended the January operation to capture Nicolás Maduro and urged closer collaboration on crime, economic opportunities, and energy issues.