Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has highlighted the “urgent” necessity for the United States to bolster its partnerships with Caribbean nations, focusing primarily on illegal immigration, a significant concern for the Trump administration.

According to Kuwait News Agency, Rubio expressed the importance of collaboration in several areas, including drug and firearms trafficking, forced labor, and illegal immigration. In a statement on X, he mentioned a meeting with seven Caribbean Prime Ministers to discuss strategies for enhancing cooperation to tackle these issues, which contribute to regional violence and instability. The State Department also emphasized the need for improved regional efforts in intelligence-sharing, security cooperation, and border security through initiatives like the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.

Secretary Rubio urged Caribbean partners to make careful and transparent decisions when it comes to selecting vendors and contractors for critical infrastructure projects. He warned against potential privacy and security risks, particularly from malign actors such as the Chinese Communist Party. Additionally, Rubio reiterated the US’s commitment to holding accountable those involved in the Cuban regime’s forced labor schemes, including the controversial medical missions.

With the hurricane season approaching, Rubio announced the reactivation of two U.S.-administered programs aimed at enhancing early warning systems and providing rapid assistance throughout the Caribbean. This announcement follows Rubio’s two-day tour of the Caribbean in March, where illegal immigration and cross-border crime were key topics of discussion, with visits to Jamaica, Guyana, and Suriname.