U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Jamaica, Guyana, and Suriname this week, focusing on energy security and migration concerns, according to the State Department. The high-level diplomatic tour reflects the Trump administration’s intensified focus on the Western Hemisphere.

The primary goal of the visit is to support Caribbean nations in reducing their reliance on Venezuelan oil by promoting energy diversification. The trip follows the White House’s latest sanctions targeting Venezuela’s oil exports and a proposed 25 per cent tariff on imports from countries that continue to trade with the Maduro regime. Despite this tough stance, the U.S. Treasury recently extended a waiver allowing Chevron to import Venezuelan oil until the end of May.

Mauricio Claver-Carone, special envoy for the Western Hemisphere, emphasized that the Caribbean faces a historic opportunity to achieve energy independence. “Energy security has long been the Achilles’ heel of the region,” he said. “Rubio’s visit aims to change that, helping Caribbean economies lower electricity costs and deepen their partnerships with the United States.”

In addition to energy, the escalating crisis in Haiti remains a top concern. A Kenya-led multinational peacekeeping force continues efforts to stabilize the country amid ongoing gang violence. While Rubio extended waivers to fund the mission despite a broader U.S. foreign aid freeze, questions remain about the duration of American support.

“The biggest challenge we face is Haiti,” Claver-Carone noted, though he provided few details on new policy measures.

Rubio will meet with six Caribbean leaders during his two-day tour, including Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, and Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council head Fritz Alphonse Jean. Mottley, who chairs CARICOM, is expected to raise regional concerns not included on Rubio’s agenda.

Among those concerns are the Trump administration’s proposed travel ban targeting countries offering Citizenship by Investment programs. Several Eastern Caribbean nations, which allow individuals to purchase citizenship for economic gains, are under review for potential inclusion in an expanded travel restriction list.

Another anticipated flashpoint is the controversial U.S. stance on Cuba’s medical missions. Over 400 Cuban doctors currently work in Jamaica. The U.S. claims the program constitutes human trafficking due to withheld wages and passport restrictions. Caribbean leaders, however, argue that Cuban doctors are vital to their healthcare systems and have rejected the human trafficking label.

Despite potential disagreements, Claver-Carone insists the focus must remain on energy and Haiti. “If leaders choose to overshadow this trip with the issue of Cuban doctors, it’ll be a lost opportunity,” he said.

Rubio’s visit could signal a turning point in U.S.-Caribbean relations, particularly if energy collaboration and security commitments take center stage.

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