U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is traveling this week to Saint Kitts and Nevis to meet with leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), where discussions will focus on regional security, migration, drug trafficking, and economic and energy cooperation.

Axar.az, citing Reuters, reports that the visit is part of a broader U.S. effort to strengthen ties with Caribbean nations and push a cooperative agenda on shared challenges, including stability and prosperity in the Western Hemisphere.

The trip also occurs amid Washington’s ongoing pressure campaign against Cuba and Venezuela, neither of which are CARICOM member.

U.S. policy has tightened sanctions and blocked Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba, aggravating energy shortages on the island.

Rubio, known for his strong stance toward these governments, aims to reinforce U.S. leadership and counter left‑wing influence in the region following a controversial U.S. military operation that removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.