KINGSTON, Jamaica – United States (US) Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Jamaica for his first state visit to the country since taking office in January 2025.

Rubio’s arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) was slightly delayed, with the diplomat arriving via a private United States-marked aeroplane just after 11:00 am for the first leg of his tri-country trip to the region.

Rubio was greeted by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith and Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ambassador Sharon Miller among other dignitaries and technocrats.

Talks today will focus on illegal immigration, combating transnational organised crime and enhancing economic partnerships with Caribbean nations.

Rubio is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Andrew Holness, heads of state from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Haiti and other local Government officials, before he moves on to visit Guyana and Suriname.

Energy security was also touted as a “big opportunity” for discussion in a press briefing by Mauricio Claver-Caron, US Special Envoy for Latin America, prior to Rubio’s visit.

Also on Rubio’s agenda is addressing Haiti’s political and security challenges through strengthed regional actions according to a statement from the US Department of State.

Describing Jamaica as the US’s “most likeminded partner in the Caribbean” Claver-Caron said “[this] is also a huge opportunity in regards to not only the commercial shipping lanes that all go through Jamaica—Jamaica is a key partner from a security perspective in regards to dealing with counternarcotics, arms trafficking, and in deepening that coordination will help not only improve the security and safety of Americans but also in dealing with this shared challenge that we have in Haiti.”

READ: Rubio visit will help strengthen US/Jamaica relations, says Johnson Smith

Secretary of State Rubio is the fifth US Secretary to visit Jamaica in the past 14 years, following those by Hillary Clinton in January 2010 and June 2011, Rex Tillerson in February 2018, Mike Pompeo in January 2020, and Antony Blinken in May 2024.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio alongside Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith. (Photo Karl McClarty)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio alongside Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith (Photo Karl McClarty)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio greets Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ambassador Sharon Miller (left) while Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith and Amy Tachco Chargé D’affaires to the US Embassy in Kingston look on. (Photo Karl McClarty)

Prime Minister Andrew Holness meets with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at Jamaica House ( Joseph Wellington photo)