Prime Minister Andrew Holness and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in a high-level telephone discussion this weekend, reaffirming cooperative momentum between Kingston and Washington. The conversation spanned disaster response, reconstruction priorities, security collaboration, and broader regional challenges.
The leaders focused first on post-Hurricane Melissa recovery, with Rubio reaffirming U.S. support for Jamaica’s ongoing reconstruction following the Category 5 storm that struck last October — a disaster that devastated large swaths of infrastructure and communities across the island. Holness expressed appreciation for U.S. disaster assistance and the ongoing relief efforts.
Security cooperation featured prominently. Rubio commended Holness for Jamaica’s leadership in regional security and noted the island’s declining crime rates in 2025. Both officials underscored joint concerns over drug and firearms trafficking, narco-terrorism, and transnational crime, agreeing that continued collaboration remains essential.
The two leaders also touched on economic and travel indicators, with Jamaica acknowledging improvements in public safety that have contributed to an upgraded travel advisory from the U.S. State Department — a development Holness said supports tourism and foreign investment.
Their exchange occurred amid heightened regional tensions following recent U.S. military action in Venezuela and evolving U.S. immigration policy. Jamaica is among a group of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states affected by a new U.S. suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including several Caribbean nations, as part of broader visa policy adjustments aimed at tightening entry standards. Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Suriname were notable regional exceptions to the policy.
Holness and Rubio reaffirmed intentions to maintain an open line of engagement, signalling that bilateral cooperation on disaster resilience, security and economic stability will continue to shape the Jamaica-U.S. relationship in 2026 and beyond.
