At a recent summit held in St Kitts and Nevis, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the Trump administration's military operation aimed at capturing Nicolás Maduro, the controversial leader of Venezuela. Despite facing pushback from several Caribbean leaders who questioned the legality of the operation, Rubio asserted that the removal of Maduro had ultimately benefited both Venezuela and the wider Caribbean region. He framed the defense of the operation as necessary for achieving a more stable and secure regional environment, particularly in light of existing tensions over issues like migration and security threats.

Many leaders from the 15-member Caribbean Community, known as CARICOM, displayed unease about the implications of US military involvement in regional politics and the precedent it might set for international law and state sovereignty. Rubio, however, focused on the practical ramifications of Maduro's removal, suggesting that it had created a foundation for better collaboration between the United States and Caribbean nations to address ongoing concerns such as the situation in Cuba, which continues to be a point of contention in US-Caribbean relations.

This conversation comes at a crucial point when the Caribbean region grapples with various security and migration challenges posed by the turbulence in Venezuela and Cuba. The summit illustrated a significant geopolitical dynamic where local leaders must balance their relationships with the United States while maintaining their stances on regional governance and legal frameworks. The dichotomy of support and concern from Caribbean states sets a pivotal stage for future discussions on sovereignty and the role of external powers in Latin America, emphasizing the need for consensus-driven approaches to regional stability.