US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s attempt to terminate a program that sends in Cuban physicians, who, despite accusations of labor exploitation, have grown essential to healthcare in other Caribbean nations, was rejected by Jamaica on March 26, 2025.
As the host nation, Jamaica, claims it would assist the incoming US government in a “global war on gangs,” Donald Trump’s senior diplomat conducted discussions on the fringes of a Caribbean summit, part of which was to discover novel perspectives on the violent country of Haiti.
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Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica, however, made it apparent that he and Rubio disagreed on the program’s purpose, which supplies medical professionals from Cuba all over the world. It has grown to be a significant source of income for the government, which is currently struggling financially.
Last month, Rubio, a Cuban-American and vocal opponent of the communist regime in Havana, declared that the Trump administration would not provide visas to foreign government officials who are involved in the scheme, which he described as human trafficking.
At a joint press conference with Rubio, Holness stated, “Let us be clear, the Cuban doctors in Jamaica have been incredibly helpful to us.”
He said that when Jamaican medical professionals left the nation, the 400 Cuban physicians who remained filled a need.
“We are, however, very careful not to exploit the Cuban doctors who are here. We ensure that they are treated within our labor laws and benefit like any other worker,” Holness stated.
“So, any characterization of the program by others certainly would not be applicable to Jamaica.”
Rubio pledged to interact with Jamaica to have a “better understanding” of its treatment of Cuban physicians.
“Perhaps none of this applies in the way it’s handled here,” Rubio stated.
However, according to Rubio, the US is still “in general” against the initiative.
“The regime does not pay these doctors, takes away their passports and basically, it is, in many ways, forced labor, and that we cannot be in support of,” Rubio stated.
Barbados’ efforts to pay Cuban directors directly have also been praised by Mauricio Claver-Caron, the United States’ special representative to Latin America.
The US pressure was harshly criticized by Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne earlier this month, who said that the lack of Cuban physicians would “literally dismantle our healthcare services and put our people at risk.”
In 2023, Cuba dispatched 22,632 medical personnel to 57 nations, according to government numbers. In 2018, Cuba earned US$6.3 billion, and in 2020, it earned US$3.9 billion, mostly from Venezuelan oil.
Rubio’s travel coincides with his contemplation of a new approach to Haiti, the poorest nation in the hemisphere, which has been in turmoil for years due to the overthrow of the government and the armed organizations who gained control.
Former US President Joe Biden backed a Kenyan-led operation that was sent to Haiti with the intention of establishing peace, but the violence has returned, and the force levels have fallen short.
According to Holness, the United States has been an “incredible partner” in Haiti, but the country’s young national police force needs a “significant expansion in resources” in order to combat gangs.
He remarked, “The present holding situation that we have, it’s not necessarily moving the situation forward.”
Holness claimed to have discussed “a global war on gangs” with Rubio and to have found “significant policy alignment” between the Trump administration and Jamaica.
Trump’s massive cuts to aid have been waived by Rubio to support the Haiti operation. Additionally, Obama declared that the United States would give software and other support to Jamaica in its fight against gangs.
The assistance to Jamaica “highlights exactly what our vision for aid moving forward is,” according to Rubio.
“The United States is not getting out of the aid business,” Rubio stated.
However, Rubio stated, “We want to provide foreign aid in a way that is strategically aligned with our foreign policy priorities,” as opposed to giving money to non-governmental organizations.
