Washington, D.C., April 20, 2026 – The United Stated (U.S.) Department of State convened a high-level roundtable with U.S. maritime industry leaders and Caribbean port authorities to advance commercial diplomacy and safeguard critical infrastructure across the Caribbean. The engagement underscores the United States’ commitment to strengthening economic ties and supporting high-quality infrastructure development in the region’s port sector.
The U.S.–Caribbean Ports Roundtable brought together senior U.S. Government officials, Caribbean port authorities, development finance institutions, and private sector stakeholders to deepen partnerships in port infrastructure security, trade facilitation, and investment.
The session was chaired by Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Barbara Feinstein, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy and Economic Growth, Marco Sylvester.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Assistant Secretary Feinstein announced USD $10 million in new programming under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), aimed at supporting both physical and digital port infrastructure while catalyzing private sector investment.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Sylvester reaffirmed the U.S. Administration’s designation of the Caribbean as a strategic priority, highlighting key objectives of combating transnational criminal organizations, expanding economic opportunity, and strengthening regional stability.
Darwin Telemaque, Chairman of the Port Management Association of the Caribbean (PMAC), provided an overview of regional port capabilities and strategic direction. He emphasized that Caribbean ports serve as critical lifelines for island economies, given the absence of alternative transport systems, and underscored the importance of modernization and investment.
Participants engaged in substantive discussions on expanding U.S. private sector investment and identifying opportunities to enhance port infrastructure, trade, and tourism across the Caribbean, while upholding ethical and transparent business practices.
The State Department reiterated its commitment to supporting resilient Caribbean port infrastructure through CBSI programming and expressed its intention to continue close collaboration with regional partners to strengthen economic growth and connectivity.
– END –