Rubio discusses China, oil and collaboration on a visit to Suriname

It became a short but significant visit. The arrival of the American Foreign Minister Marco Rubio to Suriname on Thursday lasted less than two hours. And Rubio did not get rid of the airport; The discussions with President Chan Santokhi and the Surinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin and the subsequent press conference took place at the Johan Adolf Pengel Airport.

But the fact that Rubio visits Suriname during his two -day regional journey, in his first ten weeks as Foreign Minister, indicates that the country is counting in the region, becoming increasingly important and is in sight of the United States. That a lot has to do with the big oil finds off the coast of Suriname soon became clear.

« There is a great opportunity for you here, the prospects are good, and the United States would like to strengthen the relationship, that is what Trump also wants. Your plans to have future generations also benefit from income and stability, we welcome, » Rubio told President Santokhi.

An estimated 750 million barrels of oil are available off the coast of Suriname, which can be pumped up in a collaboration with the American APA Corporation from 2028 thanks to a billion -dollar investment in the French TotaalEnergies. Trump is in favor of oil and developments in countries such as Suriname and neighboring Guyana are therefore enthusiastically supported.

Sharp warnings

Safety and stability in the region were also discussed. In addition, Rubio was enthusiastic about Santokhi’s political and economic policy in recent years. « Suriname was pulled out of the slop after you were stuck with a huge debt when this government took office, » said Rubio, the fourth Secretary of State That Suriname once visited.

He congratulated foreign minister Albert Ramdin, who was elected earlier this month as the new Secretary General of the Organization of US States (OAS). According to Rubio, this cooperation body, which more than thirty countries from the region are represented – also the United States – is an important instrument for regional cooperation.

But there were also sharp warnings: the influence of China is getting bigger in the region, also in Suriname, and the US is worried, Rubio stated. Suriname, where, in addition to the Netherlands, Europe and the US, China also invests a lot and visibly present SI, as a small country has a very pragmatic foreign policy so far.

« We want to maintain good relationships with as many countries as possible and do business, » said President Santokhi. At the same time, he invited the American private sector with emphasis to invest more in Suriname. « We are close by. You don’t have to go all the way to Africa or Asia, come to us to invest! » Santokhi said.

Jamaica and Haiti

During his two -day visit in the region, Rubio also went to Jamaica. In addition to Jamaican Prime Minister Holness, he also met Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, and the leaders of Trinidad and Haiti. The crisis in Haiti was discussed, which causes instability and tensions throughout the region.

Rubio also expressed his concerns about the thousands of Cuban doctors who work in the Caribbean. These doctors have been sent by the Cuban government to different countries for years – also to Suriname – where there are shortages in medical care. But the Cuban doctors only get 25 percent of the salary paid for them, the Cuban government strokes the most money.

Rubio, son of Cuban parents who fled for the Fidel Castro regime, is strongly opposed to this practice and calls it « human trafficking. » Trump wants to impose sanctions on countries that continue to work with these Cuban doctors, for example through a ban on entry visa for government leaders and high -ranking of the countries in question.

Although this subject was not mentioned during the press conference in Suriname, it is sensitive in the region, because the Cuban doctors are of great importance there. Earlier, Prime Minister Mottley announced that he was not going to send the Cuban doctors away because her country cannot do without.

In Guyana, where, just like in Suriname, large oil reserves have been found, and where the oil is already fully pumped up, Rubio warned of Venezuelan aggression and interference at the Guyanese border region Essequibo, where President Maduro has set his sights. After the lightning visit, Rubio stepped back on the plane to the US, with the promise of a subsequent visit where he may see more of Suriname than just the airport.

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