WASHINGTON, D.C., March 19, 2019 — The White House announced tonight that President Donald J. Trump will welcome the leaders of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, the Republic of Haiti, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia on Friday, March 22, 2019, for a meeting at Mar-a-Lago.
In a press statement, the Office of the Press Secretary said President Trump’s “meeting with the Caribbean leaders will reaffirm our strong friendship with and commitment to these countries, and signal the importance of the Caribbean to the hemisphere.”
“The President will discuss his vision for our diverse relationships in the Caribbean and the potential opportunities for energy investment,” the statement said. “The President looks forward to working with countries in the region to strengthen our security cooperation and counter China’s predatory economic practices.”
The statement added, “The President will use this meeting as an opportunity to thank these countries for their support for peace and democracy in Venezuela. The United States remains a good friend to the Caribbean and seeks to build on a proud legacy as the region’s partner of choice.”
A Reuters report on the announcement noted that Washington “has warned countries in the region about accepting Chinese investment.”
The Reuters report added, “In October, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters in Mexico City that “when China comes calling it’s not always to the good of your citizens.” Here’s a link to the Reuters report: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-caribbean-idUSKCN1R02UH
