“Debunked”: Antigua and Barbuda Official Responds to Marco Rubio’s Reported CIP Criticism

Moustafa Daly
Cairo

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Antigua and Barbuda has responded to recent comments by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reportedly suggested that its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Program could pose a security risk to the United States.

According to the Antigua Observer, Rubio, who recently toured some Caribbean countries, is reported to have expressed concerns about the potential misuse of CBI programs in a manner that threatens US security.

Mauricio Claver-Carone, US Special Envoy for Latin America, stated in a State Department briefing regarding Rubio’s tour that Caribbean CBI programs pose a security risk, affecting “not only the national security of the United States but also the security of these islands.”

He added that while the goal is not to hinder Caribbean economies, CBI programs “should not be a major part of these islands’ GDP.”

During a press briefing in Antigua and Barbuda, Lionel Hurst, Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, described Rubio’s position as unwarranted.

Hurst said that Rubio’s concerns have been “successfully debunked” before, explaining that Antigua’s CIP has a rigorous vetting procedure that ensures all applicants undergo extensive scrutiny, and authorities regularly submit “every CBI program application to the US.”

Moreover, Hurst added that the program’s vetting process is much stricter than the one for a US visa. “Our system of granting citizenship is more intrusive and seeks more answers from the applicants than when that applicant is making an application for a US visa.”

The Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) have prepared legal briefs and supporting data to counter Rubio’s remarks. These documents, Hurst said, will demonstrate that the CBI program meets international security standards and that new citizens of Antigua and Barbuda pose no threat to the US

Hurst also emphasized the role of Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, as chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), in advocating for OECS nations, expecting her to engage with the US on the CBI issue.

“We know that Antigua and Barbuda is not a security threat to the United States. That evidence is very clear,” he asserted.

Wider Context: Travel Ban Speculation and EU Pressure

The criticism of Caribbean CIP comes amid broader concerns about US policy in the region. Earlier this month, Antigua and Barbuda formally requested clarification from the US State Department regarding reports that it was among six Caribbean nations placed on a “yellow list” of countries facing potential travel restrictions, which the State Department denied.

Pressure from across the pond is also rising for Caribbean CBI programs after the short-lived stability that followed enacting EU-mandated reforms last year. In recent developments, the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs (LIBE) Committee just voted to approve amendments to EU visa regulations targeting countries with CBI programs, potentially setting in motion a path to revoke visa-free access for Antigua and other Caribbean nations.