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Commander of U.S. Southern Command, Admiral Alvin Holsey, to Visit Antigua and Barbuda for High-Level Security Talks

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Admiral Alvin Holsey (photo by US Embassy in Uruguay)

U.S. Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, Commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), will visit Antigua and Barbuda on October 14 for a series of high-level meetings aimed at deepening security cooperation between the United States and the twin-island nation.

This marks Admiral Holsey’s first official visit to Antigua and Barbuda since assuming command of SOUTHCOM in November 2024. During his stay, he will meet with Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Telbert Benjamin to discuss ongoing collaboration in regional security, disaster preparedness, and defense partnership.

Talks are expected to focus on countering transnational organized crime, strengthening border security, and enhancing maritime domain awareness—areas where Antigua and Barbuda has been a key partner in the Eastern Caribbean’s collective security framework. The visit reaffirms the United States’ recognition of Antigua and Barbuda’s strategic role in promoting regional stability and cooperation.

Admiral Holsey’s stop in Antigua and Barbuda forms part of a broader Caribbean engagement that also includes Grenada, where he will meet with Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell and senior security officials.

Shermain Bique-Charles

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Comments (12)

  • Lin October 15, 2025, 4:09 PM

    Alright. So lemme ask you this…What specific commitments might the U.S. be seeking from Antigua and Barbuda in terms of base access, port facilities, or intelligence sharing?

  • Hallelujah Amen October 15, 2025, 8:25 AM

    The USA needs to be address the WTO matter before talking security and other things with 268

  • Anonymous October 15, 2025, 6:43 AM

    They say they’re helping us secure our borders, but the truth is Antigua isn’t a threat to anybody. What they want is more access, more eyes in the region, more data, more control

  • Informed citizen October 14, 2025, 8:53 PM

    Nice headline, but let’s be real, the U.S. doesn’t make these trips without a bigger agenda. Could this be about tightening control in the region or monitoring trade routes? Antigua needs to be smart about what we sign up for.

  • Tromos October 14, 2025, 3:41 PM

    Could Antigua and Barbuda become a logistics or refueling hub for U.S. military operations in the southern Caribbean? I just asking

  • Unruly One October 14, 2025, 1:16 PM

    We welcome this move. But I have some questions. Is this visit connected to any recent regional security developments, such as increased U.S. naval activity in the Caribbean or concerns about external influence from China or Russia?

  • Leah October 14, 2025, 11:55 AM

    When the U.S. says they want to ‘fight crime’ and ‘strengthen borders,’ half the time it’s because they’re worried about what reaches their shores, not what’s happening in our communities. They’re protecting their interests, not necessarily ours

  • Riley October 14, 2025, 9:35 AM

    Why is it that every visit from a U.S. military official always about ‘security cooperation’? What about investment in health care, youth training, or climate resilience? We don’t need more soldiers and ships around here, we need better schools and hospitals

  • I Just Checking! October 14, 2025, 8:25 AM

    All countries in the Caribbean should just begin to put a policy in place of no association with any escalation of war or military feud. This is foolishness. The US is bullying the Caribbean visas and other things and now want to come have talks about security? The Caribbean should adopt a reciprocal deportation policy. As they deport a Caribbean citizen, we deport a US citizen back to the US.

  • WW3 October 14, 2025, 8:09 AM

    Because they’re going to war with Venezuela soon and they’re gonna need all the islands help in doing so.

  • Hyacinth October 14, 2025, 7:29 AM

    How the US end up wanting to talk to us about security?

  • Apex Jones October 14, 2025, 7:12 AM

    They want to put a satellite here too?

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