On September 1, 2023, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone with Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica, who also serves as Jamaica's Minister of Defence. Secretary Austin expressed his appreciation to Prime Minister Holness for Jamaica's leadership in the Caribbean, including the recent pledge by Jamaica to deploy personnel to Haiti for a potential multinational security support mission. Secretary Austin also thanked Jamaica for co-hosting the Caribbean Nations Security Conference (CANSEC) in June 2023 with U.S. Southern Command. The two leaders affirmed their desire to ensure a secure and prosperous future for the Caribbean, including through bilateral cooperation on maritime security, cyber security, and climate resilience. Secretary Austin and Prime Minister Holness agreed that the United States and Jamaica will maintain a robust and vital partnership in the areas of security and defense.