The State Department said Monday Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the Caribbean this week to meet leaders at the 50th meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM.

The meeting is expected to begin Wednesday in St. Kitts and Nevis and conclude Friday, though it is not clear if the secretary will be there for the full meeting.

"Secretary Rubio will engage with Caribbean leaders to advance shared priorities, including strengthening regional security, deepening cooperation to combat illegal immigration and illicit trafficking, and promoting economic growth, health, and energy security across the Caribbean," State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott said in a statement.

"During his visit, the Secretary will reaffirm the United States’ commitment to working with CARICOM member states to enhance stability and prosperity in our hemisphere," he added.

CARICOM is an intergovernmental organization that consists of 15 mainly island nations and South and Central American mainland littoral states. The United States, Mexico and Venezuela all hold observer status.