Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Gaston Browne has declared that Antigua and Barbuda will not yield to what he describes as US pressure tactics, asserting that visa restrictions imposed by Washington were designed to coerce his government into accepting third-country nationals under a proposed resettlement arrangement.
According to Antigua.news, Browne made the remarks during the Browne and Browne Show on Saturday, stating that the timing of the restrictions leaves him in little doubt about their intent. "I have no doubt in my mind that the restriction that was issued on Antigua as of the end of last year, effective January of this year, was as a result of this issue," the Prime Minister declared.
The United States has been seeking agreements with Antigua and Barbuda and several other Caribbean nations to accept a limited number of third-country nationals — individuals who cannot easily be returned to their countries of origin.
Browne said the US first approached his administration in August 2025 with the proposal. His government responded that it would only consider accepting up to ten individuals per year, and only those with no criminal background. Discussions continued over several months, including a follow-up call from a White House representative in December. Shortly afterwards, Antigua and Barbuda was informed of the visa restrictions affecting its nationals.
"From all indications, that was issued probably to bully us into signing," Browne said.
The Prime Minister issued one of his strongest rebukes yet of Washington's approach, likening it to someone holding a gun to another person's head and forcing them to drink poison. "Well, I'm not going to willingly drink the poison and die. You have to shoot me," he said, making clear that his administration would not sacrifice the country's interests under external pressure.
Despite the sharp rhetoric, Browne stressed that Antigua and Barbuda remains open to reaching an agreement — but only on terms that protect the nation's interests. He said his government will not accept individuals with criminal records, serious health conditions, or those who could place an undue burden on the country's limited public resources.
"We are not averse to signing," Browne explained. "But it has to be a sensible agreement."
The Prime Minister has consistently maintained that Antigua and Barbuda holds the sovereign right to determine who may enter and reside in the country, and that no foreign government will dictate decisions that could compromise national security or stability.
Negotiations between Antigua and Barbuda and the United States over the proposed arrangement are ongoing, with the government firmly insisting that any final agreement must place the interests of the Antiguan and Barbudan people first.
