Rubio Begins Latin America Tour to Bolster Anti-Drug Efforts
Marco Rubio visits Colombia, Ecuador, Peru to push counter-narcotics cooperation and energy deals with conservative allies.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday started a three-nation tour of Latin America, meeting with conservative leaders aligned with Washington's tough stance on drug trafficking, migration, and energy policy. The trip comes as the Trump administration expands military operations against suspected drug vessels in the region.
Rubio's first stop is Colombia, where he will meet President Abelardo de la Espriella in Barranquilla. The two are expected to sign agreements on civil nuclear cooperation and critical minerals. De la Espriella, who took office last month, has embraced Trump's policies, joining the Americas Counter Cartels Coalition and intensifying military action against illegal armed groups. His government has also pledged to deport migrants without permits, mainly Venezuelans.
Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula said the visit marks the start of "rebuilding a strategic alliance" with the US, focusing on security, trade, and shared values.
From Colombia, Rubio will travel to Ecuador for talks with President Daniel Noboa, whose government has increased counternarcotics operations with US forces. The trip follows the interception and sinking of an Ecuadorian vessel on Monday, the fifth such action in under two weeks. Unlike earlier strikes that killed at least 227 people, the crew was removed and handed over to Ecuadorian authorities.
Rubio will conclude his tour in Peru, meeting newly elected President Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former leader Alberto Fujimori. The State Department says the talks will cover "enhanced cooperation in the shared fight against narcoterrorism." The tour highlights Washington's push to strengthen ties with a new wave of right-wing governments in a region that had shifted left in recent years.