Rubio in Quito: Iran tanker strikes to continue, Mexico cartels a shared threat
Marco Rubio, in Quito, vowed continued economic pressure on Iran and detailed US counternarcotics goals, while urging stronger Mexico cooperation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in Quito, Ecuador, on Wednesday, delivered a stark assessment of US security policy, covering ongoing tensions with Iran and the fight against drug trafficking in the Americas.
On the conflict with Iran, Rubio stated that Tehran continues to incur heavy losses in response to attacks on US naval vessels. He claimed that Iranian tankers are being targeted, with several damaged and sunk in recent operations. The Secretary asserted that the US will persist in its campaign to "strangle" Iran economically.
Addressing a question about civilian casualties in strikes aimed at drug operations, Rubio was emphatic that the US objective is not to target fishermen. He clarified that the focus remains on drug traffickers, their vessels, and illegal fishing activities, which he described as destructive to the Galapagos region. He stressed that such fisheries belong to Ecuador and should not be exploited by criminal or terrorist organizations.
Rubio also used the platform to criticize left-wing governance in the hemisphere, claiming it has led to the destruction of countries like Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua. He alleged that such groups now form alliances with narco-trafficking organizations, posing a threat not only to their own nations but also to the United States.
Turning to Mexico, Rubio described the situation as a "graver challenge" due to the power of the cartels and the vast territories they control. While acknowledging that Mexican authorities have increased their efforts, he stated that it is "still not nearly enough." He highlighted the severe security issues in Mexico, including the assassination of political candidates and journalists, and noted the cartels' use of drones. Rubio expressed hope for cooperative action with Mexico, but warned that the threat "will have to be confronted one way or the other."
Rubio's remarks came during the second leg of a three-nation South American tour focused on security cooperation. He has met with leaders in Colombia and Ecuador who align with the Trump administration's tough stance on counternarcotics and migration, and is scheduled to visit Peru next.