Rubio Begins Latin America Tour, Hopes to Finalise Trade Deals With Colombia, Peru, Ecuador

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Colombia, kicking off a diplomatic tour of three Latin American nations closely aligned with the Trump administration. The visit aims to finalise trade agreements and deepen security cooperation across the region.

Speaking before his departure, Rubio expressed optimism about concluding "good, solid trade deals" with Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador in the near future. He highlighted shared interests in combating transnational crime and boosting economic engagement.

Rubio landed in the coastal city of Barranquilla, where he is scheduled to meet Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella. The trip will later take him to Ecuador for talks with President Daniel Noboa and then to Peru for discussions with President Keiko Fujimori.

The visit comes amid a broader US effort to regain influence in Latin America. This push has included military action in Venezuela and increased economic pressure on Cuba. Rubio defended potential future US involvement in Venezuela's oil sector, suggesting that energy fields previously operated by foreign firms could, under a future democratic government, generate revenue for the Venezuelan people through US partnerships.

Colombia is currently seeking relief from US tariffs on its exports. President De La Espriella, who has requested a tariff suspension following a powerful earthquake in August, has aligned his government with Washington's security agenda. He has added Colombia to the "Shield of the Americas" alliance and pledged a crackdown on crime and drug trafficking.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has raised the possibility of joint strikes against Colombian armed groups, citing authorisation to target terrorist networks, including the National Liberation Army (ELN) and FARC dissidents.