Rubio heads to Ecuador, Colombia, Peru after right-wing victories in region | Donald Trump News
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio to Visit South America as Rightward Shift Occurs
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is embarking on a diplomatic trip to South America this week, visiting Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to engage with newly elected leaders who have aligned with the administration of former President Donald Trump.
Rubio’s journey begins on Tuesday in Colombia, where he will meet President Abelardo de la Espriella. Following that, he will travel to Ecuador to speak with President Daniel Noboa and then to Peru to confer with President Keiko Fujimori.
The State Department has not disclosed a detailed agenda for the trip, but it has indicated that Rubio will address various topics, including U.S. support for Colombia’s earthquake response, cooperation in the fight against narcoterrorism, and strengthening commercial ties between the nations.
This visit comes on the heels of a notable political shift in Latin America, where several leaders favorable to Trump have recently assumed office. In addition to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, Rubio’s visit acknowledges the political landscapes in Honduras and Bolivia, where newly elected leaders have also received backing from Trump.
The U.S. has increased its influence in the region, as reflected in what Trump has termed the “Donroe Doctrine,” a reinterpretation of the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine aimed at countering European interference in the Americas. The Trump administration is adopting a more militaristic stance on security and reframing its approach to drug trafficking as a war against what it terms “narco-terrorists.”
Colombia’s de la Espriella has recently intensified military cooperation with the U.S., joining the Trump administration’s “Shield of the Americas” initiative, which commits 19 member countries to utilize military force against drug cartels and terrorist networks. Unlike his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, de la Espriella has expressed support for U.S. military operations against suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, actions that have drawn criticism from human rights groups.
In August, a devastating earthquake struck Colombia, killing at least 330 people and displacing thousands. The U.S. has pledged support for recovery efforts in the aftermath. In March, military collaboration was announced between the U.S. and Ecuador, targeting drug trafficking under Noboa’s leadership. Ecuador’s Interior Minister John Reimberg defended recent U.S. strikes against vessels suspected of smuggling drugs.
Fujimori in Peru has also expressed a desire to strengthen military ties with the U.S. and intensify efforts to combat criminal organizations.
Rubio’s trip follows a contentious agreement between the U.S. and Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez, which was established after the U.S. seized former President Nicolás Maduro’s assets earlier this year. The deal permits U.S. companies to access substantial oil reserves in Venezuela.
Domestically, Washington continues to apply pressure on Cuba, with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez recently rejecting any discussions with the U.S., despite a prolonged fuel blockade.
Currently, Brazil and Mexico stand as the only significant Latin American nations led by leftist governments. Rubio has characterized the region’s conservative shift as an “extraordinary achievement.” This trend coincides with an increase in diplomatic relations between Israel and various Latin American countries since Trump’s presidency commenced.
As Brazil prepares for elections in October, Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, is contesting against Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Trump has remained a notable supporter of Flavio Bolsonaro, extending an invitation to the White House earlier this year.
