Rubio to Meet Leaders in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is touring Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to strengthen ties with governments aligned with President Donald Trump and expand U.S. influence in Latin America. In Colombia, Rubio will meet newly elected President Abelardo de la Espriella to discuss cooperation against drug trafficking and armed groups, U.S. support for earthquake recovery, and potentially trade-related assistance. Talks in Ecuador are expected to focus on joint maritime counter-narcotics operations, while his meeting with Peru’s President Keiko Fujimori will emphasize commercial relations. The trip reflects the Trump administration’s more assertive hemispheric strategy, sometimes called the “Donroe Doctrine,” amid a broader rightward shift in the region. Human rights groups and other critics have condemned U.S. strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels as unlawful and question whether the military campaign is reducing the drug trade.