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United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Colombia to begin a three-country Latin American tour focused on strengthening ties with governments aligned with Washington and expanding US influence across the region.
Colombia is the first stop on Rubio’s trip, where he is expected to meet President Abelardo de la Espriella in Barranquilla, a Caribbean city better known internationally as the birthplace of music star Shakira than as a centre of diplomacy.
The visit comes months after de la Espriella, a 48-year-old conservative lawyer and businessman, won Colombia’s presidential election on an anti-establishment platform. His victory marked a major shift in relations between Bogotá and Washington after years of disagreements with former left-wing President Gustavo Petro.
De la Espriella campaigned on promises to take a tougher approach against armed groups involved in drug trafficking and to address rising crime. Since taking office, Colombia has increased military operations, including air strikes, and expanded security cooperation with the United States.
The country has also joined the “Shield of the Americas,” a US-led regional initiative targeting drug trafficking networks. According to the US State Department, the goal of Rubio’s visit is “enhanced cooperation in the shared fight against narcoterrorism.”
During his meeting in Barranquilla, Rubio is also expected to discuss recovery efforts following a powerful earthquake on August 10 that affected Colombia’s coffee-growing region. US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the disaster killed more than 330 people and damaged schools, hospitals and residential buildings.
De la Espriella’s government has requested US support, including a suspension of customs duties, to help reconstruction efforts.
Rubio’s tour through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru comes as several Latin American countries have moved towards conservative governments. Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, nations including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Honduras have strengthened ties with Washington.
The administration has promoted what it calls the “Donroe Doctrine,” a policy combining Trump’s name with former US President James Monroe’s historic claim that Latin America falls within Washington’s sphere of influence.
Rubio, who is of Cuban heritage, has played a key role in shaping the administration’s regional strategy. The visit follows a recent agreement involving Venezuela’s oil sector after the United States captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
After Colombia, Rubio will travel to Ecuador to meet President Daniel Noboa, whose government has partnered with Washington on operations against criminal groups linked to drug trafficking.
The final stop will be Peru, where Rubio is scheduled to meet President Keiko Fujimori, another conservative leader aligned with Trump’s policies.
The tour highlights Washington’s renewed push to deepen security and political partnerships across Latin America.
