Rubio Visits Latin America

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is heading to Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador this week to meet with leaders and discuss enhanced cooperation in the fight against narco-terrorism. According to NPR, Rubio's trip comes as President Trump hails a shift to the right in regional politics and a new era of U.S. Dominance.

Background on the Trip

The trip is part of the Trump administration's efforts to revive the Monroe Doctrine, a 19th-century idea about U.S. Dominance in the region. U.S. Ambassador to Panama Kevin Marino Cabrera cited President Trump's decision to send military forces to oust Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro as an example of this doctrine in action.

Concerns About the Monroe Doctrine

However, the revival of the Monroe Doctrine has raised concerns among some experts, who see it as a neo-colonist and neo-imperialist approach. Jana Nelson, a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Western Hemisphere, said that the majority of people in the Americas are not happy about the concept being revived. Michael Paarlberg, a political science professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, also expressed concerns about the Trump administration's actions in the region.

Meetings with Regional Leaders

During his trip, Rubio will meet with the new Colombian leader, Abelardo de la Espriella, who won a narrow victory earlier this year. De la Espriella has been nicknamed "El Tigre" for his tough-on-crime message, but he has also been criticized for his past as a lawyer to controversial figures, including top drug traffickers and money launderers. Rubio will also visit Ecuador and Peru, where he will meet with other like-minded leaders who share the Trump administration's views on fighting narco-terrorism.

Cooperation on Security

According to Nelson, the region is more aligned on fighting the drug trade, with many leaders taking a strong stance against organized crime. The Trump administration's approach to tackling drug trafficking, which emphasizes a military-first approach, is also shared by many regional leaders. However, this approach has raised concerns about human rights violations.

Regional Leaders' Views

The following table summarizes the views of some regional leaders on fighting narco-terrorism:

Rubio's trip is seen as an opportunity for the Trump administration to strengthen its relationships with like-minded leaders in the region and to promote its views on fighting narco-terrorism. The trip is expected to focus on enhanced cooperation in the shared fight against narco-terrorism, which threatens the hemisphere.