Rubio arrives in Latin America to push US counter-drug priorities with Trump-friendly leaders

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio launched a three-nation trip to Latin America on Tuesday, seeking to bolster American interests with conservative leaders in the region. The administration is intensifying military efforts to tackle drug trafficking and exploring new avenues for energy partnerships and combating illegal migration.

After securing a significant oil deal in Venezuela, Rubio arrived in Colombia to meet with President Abelardo de la Espriella, who has expressed support for U.S. policies on various fronts, including drug control, immigration, and energy. The two nations aim to sign agreements on civil nuclear cooperation and critical minerals during their meeting in Barranquilla, a city on Colombia's Caribbean coast.

President de la Espriella, a member of the emerging right-wing conservative movement in Latin America, highlights the common goals in combating regional criminal networks and fostering economic partnerships. When asked about his decision not to include Venezuela in his itinerary, Rubio mentioned plans to visit the country at a later time, while defending the Venezuela oil agreement, stating that the oil fields were once exploited by China, Russia, and Iran but remained untapped.

Recently, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez agreed to grant the U.S. control over approximately one-fifth of Venezuela's vast oil reserves, considered the world's largest. Though the deal could potentially yield billions in royalties and revenues for Venezuela, many locals contend that securing control of its oil was the primary aim when the U.S. deployed forces in January to seize then-President Nicolás Maduro.

According to Rubio, the oil fields will ultimately benefit Venezuelans by generating revenues for the nation through a democratically elected government, rather than lining the pockets of corrupt officials or foreign adversaries.