Rubio embarks on tour of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru to cement US influence

The new president has requested US assistance and, in particular, a suspension of customs duties to support reconstruction.

Donroe Doctrine

The tour by America’s top diplomat in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru from Tuesday to Thursday comes after a string of right-wing electoral victories across Latin America.

Since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025, several Latin American countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Honduras, have initiated or confirmed a conservative turn.

The US has openly expressed its desire for control over the South American continent under the “Donroe Doctrine”.
The term blends President Donald Trump’s first name with that of the fifth US president, James Monroe, who declared Latin America an exclusive American sphere of influence over two centuries ago under the “Monroe Doctrine”.
This strategy is spelled out in the new US National Security Strategy, and Rubio, himself of Cuban heritage, is its chief architect.

After Colombia, the US Secretary of State will travel to Ecuador, where he will meet President Daniel Noboa.

Washington and Quito are carrying out operations against boats they say are linked to the criminal group Los Choneros, which is involved in drug trafficking in Ecuador.

A year ago, the US government launched a campaign of air strikes against vessels suspected of being used for drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific. The attacks have left more than 200 people dead.

The administration has failed to provide evidence against these vessels, drawing accusations that the attacks amount to extrajudicial killings.

The final stop is Peru, which has been led since late July by right-wing President Keiko Fujimori, who is also aligned with the US president’s policies.