U.S. Secretary of State Rubio concludes South American tour

In brief

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio concluded a three-day tour of South America on Thursday, September 10, meeting with the leaders of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The visit aligns with the Donroe Doctrine, a policy described as a corollary to the Monroe Doctrine that emphasizes fighting drug trafficking.

During his visit to Colombia, Rubio met with President De La Espriella. The two nations signed two agreements concerning potential cooperation in civilian nuclear energy and the supply of critical materials for the technology sector. While the Shield of the Americas aims to combat drug trafficking, some critics in Colombia claim the initiative could allow for U.S. military intervention in the country.