WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of State Marco Rubio is embarking on a high-stakes, three-nation diplomatic tour of South America to reinforce key Western Hemisphere alliances and address urgent regional challenges.
The State Department confirmed that Rubio will travel to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru from September 8 through September 10, marking a critical push by the administration to deepen security agreements and economic partnerships across the region.
Rubio is scheduled to meet with heads of state and defense ministers to coordinate defensive strategies against transnational organized crime, drug trafficking networks, and regional narcoterrorism. A core focus of the visit is expanding commercial cooperation and bilateral trade. Discussions will aim to secure supply chains, boost American investments, and support sustainable infrastructure developments.
In Bogotá, Rubio will personally coordinate the delivery and long-term deployment of U.S. humanitarian assistance and disaster relief funds following the devastating earthquake that recently struck Colombia.
State Department officials noted that Secretary Rubio will use the trip to strengthen democratic institutions, promote open-market economies, and counter growing foreign influence in the hemisphere from adversarial economic actors.
Following his meetings in Colombia and Ecuador, Rubio will conclude the tour in Peru to align on shared migration management strategies and Pacific trade initiatives before returning to Washington late Thursday evening.