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Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday a new regional initiative aimed at strengthening security cooperation across the Americas.

President Donald Trump’s administration is expanding its security partnerships across the Americas, with Rubio revealing a new initiative involving 13 countries. Rubio said he will work with departing Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who will serve as special envoy for the newly created initiative.

“I look forward to working with Kristi Noem as Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas — our new security initiative comprised of 13 countries,” Rubio wrote on X. “Kristi has achieved incredible results as Secretary of Homeland Security and will be a tremendous asset in our effort to promote security and prosperity in the Western Hemisphere.”

The news comes after Trump announced that Republican Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin will replace Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on March 31.

“The current Secretary, Kristi Noem, who has served us well, and has had numerous and spectacular results (especially on the Border!), will be moving to be Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, our new Security Initiative in the Western Hemisphere we are announcing on Saturday in Doral, Florida. I thank Kristi for her service at ‘Homeland,’” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

In a Thursday post on X, Noem thanked Trump for appointing her as special envoy for the Shield of the Americas and said she looks forward to working closely with Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to dismantle cartels.

Mullin’s move to the DHS will leave his Senate seat vacant, which will require Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to appoint a replacement to fill the position in the upper chamber. Mullin’s nomination still requires Senate confirmation, though Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said on X he plans to vote “aye,” adding he is unsure how many fellow Democrats will support Mullin.

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