Rubio to visit Colombia, Ecuador and Peru as U.S. deepens regional ties

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru from Tuesday through Thursday for his first visits to Colombia and Peru as the United States’ top diplomat. He is expected to meet Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa. Talks will focus on strengthening U.S. partnerships, combating drug trafficking, expanding trade and supporting Colombia’s response to a recent earthquake that killed about 300 people and displaced thousands. The trip comes as the Trump administration seeks to deepen ties with conservative governments in Latin America and assert greater U.S. influence across the Western Hemisphere.