Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged Thursday that the United States will not take military action against narcotics traffickers in Latin American countries without the approval of its allies. His comments came during a visit to Lima, Peru, where he met with new Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori.
Rubio stated that while the U.S. possesses the capacity to act unilaterally, collaboration with allies is the preferred and most effective approach. "We're not going to do anything that our partners don't ask us to do," Rubio told reporters. "We don’t want to do less than what you ask of us, but we’re not going to do more than what you ask of us."
His remarks followed the announcement that Peru had joined the “Shield of the Americas,” a U.S.-led coalition aimed at conducting joint military operations against drug cartels. Colombia, which Rubio also visited, recently joined the coalition under its new president.
Rubio's visit to Peru was part of his fifth trip to Latin America, focused on strengthening security partnerships with conservative leaders. He acknowledged an evolving U.S. strategy that aligns with allied laws while asserting the military's capability to "still blow up ships if need be," with decisions made on a "strike-by-strike or operation-by-operation determination."
This statement comes shortly after the U.S. military reported carrying out a strike in the Caribbean Sea against individuals on a boat deemed to be operating as “narcoterrorists,” resulting in three deaths. Recent joint operations, primarily with Ecuador, have involved removing individuals from vessels accused of aiding drug trafficking and transferring them to Ecuadorian authorities.
Shifting Alliances and Regional Priorities
Rubio's tour also included stops in Colombia and Ecuador, emphasizing the Trump administration's focus on counternarcotics and immigration efforts in the Western Hemisphere, alongside reestablishing U.S. dominance in the region. This focus aligns with President Trump's rhetoric regarding the Monroe Doctrine and countering growing Chinese influence.
The Chinese Embassy in Peru issued a statement asserting that the "Western Hemisphere is nobody’s ‘backyard,’" emphasizing the sovereign right of Latin American countries to choose their partners, a remark made on the eve of Rubio's visit.
Peru, a significant producer of cocaine, has prioritized combating crime under President Fujimori. The country has recently implemented a 60-day state of emergency in Lima and Callao due to rising crime rates, and similar measures have been enacted in several prisons.
Fujimori expressed that Peru's entry into the Shield of the Americas would facilitate quicker information sharing and decisive action against cross-border crime, highlighting past successful collaboration between Peru and the U.S. in the 1990s.
Rubio's arrival in Lima was met with protests, with hundreds of demonstrators expressing opposition to U.S. influence and asserting Peru's independence in forming international alliances.