US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Colombia on September 9, marking the start of a three-country tour in Latin America aimed at reinforcing ties with nations aligned with former President Donald Trump’s policies on counter-narcotics and migration. Rubio met with Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella in Barranquilla, where the two leaders emphasized expanding security cooperation and economic partnerships.
De la Espriella, who took office last month, has positioned himself firmly against drug trafficking and unauthorized migration, advocating a tough stance that echoes Trump’s approach. He pledged to resume aerial fumigation of coca crops, dismantle drug laboratories, and apprehend drug kingpins. The Colombian president also announced intentions for Colombia to become the leading US security partner in the hemisphere.
Rubio underscored that Colombian officials have not requested direct US military intervention against drug traffickers. Instead, he emphasized that Bogotá seeks support in the form of equipment, intelligence, and specialized training. “In the end, the majority of this fight, the Colombian authorities are willing to take on themselves,” Rubio said, highlighting a collaborative rather than interventionist U.S. role.
During the meeting, the two countries signed agreements to explore civilian nuclear energy cooperation and to secure supplies of critical minerals vital for technology and defense industries. Rubio characterized the visits to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru—countries sharing a hardline stance on drug trafficking and migration—as part of a broader realignment in the Western Hemisphere toward US interests, contrasting with previous decades of leftward political shifts.
Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula described Rubio’s visit as a step toward rebuilding a strategic alliance with the United States, focusing on security, trade, and shared democratic values.
Rubio also addressed questions regarding his recent involvement in an agreement granting the US control over a portion of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. He defended the deal, noting that the oil fields had previously been dominated by China, Russia, and Iran but remained underutilized. Rubio argued that revenues generated would ultimately benefit the Venezuelan people through a future democratically elected government, rather than corrupt officials or hostile foreign powers.
The oil arrangement follows a week after Rubio’s announcement of the agreement with Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez, which allocates US management over roughly one-fifth of the country’s reserves. This move has sparked domestic debate within Venezuela, with some viewing it as an extension of US influence following the Trump administration’s efforts to remove former President Nicolás Maduro.
Domestically, Rubio’s visit and the agreements have generated mixed reactions in Colombia. Iván Cepeda, a former presidential candidate and ally of ex-President Gustavo Petro, criticized the visit as compromising national sovereignty. Cepeda expressed concerns that the negotiations over mineral and energy resources, along with security cooperation, could undermine Colombia’s autonomy.
The visit marks a significant shift in Colombia’s foreign policy, reinforcing ties with the United States after more strained relations during Petro’s administration from 2022 to 2026. It also signals a broader political trend as right-wing governments in Latin America seek closer alignment with US policies on security and immigration.