WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio finished a three‑nation tour of conservative‑led South American countries on Thursday with a stop in Lima, Peru. The visit underscores the Trump administration’s renewed focus on counternarcotics and immigration enforcement throughout the Western Hemisphere.
High‑level talks with President Keiko Fujimori
Rubio met newly elected Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori after earlier discussions with the leaders of Colombia and Ecuador, both of whom share a close alignment with President Trump’s policies. The three leaders pledged to deepen coordination on combatting drug traffickers and curbing illegal migration.
Joint operations and military strikes
The administration has highlighted an “increasingly tough stance on narcoterrorism,” including U.S. military strikes against vessels suspected of transporting narcotics. In the past week alone, U.S. forces reported stopping and neutralizing three vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific that they said were moving illicit drugs.
Joint operations with Ecuador’s navy have been a centerpiece of the effort, and Colombia recently joined a coalition of like‑minded Latin American nations to conduct coordinated actions against cartels. Peru is expected to follow suit under President Fujimori’s leadership.
Rising crime and emergency measures in Peru
Peruvian officials have pointed to a sharp increase in violent crime. Official data show reported extortion cases climbing from 2,421 in 2019 to 26,734 in 2025. In response, Lima and the port of Callao were placed under a 60‑day state of emergency at the end of August, and a similar emergency was declared in five prisons to prevent escapes and control access.
Peruvian Foreign Minister Carlos Espá said the meeting with Rubio and Fujimori would focus on strengthening bilateral security and defense cooperation, emphasizing the need to combat transnational organized crime that threatens the nation.
U.S. strategic context
President Trump has repeatedly invoked a modernized Monroe Doctrine, asserting U.S. primacy in the Americas on issues of drugs, migration, and countering growing Chinese influence. While the administration continues its broader strategic competition with China, it also maintains a firm stance against Iran’s regional activities.
The Chinese Embassy in Peru issued a statement on the eve of Rubio’s visit, reminding that “the Western Hemisphere is nobody’s ‘backyard’” and affirming China’s respect for each nation’s sovereign right to choose its partners.
Local reaction in Lima
As Rubio arrived in Lima, hundreds of demonstrators gathered, chanting “Yankees out of Peru.” Members of the Communist Party waved red flags and a banner bearing Rubio’s likeness. Protester Carmen Espinoza told the Associated Press that Rubio’s presence represented an attempt to turn Peru into a U.S. colony.
Other demonstrators, such as Soledad Lozano, emphasized Peru’s right to decide its own alliances and reject any notion of being a foreign “backyard.” The protests remained peaceful and were monitored by police to prevent disturbances.
What’s next?
Rubio’s tour signals a continued U.S. commitment to partner with governments that share a hard‑line approach to drug trafficking and illegal migration. The upcoming cooperation framework with Peru could involve joint maritime patrols, intelligence sharing, and coordinated law‑enforcement actions.
For communities in the United States, the administration’s focus on curbing the flow of narcotics and illegal entrants aims to protect families and uphold the rule of law, reflecting the core values of faith, family, and liberty that guide our nation.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
