During his annual presentation on hemispheric security issues in Washington, Marco Rubio noted changes in cooperative relationships in the region and noted that the United States maintains operational relationships with Colombian police authorities despite political differences. This and other points related to bilateral and multilateral strategies to combat drug trafficking were part of Rubio’s assessment, which highlighted the role of various Latin American governments in responding to criminal threats. In this regard, Rubio pointed out that the government in Venezuela led by Nicolás Maduro is collaborating with illegal armed organizations, which he said exacerbates security risks and consolidates Venezuela’s position as a central player in Washington’s concerns. As media reported, the senator explained that Venezuelan officials facilitated cooperation with groups such as the FARC dissidents and the National Liberation Army (ELN), thereby enabling the transport of drugs into US territory.
“There are organizations dedicated to drug trafficking that openly and in collaboration with the Maduro regime send drugs such as cocaine to the United States through the Caribbean, which creates a very serious security situation in many countries,” Rubio said, according to information published by the media. The official linked the activities of these organizations to a direct threat to the stability of the region, describing them as “criminal terrorist organizations.” According to Rubio, this phenomenon currently poses the greatest security risk to the US government.
Appearing before reporters in the US capital, Rubio explained that Washington’s focus on Venezuelan affairs was based on its assessment of the Maduro-led regime, which the official viewed as “illegitimate.” According to him, the Venezuelan government “not only does not cooperate with us, but openly cooperates with criminal and terrorist elements,” according to the media. Rubio added that the South American country not only facilitates drug trafficking to the United States, but also has relationships with other risky international actors such as Iran and Hezbollah, a connection touched on in previous statements, the media reported.
Regarding joint work with various Latin American countries, Rubio highlighted security progress with Panama, Costa Rica and El Salvador and rated the cooperation as effective. The media explained that despite the political differences with the Colombian presidency under Gustavo Petro, relations with the Colombian security and intelligence apparatus remain solid. “We even have very good relations with Colombia’s security teams, no matter how unusual their president may be,” Rubio is quoted as saying by the media.
Rubio avoided commenting on economic issues, particularly the restrictions imposed by the previous administration of Donald Trump on the export of Venezuelan oil. According to the media, the official preferred to focus his intervention on the specific security challenges facing the region and on international cooperation aimed at countering the advance of structures dedicated to the illegal drug trade.
The media reported that Rubio’s participation in the public appearance partially responded to the annual momentum of reviewing relevant events on the security agenda. This space allowed Rubio to update the United States’ position on the problem of drug trafficking and to detail the impact of the presence of armed organizations in Venezuela on several countries in the hemisphere. According to the report, the US government’s main concern is the flow of drugs such as cocaine from Venezuela to the United States via the Caribbean, a route that has been identified as a priority on the security agenda.
Rubio highlighted the contrast observed by Washington between the effective cooperation of some Latin American governments and what he described as the Venezuelan government’s active involvement alongside “criminal entities.” The media added that according to the official’s account, international alliances and bilateral talks promote regional stability, although significant differences remain regarding Venezuela’s involvement.
Throughout the conference, Rubio addressed the implications of this dynamic for the security of Latin America and the United States, citing the negative influence of drug trafficking and the involvement of transregional actors. In addition, he stated that the focus of US foreign policy remains on strengthening regional defense, intelligence and police cooperation in order to reduce the scope of action of transnational criminal networks.
In summary, the message conveyed by Rubio during his public intervention, as detailed by the media, revolved around concerns within the US government about the specific cooperation between Venezuelan authorities and armed groups dedicated to drug trafficking. The senator stressed that this combination of factors exacerbates security risks and requires coordinated responses at both bilateral and regional levels through the strengthening of specific alliances to curb the advance of criminal networks on the continent.
About The Author
