Marco Rubio begins South America tour in Colombia
Rubio meets Colombia's new president to discuss earthquake support and drug trafficking, then travels to Ecuador and Peru.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Colombia at the start of a South American tour focused on right-wing governments aligned with President Donald Trump. He was greeted by Colombian President Abelardo de la Estrella in the northern city of Barranquilla. The new Colombian president, who took office in August, has promised a realignment of the country's foreign policy.
The two leaders are expected to discuss Washington's support for Colombia's earthquake response and enhanced cooperation against drug trafficking. Rubio will later travel on to Ecuador and Peru.
Former US ambassador to Panama, John Feeley, who also served in Bogota, said the two men were likely to have a 'bromance'. He noted that both had made significant political turnarounds, with Rubio once a defender of the rule of law and human rights, and de la Estrella a former attorney who defended drug traffickers. Feeley suggested that political convenience had brought them together.
Feeley also raised the question of US soft power and competition with China. He pointed out that Colombia is a member of China's Belt and Road Initiative, Ecuador has a major Chinese-built hydroelectric dam, and Peru has the Chinese-built port of Chancay. He said it would be difficult for these new leaders to separate their pro-US rhetoric from the reality of significant Chinese involvement in their economies.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News |
|---|---|
| Colombia is a member of China's Belt and Road Initiative. | |
| Rubio and the Colombian president are expected to discuss US support for earthquake response and drug trafficking cooperation. | |
| Rubio is scheduled to travel to Ecuador and Peru later. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The channel framed the visit as a meeting of two political converts, with expert analysis questioning the sincerity of both leaders. It also highlighted the broader geopolitical context, particularly US competition with China in the region. The tone was analytical and slightly sceptical.
- “I think they're going to have a bromance, these two.”
- “Marco Rubio was once a very staunch defender of the rule of law and human rights. Today he is the cheerleader-in-chief for an extrajudicial killing policy on the high seas.”
- “I think it's going to be difficult to separate that rhetoric from the cold hard reality of significant Chinese involvement in their economies.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.