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The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, expressed his support for the appointment of Kristi Noem as special envoy for the new regional security initiative known as "Shield of the Americas."
In a message posted on X, Rubio stated that he looks forward to working closely with the official in this new phase of hemispheric cooperation.
"I look forward to working with Kristi Noem as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, our new security initiative made up of 13 countries," wrote the head of U.S. diplomacy.
The Secretary of State also highlighted Noem's experience at the helm of the Department of Homeland Security and asserted that her previous performance makes her a key figure in promoting the new regional strategy.
"Kristi has achieved incredible results as Secretary of Homeland Security and will be a great asset in our effort to promote security and prosperity in the Western Hemisphere," Rubio added.
The statements from the head of U.S. diplomacy come after President Donald Trump announced changes in the leadership of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which involve Noem leaving the position she held in the administration.
According to the president's explanation in a message posted on his social media platform Truth Social, Noem will leave her position as DHS secretary to take on a new role as special envoy for the initiative called "Shield of the Americas."
This security strategy for the Western Hemisphere will be officially presented during a summit scheduled to take place in Doral, Florida, with the participation of several Latin American leaders.
Trump publicly thanked Noem for her management of the Department of Homeland Security and especially highlighted her work in border control.
The president stated that significant progress has been made during his administration in securing the southern border and in combating crime associated with irregular migration.
After the announcement of the change in roles, Noem also publicly reacted and thanked the president for entrusting her with the new responsibility within the regional security strategy promoted by Washington.
In a message posted on X, the official stated that she will work alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense to address threats such as the drug trafficking cartels operating on the continent.
Noem indicated that the Western Hemisphere represents a key space for the security of the United States and assured that she will seek to strengthen cooperation with the countries in the region using the experience gained during the 13 months she was at the helm of the DHS.
As part of the changes announced by the White House, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin will assume the position of new Secretary of Homeland Security starting March 31.
Trump praised Mullin's political career, recalling that he was a member of the House of Representatives for a decade before moving to the Senate, where he has served for three years.
The president also highlighted that he is the only Native American in the Senate and described him as a strong advocate for tribal communities.
According to the president, the new head of DHS will prioritize strengthening border security, combating crime related to irregular migration, and curbing the entry of drugs into the country.
The "Shield of the Americas" initiative, for which Noem has been appointed special envoy, aims to strengthen cooperation between the United States and several countries on the continent to address transnational threats such as drug trafficking, criminal networks, and illegal migration.
The U.S. administration has indicated that the project will bring together 13 countries and aims to coordinate security, intelligence, and regional cooperation efforts in the Western Hemisphere.
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