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The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, reported that he held meetings with several heads of government during the Americas Shield Summit held on Saturday in Miami.
In a message posted on X, Rubio emphasized the shared commitment between Washington and countries in the region to confront threats related to organized crime.
The head of U.S. diplomacy thanked the participating governments for joining the strategy promoted by his country and stated that there is "a shared commitment to combat the destabilizing forces of transnational criminal organizations and narcoterrorists in our region."
The meeting was part of a regional initiative promoted by the administration of President Donald Trump to coordinate security actions and political cooperation between the United States and Latin American governments.
Regional alliance driven from Washington
During the summit, held at the Trump National Doral complex, Rubio emphasized the relationship between Washington and the participating governments, highlighting that the bond goes beyond a mere political alliance.
In his remarks before the attending leaders, the Secretary of State expressed gratitude for the presence of Latin American leaders and emphasized the priority that the current administration has placed on the region.
"The president has made this region a priority in his administration. Many presidents have said they would do it, but he has actually done it," Rubio stated during his speech.
The official also emphasized the political closeness among the participating countries. "These are countries that are not only allies, but friends. They are countries that always respond when there is a need and work together with us," he said.
Cooperation in security and development
Rubio explained that hemispheric cooperation has a wide area for development, especially in economic and security matters. According to the Secretary of State, Washington seeks to strengthen relations with governments that share common objectives in the region.
"These are countries that have a large population, significant potential, and we want to be their partner in developing those countries, their economies, and their security," he assured.
The head of U.S. diplomacy also warned that the hemisphere faces significant challenges that require coordination among governments, such as organized crime, drug trafficking, and migration pressures.
Rubio defined the current moment as a key point for regional cooperation and stated that joint actions will have a long-term impact.
"We will continue working together and we are going to achieve great and important things for this region, for which future generations will thank us for the work we are doing today," he stated.
A meeting with regional leaders
The summit brought together a dozen Latin American leaders aligned with Washington's agenda. Among them were presidents Javier Milei of Argentina, Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, and Daniel Noboa of Ecuador, along with other leaders from the region.
Santiago Peña from Paraguay, Luis Abinader from the Dominican Republic, José Raúl Mulino from Panama, Rodrigo Chaves from Costa Rica, and Nasry Asfura from Honduras also participated, along with representatives from Trinidad and Tobago and Bolivia.
Among the attendees was José Antonio Kast, the elected president of Chile, who will take office on March 11.
After Rubio's speech, President Trump reacted with humor in front of the audience when referring to the Secretary of State's address: "Is it better in Spanish or in English? I think it's better in Spanish. I think so. It's excellent," he joked.
A regional strategy in response to new challenges
The Shield of the Americas Summit aims to formalize a regional coalition to confront drug trafficking, cartels, irregular migration, and transnational organized crime.
The initiative is also part of a broader strategy by the White House to counter the influence of international actors such as China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba in the Western Hemisphere, which U.S. officials have described as a contemporary reinterpretation of the Monroe Doctrine.
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