Rubio Praises Colombia’s New Pro‑Trump President on First Latin America Stop

When Marco Rubio stepped off the plane in the coastal city of Barranquilla on Tuesday, the atmosphere felt a little like a political reunion. He greeted Colombian President Abelardo de La Espriella with a familiar handshake, joking that he’d known the man “long before he lost his mind and went into politics.” The comment, half‑hearted and half‑affectionate, set the tone for a meeting that was as much about personal rapport as it was about policy.

De La Espriella, a former criminal‑defence lawyer turned businessman who calls himself “The Tiger,” took office on August 7 after a campaign loudly endorsed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. In his inaugural speech he promised to make Colombia the United States’ “principal hemispheric partner for security,” a line that Rubio eagerly echoed.

During the ceremony, both leaders signed a handful of bilateral agreements that, on paper, look like typical security pacts: cooperation on drug‑trafficking interdiction, shared intelligence, and the promise of U.S. equipment ranging from drones to radar systems. De La Espriella also asked Washington for help with anti‑money‑laundering tools, a request that fits neatly into the broader U.S. push to curb the cocaine trade that still fuels violence in the region.

Rubio told reporters that the Pentagon and Colombia’s armed forces are already in talks about new joint projects. He hinted that the “fraught ties” of the previous administration under left‑wing President Gustavo Petro – who often sparred with Trump – could finally be left behind. “We hope to restore cooperation and perhaps build on it,” he said, adding that the new president seemed eager to make that happen.

Beyond the security angle, the two men discussed economics. Colombia is feeling the sting of a 12.5 % U.S. tariff that kicked in last July, a levy that could blunt the country’s coffee and flower exports. De La Espriella, still riding the wave of sympathy after a 7.4‑magnitude earthquake hit the western Andes in August, asked Washington to suspend the tariff – a move that would echo Trump’s earlier promises of relief for disaster‑hit allies.

The meeting also featured a brief tour of the Batallón Paraíso military complex, where Rubio noted the impressive training facilities. He reiterated that the United States is ready to provide “equipment, intelligence and training,” though he stopped short of spelling out exactly what that might look like on the ground.

Rubio’s Latin American itinerary isn’t over yet. After Colombia, he’s slated to visit Ecuador to meet President Daniel Noboa and then head south to Peru for talks with President Keiko Fujimori, who took office in July. The trip, Rubio says, reflects a “trend of alignment” across the hemisphere with U.S. interests – a trend that has become more visible under the second Trump administration.

Back in Barranquilla, De La Espriella hinted at reviving a modern version of “Plan Colombia,” dubbing it “Plan Homeland.” The goal, he said, is to fumigate coca plantations, smash cocaine labs, and go after the drug‑lords who profit from the trade. He assured his audience that Colombia would meet any annual targets the United States sets, a promise that seems designed to reassure both domestic critics and Washington’s hawkish circles.

Whether the newfound camaraderie will translate into concrete action remains to be seen. What’s clear, however, is that both leaders left the press conference with a shared sense of optimism – and a few jokes about long‑standing friendships that, if nothing else, make diplomacy feel a bit more human.