Mexico City – Senator Marco Rubio asserted that the Mexican government is currently the United States’ strongest partner in regional security,a statement delivered during a visit to Mexico City amid ongoing tensions between the two nations. The Florida Republican’s remarks, made during a closed-door meeting with Mexican officials, stand in contrast to recent public disagreements and rhetoric from former President Donald Trump regarding Mexico’s cooperation on issues like drug trafficking and migration.
The assertion comes as the Biden administration seeks to navigate a complex relationship with Mexico, balancing security concerns with economic interdependence. Despite recent disputes – including a public correction from President claudia sheinbaum regarding a purported joint DEA operation called Operative Goalkeeper, where she stated, “There is no agreement with the DEA. They issue the statement, we do not know based on what” – rubio’s comments signal a continued effort to foster collaboration. Trump recently described Sheinbaum as “amazing, very elegant and beautiful,” but claimed her country is “directed by posters” and she is ”very scared” to accept U.S. military assistance.
Rubio’s trip follows a February tour of other Latin American nations – Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and el salvador – where he secured an agreement with El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele to utilize the country’s megacárcel, a high-security prison, to house American prisoners, and potentially migrants without criminal records.That tour focused on stemming undocumented migration, combating drug trafficking, and countering Chinese influence in the region, objectives Rubio is now pursuing in Mexico.He previously described that tour as a “triumphal walk.”
