With Marco Rubio as the next Secretary of State in the Trump administration, a renewed focus on Latin America is on the horizon. Rubio sees a historic opportunity to weaken authoritarian regimes in Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua. Also, believes it is essential to chart a turning point that will consolidate democracies in the region.
Christopher Landau’s arrival as undersecretary reinforces this vision. His childhood in countries marked by dictatorships such as Paraguay, Chile and Venezuela. In addition to his fluency in Spanish and diplomatic experience as ambassador to Mexico. And that give him a unique perspective. These credentials promise a more direct and pragmatic approach to relations with the Southern Hemisphere.
International Challenges and Priorities
While Trump‘s foreign policy will prioritize global conflicts such as China‘s advance, the war in Ukraine and the Middle East crisis, Rubio will seek to reposition Latin America on the agenda. Venezuela remains a central challenge.
Nicolás Maduro, backed by a system that combines repression and electoral fraud, plans to assume a new mandate in January, a situation that Rubio promises to firmly confront in order to weaken the regime’s influence and its strategic alliance with Cuba.
The tandem between Caracas and Havana not only has political implications. It is also related to international networks that combine drug trafficking and illicit financing, issues that Rubio will address as part of his hemispheric security policy.
Latin America: A Divided Political Landscape
The region is fractured. While leaders like Lula da Silva in Brazil, Gustavo Petro in Colombia and Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico maintain close relations with China and Russia, allies like Javier Milei in Argentina and Santiago Peña in Paraguay are Washington‘s few natural partners in the region. This context challenges Rubio‘s diplomatic aspirations, especially when Trump’s immigration and trade policies could further complicate relations.
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