United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio is undertaking a significant diplomatic trip to three South American nations: Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The visit, commencing on Tuesday in Colombia, follows a notable rightward political shift across the region, with newly elected leaders in these countries demonstrating close alignment with the policies and rhetoric of the Trump administration.

Rubio's itinerary includes meetings with newly elected Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, and Peruvian leader Keiko Fujimori. These leaders have all taken office recently, signaling a potential recalibration of regional alliances and priorities concerning the United States.

The State Department has outlined the primary objectives of the trip, focusing on U.S. support for Colombia's earthquake response and a strengthened commitment to combating what the administration terms "narco-terrorism." Discussions will also encompass opportunities for enhanced commercial relationships between the United States and these South American partners.

This diplomatic engagement occurs against the backdrop of the Trump administration's stated intent to increase U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere, a strategy evoked by the "Donroe Doctrine," echoing the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine's opposition to European intervention. The administration has adopted a more militaristic approach to security in Latin America, framing drug interdiction efforts as a war against "narco-terrorists."

Colombia's President de la Espriella has already signaled a closer security partnership with the U.S. by joining the "Shield of the Americas." This initiative involves a commitment from its 19 member nations to utilize "lethal military force to destroy the sinister cartels and terrorist networks." This stance marks a departure from his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, and aligns with the Trump administration's more assertive security posture.

De la Espriella has publicly supported U.S. military strikes targeting alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean and Pacific. However, these operations have drawn criticism from human rights groups, who have documented at least 227 fatalities. These groups and families of the deceased have alleged that the targeted individuals were fishermen, not drug traffickers, raising concerns about potential extrajudicial killings.

The rightward trend extends beyond these three nations. The Trump administration has also expressed support for leaders such as Honduran President Nasry Asfura, who won his election in November, and Bolivia's Rodrigo Paz, who secured the presidency in October. Furthermore, Trump has maintained close ties with Argentine President Javier Milei, who assumed office in 2023, and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who has led El Salvador since 2019.

The strategic implications of these shifting political landscapes and the U.S. "Donroe Doctrine" are significant. The emphasis on a militarized approach to regional security and the redefinition of drug trafficking as "narco-terrorism" suggest a potential escalation of U.S. involvement in the internal security affairs of Latin American countries, prompting diverse reactions from regional governments and civil society organizations.