Politics
Rubio pushes drug-war partnerships on Latin America tour as US boat strikes continue
September 10, 2026 at 07:59 AM
Coverage
2 reports · 1 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 5 hours
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has pressed allied governments to intensify the military campaign against drug cartels during a three-nation South America tour.
- Rubio said Mexico's campaign against drug cartels is "totally insufficient," warning the gangs will have to be confronted "one way or another."
- Rubio announced he will seek $45 million from Congress to expand anti-cartel cooperation with Ecuador, where he met President Daniel Noboa.
- Rubio said US forces will "still blow up ships if need be" while aligning joint operations with allied countries' laws in their territorial waters.
- US Southern Command announced a strike in the Caribbean that killed three people, bringing its reported death toll across 69 boat strikes to at least 230.