Marco Rubio lays out America First agenda in new op-ed, says days of neglecting US ‘end now’

Newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio laid retired his overseas argumentation docket successful a caller Wall Street Journal op-ed Friday, declaring that his section volition beryllium focused connected processing America’s narration with its contiguous neighbors.

Rubio, the erstwhile legislator from Florida, stated that U.S. diplomats person "neglected" America’s relationships with occidental hemisphere nations, portion favoring those with countries connected the other broadside of the world. The caller main diplomat declared that attack had ended. 

"For galore reasons, U.S. overseas argumentation has agelong focused connected different regions portion overlooking our own. As a result, we’ve fto problems fester, missed opportunities and neglected partners. That ends now," helium wrote.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio composed a Wall Street Journal op-ed Friday laying retired the department's absorption connected America's relationships with occidental hemisphere nations.  (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Since President Donald Trump’s November victory, the president has signaled his intent to shingle up relationships with large occidental hemisphere countries. He has mused astir making Canada the 51st state, explored the anticipation of making Greenland a U.S. territory, and erstwhile successful office, taken a much assertive stance towards Latin American countries that are not curbing the travel of amerciable immigration.

The president past week threatened tariffs against Colombia aft the state initially refused to judge the instrumentality of Colombians caught illegally trying to participate the U.S. The State Department besides released a statement, announcing question sanctions connected Colombian individuals progressive successful blocking the instrumentality of migrants, and the suspension of visa issuance astatine the U.S. Embassy successful the country.

In the look of these penalties, Colombian President Gustavo Petro relented, adjacent offering the usage of his ain statesmanlike level to bring migrants backmost to the country.

Rubio’s op-ed stressed his section volition beryllium focusing connected gathering relationships and settling disputes with these adjacent countries, particularly arsenic the U.S. seeks to instrumentality stronger borderline controls.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio is sworn successful by Vice President JD Vance successful the Vice Presidential Ceremonial Office successful the Eisenhower Executive Office Building connected the White House campus, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, successful Washington, arsenic his wife, Jeanette Rubio, looks on.  (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

"President Trump’s foreign-policy docket begins adjacent to home. Among his apical priorities is securing our borders and reversing the disastrous penetration abetted by the past administration. Diplomacy’s relation successful this effort is central," helium wrote. "We request to enactment with countries of root to halt and deter further migrant flows, and to judge the instrumentality of their citizens contiguous successful the U.S. illegally."

The diplomat mentioned however immoderate countries are cooperating "enthusiastically" portion others are "less so." Noting Colombia, helium mentioned that Trump’s harsh attraction of that state volition widen to others who bash not cooperate.

Still, Rubio stressed that Trump’s "vision for the hemisphere remains positive."

"We spot a prosperous portion rife with opportunities. We tin fortify commercialized ties, make partnerships to power migration, and heighten our hemisphere’s security," helium wrote.

He touted his upcoming travel to El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic, stating that these countries "stand to payment tremendously from greater practice with the U.S.," arsenic they were "neglected by past administrations that prioritized the planetary implicit the section and pursued policies that accelerated China’s economical development."

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Rubio’s op-ed stressed his section volition beryllium focusing connected gathering relationships and settling disputes with these adjacent countries, particularly arsenic the U.S. seeks to instrumentality stronger borderline controls. (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

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Further, Rubio signaled the volition of the U.S. to absorption its proviso chains connected the occidental hemisphere arsenic opposed to depending connected "far-flung" ones that were ravaged by COVID-19. "Relocating our captious proviso chains to the Western Hemisphere would wide a way for our neighbors’ economical maturation and safeguard Americans’ ain economical security," helium said, adding, "Closer relationships with the U.S. pb to much jobs and higher maturation successful these countries."

Rubio stressed however wide migration has "destabilized our full region" and allowed cause cartels to poison American and different Latin American communities. He noted that "Illegitimate regimes successful Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela are intentionally amplifying the chaos." 

Despite the problems, helium expressed optimism that occidental hemisphere nations "will beryllium acceptable partners" with the U.S. to tackle these issues and marque themselves much prosperous. "Like President Trump, their leaders are pragmatists who enactment their citizens first. And due to the fact that they are pragmatists, they besides cognize that determination is overmuch much to beryllium gained from moving with the U.S. than not."

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The caput concluded the op-ed, writing, "We stock a communal home. The safer, stronger and much prosperous that location becomes, the much each our nations basal to benefit. Together, determination are fewer limits to what we tin accomplish."