Should he be confirmed as secretary of state, Marco Rubio will be central to managing diplomatic relations with the Americas under President-elect Donald Trump.
The son of Cuban immigrants and a Florida resident, Rubio has long maintained a focus on the region during his tenure in the Senate. These are the most salient issues that will demand his attention in the region:
The president-elect has proposed expanding U.S. influence across the Americas, including the annexation of Greenland, incorporating Canada as the 51st state, and retaking control of the Panama Canal. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly rejected the idea, while Greenland's leadership has expressed willingness to engage in discussions about military cooperation and natural resources but not territorial control.
Trump's trade policies also pose challenges for Rubio. The president-elect has threatened blanket tariffs on goods from key trade partners such as Canada and Mexico. Should these tariffs be imposed, Rubio would face the task of easing tensions while preserving vital economic relationships. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has criticized Trump's proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America," even suggesting renaming former Mexican territories in the U.S. in response as "America Mexicana."
Rubio is also expected to take a more confrontational stance toward Cuba and Venezuela. President Joe Biden recently announced plans to remove Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism following the release of imprisoned protesters. Rubio has previously supported reimposing sanctions on Cuba and will likely seek to return it to the list, saying in his confirmation hearing that no such decisions from the current administration are binding to the incoming one. In Venezuela, he has consistently supported sanctions against Nicolás Maduro's government, aligning with the U.S. position that Maduro's recent re-election was illegitimate.
Migration policy will also be a focus. Trump's plans for mass deportations will require cooperation from Latin American nations willing to accept returned nationals. Countries like Venezuela have resisted repatriation flights, complicating enforcement. Rubio will be responsible for negotiating agreements with key nations, including Mexico and Panama, to control migration flows and manage diplomatic relations during Trump's second term.
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