U.S. Senator Rubio Scheduled for Mexico and Ecuador Trips Next Week, Focusing on Migration and China Discussions
Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State and the first Latino to hold the position, is set to meet with President Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico City. This visit marks Pompeo's third trip to Latin America in the seventh month of the Trump administration.
Pompeo is expected to discuss potential security cooperation with Mexico, a matter that has gained significance due to the country's efforts against cartels. The US official praised Mexico for its self-initiated actions against these criminal organisations. However, he downplayed the potential for a major, formal agreement, focusing instead on the "down-in-the-weeds stuff" rather than "declarations of sovereignty and everything."
Sheinbaum, on the other hand, has forged a respectful but complicated relationship with President Trump. Earlier this week, she suggested a potential security agreement with Pompeo, which she later clarified did not involve any "invasion" that threatens Mexico's sovereignty.
In a contrasting context, Pompeo's visit to Ecuador is aimed at encouraging the country to distance itself from China. The details of the potential security agreement between the US and Mexico, if any, are yet to be disclosed.
It is worth noting that during Antonio Blinken's tenure as US Secretary of State in 2025, he met with Mexican officials in Mexico City to sign a security agreement. The specific Mexican counterpart he met with is not detailed in the available search results.
Pompeo's stance towards Latin America's leftists is well-known. As Secretary of State, he has been an ardent foe of leftist leaders in the region. However, his approach to Mexico appears to be more cooperative, albeit cautious.
The US official did not provide further details about the "down-in-the-weeds stuff" they are focusing on. Nonetheless, a formal accord between the US and Mexico could lay out cooperation and implicitly treat Mexico as a sovereign partner.
The US Secretary of State is also the National Security Advisor. His visit to Mexico City and Ecuador underscores the Trump administration's continued focus on Latin America, a region that has been a subject of intense diplomatic activity in the past few months.
