WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that the United States will defend its national interests and security against threats in its own hemisphere, rejecting European criticism of Washington’s counter-drug operations in the Caribbean.
“The United States is under attack from organized criminal narco-terrorists in our hemisphere, and the president is responding in defense of our country,” Rubio told reporters.
He accused some European nations of hypocrisy for questioning U.S. military deployments close to its borders. “All of these countries want us to send and supply, for example, nuclear-capable Tomahawk missiles to defend Europe, but when the United States positions aircraft carriers in our hemisphere where we live, somehow that’s a problem,” he said.
Rubio dismissed reports that Canada and the United Kingdom had withdrawn intelligence cooperation over the U.S. operations. “We have very strong partnerships with the UK and other countries,” he said. “Nothing has changed or impeded our ability to do what we’re doing.”
He also accused Venezuela’s government of being an “illegitimate narco-trafficking organization,” saying that Caracas openly enables drug shipments. “The Maduro regime is a narco-terrorist regime indicted in the Southern District of the United States,” Rubio said. “If they stop sending drug boats, there won’t be any problems.”
Turning to Africa, Rubio described the situation in Sudan as “horrifying,” blaming the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for atrocities against civilians. “They’re committing acts of sexual violence and atrocities of the most horrific kind,” he said. “It needs to end immediately.”
The United States, he added, is pressing members of the so-called Quad, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, to halt weapons shipments to the RSF. “They’re clearly receiving assistance from outside,” he said. “That needs to be addressed.”
On South Asia, Rubio condemned the recent terrorist attack in Delhi and praised India’s handling of the crisis. “The Indians need to be commended; they have been very measured and cautious,” he said. “They’re doing a good job of carrying out the investigation.”
Rubio also addressed growing cooperation with Mexico and China in combating fentanyl trafficking. “We have strong cooperation with Mexico, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Guatemala,” he said, noting that China had agreed to schedule 13 chemical precursors used in fentanyl production.
“The President cut in half the fentanyl tariffs, and so far everything we’ve seen indicates that China intends to comply,” Rubio said.
In the Middle East, Rubio expressed optimism about progress on a stabilization force for Gaza, saying that the U.S. and its partners were “making good progress on the language of the resolution.”
“It shouldn’t be a fighting force,” he added. “Eventually, there won’t be a yellow line dividing Gaza, there’ll be Gaza, and none of it will be under Hamas control.”
Rubio also confirmed that preparations were underway for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the White House next week, saying “good agreements” were expected.
On China’s military buildup, Rubio said the issue was discussed at the staff level, calling it part of “the most rapid military expansion in human history.”
Regarding sanctions, Rubio noted that Washington had “hit their major oil companies,” leaving few targets left to sanction. “I don’t know what more there is to do,” he said.
The secretary’s remarks came during a wide-ranging press briefing following high-level meetings with G7 and regional partners in Washington, where he emphasized that the U.S. “will defend its national interests wherever they are threatened, whether by narco-terrorists, foreign militias, or hostile regimes abroad.”
Editor: Gabriel Ani
