Rubio out of Peru!
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was met in Lima with a protest rally as he concluded his official tour of Latin America, which included previous stops this week in Colombia and Ecuador.
Left-wing groups and social movements described the high-ranking U.S. official’s presence as an attempt by Washington to reclaim “its backyard.” The Peruvian people marched through the downtown streets of the Peruvian capital carrying signs with slogans such as: “Marco Rubio, Get Out of Peru,” “Yankees Out,” and “No to the Shield of the Americas,” in reference to the regional security initiative promoted by the White House.
During the demonstration, participants denounced that the U.S. administration’s geopolitical agenda seeks to dictate the foreign policy of Latin American countries.
“Marco Rubio represents Washington’s interventionist policy. We need only recall what is happening in Palestine and the war against Iran to stand with the oppressed. They are trying to do the same thing in Latin America,” said one of the protesters, after noting that China currently remains the main trading partner for most countries in the region.
For their part, local activists warned that joining the U.S. security initiative compromises the country’s sovereignty and market diversification.
“Joining the Shield of the Americas means accepting the role of the United States’ backyard and renouncing alliances with other global actors. Will we even be able to join the BRICS or finalize trade agreements with Russia if we subordinate ourselves to that framework?” asked one of the protestors.
As was the case during Rubio’s visits to Bogota and Quito, Rubio will be having an official meeting with Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori.
The meeting’s primary objective is to strengthen bilateral agreements on defense, intelligence, and immigration control, thereby solidifying the Peruvian government’s alignment with the security strategy promoted by the White House.
Source: Hispan translation Resumen Latinoamericano – English