U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump’s administration hopes to conclude trade deals soon with Colombia, Peru and Ecuador as Washington strengthens ties with allied governments in Latin America. Rubio met Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella in Barranquilla on Tuesday and is scheduled to travel to Ecuador and Peru later this week for meetings with Presidents Daniel Noboa and Keiko Fujimori. The tour includes agreements on critical minerals and civil nuclear cooperation with Colombia, while de la Espriella is seeking U.S. support for security operations using radar and drone technology. The outreach also aims to counter China’s economic influence, particularly in Peru, and supports the administration’s broader Western Hemisphere security agenda, including the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition. Colombia has asked Washington to reduce tariffs imposed in July.