Marco Rubio, the incoming U.S. Secretary of State under President-elect Donald Trump, has proposed forming an alliance of right-leaning governments across Latin America to counterbalance the growing influence of leftist administrations in the region. Rubio outlined this vision in an article titled “Building a Pro-American Future in Our Hemisphere,” published in The National Interest on April 23.

Rubio highlighted that countries such as China, Russia, and Iran have increased their presence in Latin America, emphasizing the need for a coalition to push back against their influence. He identified potential allies in leaders like Argentina’s Javier Milei, Paraguay’s Santiago Peña, Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa, and El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele. He also mentioned other nations such as Peru, Costa Rica, Guyana, and the Dominican Republic as potential participants.

Rubio praised El Salvador’s transformation under President Nayib Bukele, whom he credited for turning a nation plagued by gang violence into a bastion of public safety. Reflecting on a visit to the country in 2023, Rubio wrote, “What I saw was remarkable… The man primarily responsible for this transformation, President Nayib Bukele, is eager to work with the United States to make his nation even safer.”

The proposed coalition comes as key regional players like Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia remain under left-leaning leadership. Rubio argues that the alliance could inspire greater pro-American cooperation and strengthen the region’s stability and security.

As China continues to invest heavily in the region, including financing infrastructure projects like a megaport in Peru, the alliance would serve as a countermeasure to Beijing’s expanding influence. President Bukele expressed optimism about working with Rubio, saying he looks forward to “promoting our shared values.”

This initiative signals a strategic pivot in U.S. foreign policy as Rubio prepares to take on his new role.