Rubio pledges to 'rebuild' relations with Colombia

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged to rebuild relations between the United States and Colombia during his meeting Wednesday with Colombia’s new right-wing president, Abelardo Pizano, following a period of "estrangement" that emerged under the previous leftist president, Gustavo Petro.

The new president, Pizano, succeeded Gustavo Petro in August, who was Colombia’s first-ever leftist president and whose administration had a notably difficult relationship with former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Rubio arrived in Colombia, the first stop on a Latin American tour aimed at supporting U.S.-aligned leaders and strengthening American influence across the continent.

Pizano won the second round of elections held last June against a leftist candidate and has pledged to end peace talks with armed groups involved in drug trafficking and to combat crime.

Since then, Colombia has intensified its aerial raids and authorized joint military operations with the United States.

Colombia has also joined the "Americas Shield," a coalition established by Trump to fight drug cartels and includes nations across Latin America.