Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 13 april 2018

Rubio fills void at Americas summit left by absent Trump

By CHRISTINE ARMARIO and though they migrated to
JOSHUA GOODMAN the U.S. before Fidel Castro
LIMA, Peru (AP) — When took power — in teaching
presidents gather this week him to combat Venezuela's
in Peru at the Summit of "dictatorship" with strength.
the Americas, they may Growing up in Miami, he
be tempted to walk past had many close Venezu-
Vice President Mike Pence elan friends.
and make a beeline for an- He also credits Pence with
other person who has Presi- playing a pivotal role. The
dent Donald Trump's ear on vice president last August
Latin America: Sen. Marco traveled to four countries
Rubio. in the region, met several
In Trump's absence from times with Venezuelan dis-
the meeting, the Florida sidents and chaired a sum-
Republican is playing an mit in Miami with leaders of
even more prominent role. Central America to discuss
He began the week presid- security. More recently,
ing over a Senate hearing though, Rubio has seen
on the summit, lunched his hard-line stance chal-
Thursday with Pence at lenged. Last week Senator
the White House to discuss Dick Durbin, the Demo-
the trip and starting Friday, cratic whip, and Rep. Pete
when he arrives in Lima, Sessions, R-Texas, made
will meet one-on-one with separate trips to Cara-
about a half-dozen heads In this Jan. 25, 2018 file photo, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks with reporters as he leaves the cas, where they met with
office of Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who is moderating bipartisan negotiations on immigration,
of state — around the same at the Capitol in Washington. Maduro in what observers
number as Pence himself. Associated Press saw as an attempt to ease
The American president hostilities between the two
cancelled what would've administration's urging was Raul Castro's historic hand- Venezuela in retaliation for countries. "Lots of people in
been his first presidential the only Western Hemi- shake with Obama at the Maduro's plowing ahead Congress oftentimes want
visit to Latin America as he sphere leader barred from last Summit of the Americas with what is widely seen to play the role of special
weighs a possible U.S. mili- the gathering. three years ago. Castro is as a sham presidential envoy," Rubio said while
tary strike in Syria in retalia- For the region's lead- again expected to attend election, his insight is once urging fellow lawmakers to
tion for an apparent chem- ers, many of whom were this year, a farewell tour as against being sought. Ru- avoid getting burned trying
ical attack on civilians. dreading shaking hands he prepares to step down bio said that while the to open a backchannel to
Rubio, in a phone interview with the American presi- later this month. White House shouldn't rule Maduro. "They think they
from Washington, called dent as he pushes forward In addition, several friend out such a dramatic esca- are going to travel abroad,
Trump's absence under- with plans to build a wall on and political allies occupy lation, he's yet to conclude meet some leader, cut a
standable but a nonethe- the Mexican border and key positions inside the ad- himself that's the right deal and come back. But
less disappointing example renegotiate trade deals, ministration. Among them course of action. the bottom line is that U.S.
of how Latin America often there couldn't be a bet- are CIA Director and Secre- "There are no sanctions off policy toward Venezuela is
takes a backseat to more ter stand-in. Since Trump's tary of State nominee Mike the table but I'm certainly directed by the administra-
pressing national security election, Rubio has exerted Pompeo, who endorsed not going to telegraph tion and there's no member
challenges. In his absence, outside influence over U.S. him in the 2015 presiden- what's coming," he said. of Congress who can cut a
he said he and Pence, who policy toward Latin Ameri- tial race, and former Miami Rubio, 46, downplays his deal on its behalf, myself in-
was picked by Trump to ca. He drafted a list of Ven- Rep. Carlos Trujillo, who is pull on Trump but says cluded." Rubio's reputation
lead the U.S. delegation ezuelan officials accused the new U.S. ambassador to the two are "instinctively as a Trump whisperer hasn't
and is the administration's of human rights abuses that the Organization of Ameri- aligned" on the need to gone unnoticed in Cara-
main envoy to the region, became the basis for U.S. can States and whose kids promote democracy in the cas, where he' regularly
would work with leaders sanctions. He also urged study at the same school as Western Hemisphere. In Ru- mocked as "Narco Rubio,"
to take tougher action on Trump to roll back the U.S.' Rubio's. bio's case, he credits his Cu- for his obsession with ex-
Venezuelan President Nico- opening to communist Now as Trump threatens ban heritage — he consid- posing drug running by top
las Maduro, who at the U.S. Cuba that led to President crippling oil sanctions on ers his parents exiles even Chavista officials.q