Senator Marco Rubio is on a high-stakes trip to Latin America, and things are getting heated.

U.S. forces recently destroyed another boat they say was carrying illegal drugs. This strike killed three people. Rubio is standing by these actions. He says drug cartels are like a “cancer” that needs to be removed. But not everyone agrees with his approach. The senator is facing pushback from critics who say his aggressive style is causing too much trouble in the region.

At the same time, the list of groups the U.S. considers “foreign terrorist organizations” in Latin America has grown. There are now 21 groups on that government list. This is a big deal because being labeled a terrorist group brings harsh penalties and restrictions from the U.S.

Rubio is also getting into it with China. He recently called out “Communist Party-backed projects” in Peru, claiming they are bad news for the region. China didn't stay quiet. They fired back, saying Rubio’s claims are wrong and pushing back against his accusations.

While all this is happening, Rubio says he is shifting his strategy. He wants to work closer with allies in the area to better fight the drug trade. It is a complicated situation with military action, shifting political lists, and a growing tug-of-war between the U.S. and China over influence in the region.

Source: CBS News