Rubio: Citing collaboration with regional partners to fight transnational crime, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US is reaffirming its commitment to security and stability in the Western Hemisphere.

At his year-end press conference, Rubio told reporters, “The goal here is to bring security and stability to the hemisphere.”

Many nations are collaborating with Washington, he added.

In reference to Central America and the Caribbean, Rubio said, “All of these are nations that cooperate with us openly in search of stability in the region.”

Rubio emphasized initiatives to combat organized crime.

“Transnational criminal groups, primarily focused on narco trafficking, are the single most serious threat to the United States from the Western Hemisphere,” he said.

Cooperation has grown, he added. Rubio said, “The good news is that we have many nations in the region that openly cooperate and work with us to confront these challenges.”

Venezuela is still the exception, according to Rubio. “The illegitimate regime in Venezuela is the one place that doesn’t cooperate,” he said. He mentioned Haiti as well.

“We sought out 5,500 troops.” Regarding security aid initiatives, Rubio said, “We already have pledges of up to 7,500 forces from a variety of countries.”

“That’s the goal here, and it’s comprehensive and involves more than just one place,” he added of the approach’s comprehensiveness.

As instability drives displacement toward the US border, the US has increasingly defined Western Hemisphere strategy on counter-narcotics, migration management, and security cooperation.

While continuing to put pressure on countries it claims are threatening democracy, Washington has aimed for closer ties with governments in Latin America and the Caribbean.