Marco Rubio starts Latin America tour in Colombia

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in Colombia on Sept. 8 at the start of a Latin America tour aimed at strengthening ties with governments aligned with Washington.

Rubio is due to meet Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella in Barranquilla. The State Department said the trip's stated objective is "enhanced cooperation in the shared fight against narcoterrorism."

De la Espriella was elected in June after campaigning on ending peace talks with drug-running armed groups and tackling crime. Since then, Colombia has stepped up air assaults and authorised joint military operations with the United States. Colombia has also joined the US-led Shield of the Americas coalition against drug trafficking.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said Rubio would also discuss reconstruction after an Aug. 10 earthquake in Colombia's coffee-growing region. Pigott said the quake killed more than 330 people. The Colombian president has requested US assistance, including a suspension of customs duties to support reconstruction.

After Colombia, Rubio is scheduled to travel to Ecuador to meet President Daniel Noboa, and then to Peru, led since late July by President Keiko Fujimori.