News

Miami, FL – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Committee on Foreign Relations, today visited U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) to receive briefings on regional challenges and SOUTHCOM’s efforts to enhance U.S. national security interests in Latin America. 

“At a time of growing threats from transnational criminal organizations, illicit trafficking, illicit financing and increased military and‎ intelligence activity on the part of U.S. adversaries, the work of our men and women in uniform and their civilian partners at SOUTHCOM is more vital than ever to defending the United States and our interests in the Western Hemisphere,” said Rubio. “I was pleased to meet with Admiral Tidd and his staff to discuss the crisis in Venezuela, his efforts to build the capabilities of our partners in the region and the need for increased focus on Latin America‎ from Washington.”

Located in Doral, FL, SOUTHCOM is one of nine unified Combatant Commands (COCOMs) in the Department of Defense. SOUTHCOM is responsible for providing contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation for Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The command oversees the force protection of U.S. military resources at these locations. SOUTHCOM is also responsible for ensuring the defense of the Panama Canal and canal area. SOUTHCOM is a joint command comprised of more than 1,200 military and civilian personnel representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and several other federal agencies.

Photos courtesy of Senator Rubio’s office.