Rubio pledges US won't take unilateral action against drug trafficking despite recent strikes

LIMA, Peru (AP) – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged on Thursday that the United States would not take military action against narcotics traffickers in Latin American countries without the approval of its allies, even as the Trump administration keeps up a yearlong campaign of deadly strikes against alleged drug boats in international waters.

Standing next to new Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori, Rubio told reporters that while the US has "the capacity to act unilaterally", it would rather work with its allies because that is "the most effective way to do it".

His comments came shortly after Fujimori announced that Peru had joined the "Shield of the Americas", a US-led coalition of like-minded countries in the region to carry out joint military operations against drug cartels. Colombia, where Rubio also stopped this week, also recently joined the group under new President Abelardo de la Espriella.