Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele in San Salvador, as reported by Spokesperson Tammy Bruce. The meeting aimed to strengthen bilateral relations and address regional challenges.
Agreements were made to tackle illegal mass migration affecting the region. President Bukele committed to repatriating Salvadoran MS-13 gang members unlawfully present in the United States. He also agreed to accept and incarcerate violent illegal immigrants, including those from the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, and other criminal migrants from any country. In an unprecedented move, President Bukele offered to house dangerous American criminals, including U.S. citizens and legal residents, in Salvadoran jails.
The two leaders signed a memorandum of understanding on civil nuclear cooperation, with the signing attended by Secretary Rubio and Salvadoran Foreign Minister Alexandra Hill Tinoco.
Additionally, Secretary Rubio announced that the United States would issue a waiver to unfreeze assistance for joint efforts between the two countries. This includes detecting suspicious travelers at El Salvador’s National Passenger Analysis Center (CNAP), resuming operations at El Salvador’s Border Security Information Group (GCIF), and supporting vetted units working with U.S. law enforcement.
Strategies were also discussed to counteract the influence of the Chinese Communist Party in the hemisphere, aiming to protect the sovereignty and interests of both nations and the region.
