Uruguay rejects U.S. minister's 'left-wing terrorism' comments

Uruguay's Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin strongly rejected comments made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who characterized certain left-wing political movements as "political terrorism" and specifically mentioned the Tupamaros movement in Uruguay as an example of "violent left-wing terrorism."

Rubio made these remarks at a ministerial meeting in Washington focused on the resurgence of political terrorism, suggesting that Cuba had influenced the rise of the far-left in the Americas. He cited historical episodes of violence, including those attributed to the Tupamaros, Montoneros, FARC, and Sendero Luminoso, describing their actions as "inhuman barbarism."

In response, Lubetkin stated that Uruguay's approach to combating organized crime differs significantly from the perspective presented by Rubio. "We are on opposite sides," Lubetkin said, emphasizing that Uruguay, under President Yamandú Orsi, pursues a path that integrates various factors and avoids an ideological approach. He asserted that Uruguay "has a very clear policy."

"It goes without saying that we do not admit that any force of this government be treated in that way," Lubetkin declared during a press conference. He stressed that Uruguay's integration policy combines many factors and removes the ideological component, a stance he believes is fundamentally different from the one promoted by Rubio and the U.S. administration.