
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele solidified a strategic partnership during an official meeting at the Presidential House on Lake Coatepeque, a venue that has become emblematic of Bukele’s informal yet results-driven diplomacy.
The visit is part of Marco Rubio’s first official international tour as Secretary of State, with El Salvador being the second stop after Panama, where the Panama Canal issue was specifically discussed. The visit to El Salvador aims to address matters of interest for both El Salvador and the United States.
Key Highlights of the Visit (February 3, 2025):
From Skeptic to Ally:
Marco Rubio, who first visited El Salvador in 2023 as a skeptical U.S. senator, returned as Secretary of State acknowledging the country’s transformation into the safest nation in the Americas, achieved through policies like the State of Exception and Territorial Control Plan.

The Coatepeque Meeting:
Breaking from past administrations that kept the lake house’s use discreet, Bukele hosted Rubio in this casual setting, emphasizing trust.
The two leaders addressed the press on a wooden veranda overlooking the lake, with boats and jet skis dotting the water—a scene highlighting El Salvador’s natural beauty and Bukele’s unconventional diplomatic style.
A Landmark Migration Agreement:
Bukele revealed negotiations for a revolutionary bilateral accord, surpassing the 2019 “Safe Third Country” deal. In his exact words:
“There will be a safe country agreement… We are finalizing it, I believe the Secretary (Secretary of State: Marco Rubio) will announce it. We are announcing an agreement that is much more significant on the same topic (regarding El Salvador receiving illegal migrants deported from the United States). I believe it is far more important and has a much greater scope than those agreements made in 2019. In this case, it is something that… well, if we manage to finalize it, the Secretary will announce it… But in this case, it is a much larger agreement, unprecedented, I believe, in the history of relations—not only between the United States and El Salvador but, I think, with Latin America as a whole.”
Statements by Nayib Bukele in response to questions from the press at the Coatepeque Lake House. February 3, 2025.
The deal would allow El Salvador to receive non-Salvadoran migrants deported from the U.S., aligning with the Trump administration’s priorities to curb illegal immigration and disrupt transnational crime.
El Salvador’s Maritime Security Success:
Beyond battling gangs, El Salvador has intensified efforts to intercept destructive substances transported via submarines or clandestine vessels in international waters.
The Navy’s operations have disrupted cartel networks, seized shipments, and prosecuted crews—efforts praised for preventing harm to communities abroad.
This topic was not publicly discussed in the meeting between Rubio and Bukele, but it is an issue on which the Salvadoran government feels satisfied and reports every time it captures vessels in international waters transporting dangerous substances.
This also aligns with the interests of the current U.S. government (led by Donald Trump), which seeks to improve border security and eradicate (or reduce) the smuggling of such dangerous substances.

Why This Matters:
The U.S. remains El Salvador’s top trade partner, with over 3 million Salvadorans residing in the U.S. and the dollar as legal tender (and bitcoin too).
Rubio’s visit underscores a shared focus on security, trade, and regional stability. Obviously, Rubio aligns with U.S. interests. El Salvador must seek an understanding and a favorable negotiation for the country on the topics discussed.