ISTANBUL

Continuing his emphasis on the US’ southern border and regional security, US President Donald Trump had a phone conversation with Nayib Bukele, his El Salvadoran counterpart

The Thursday phone call focused on strengthening cooperation to tackle illegal immigration and dismantle transnational criminal organizations such as Tren de Aragua, according to a White House statement.

Trump has long decried violence by criminal gangs from across the border.

During their discussion, Trump stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to enhance security and stability in the region.

He also lauded Bukele's leadership, commending him for the progress made under his administration and calling him a model for other nations within the Western Hemisphere.

The call came just days before Marco Rubio, the new US secretary of state, is due to pay an official visit to El Salvador on a Latin American tour, his first visits abroad in his new post.

Starting next week, Rubio will also visit Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Panama, which has criticized Trump’s announced plans to retake the Panama Canal, a longtime part of the country’s territory.