Immigration and cartel issues are expected to dominate Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s trip to Mexico and Ecuador this week, as the secretary looks to cement U.S. influence in the region.

This week’s trip will mark Mr. Rubio’s third to the region since assuming the role of secretary of state earlier this year.

The State Department said the Mexico and Ecuador visits are aimed at combating organized crime, stemming illegal immigration and countering Chinese influence in the region.

Mr. Rubio is expected to meet Wednesday with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, whose country has been a chief target for the Trump administration.

The two officials are expected to discuss a new security agreement that would create a joint investigative body to combat the flow of fentanyl and weapons across the border.

Ms. Sheinbaum has frequently discussed the proposed agreement over the past month. On Tuesday, however, Ms. Sheinbaum said it’s unlikely there will be any formal agreement, adding that there may be a memorandum of understanding between Mexico and the U.S. where both sides would agree to share information about drug trafficking and money laundering.

Ms. Sheinbaum seemed cautiously optimistic at her regular press conference, adding that collaboration with the U.S. is necessary.

“There will be moments of greater tension, of less tension, of issues that we do not agree on, but we have to try to have a good relationship, and I believe tomorrow’s meeting will show that,” she said.

Still, U.S.-Mexico relations have wavered during the second Trump administration as the White House threatens intense tariffs and sanctions.

Ms. Sheinbaum has agreed to some of President Trump’s demands, including delivering 55 Mexican cartel figures to U.S. authorities and deploying more security forces on the border.

However, Ms. Sheinbaum has refused to accept intervention by U.S. forces in northern Mexico to combat drug trafficking, a move suggested by Mr. Trump.

“Under no circumstance will we accept interventions, interference or any other act from abroad that is detrimental to the integrity, independence and sovereignty of the country,” Ms. Sheinbaum said Monday.

• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.