As the first Latino secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio is expected to devote considerable attention to what has long been disparagingly referred to as Washington’s backyard.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as his nominee for secretary of state means that Latin America could play a prominent role in U.S. foreign policy over the next four years. Rubio, who is Cuban American, is known for hawkish positions on countries including China, Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela.

Rubio, as the first Latino and Spanish-speaking secretary of state, is expected to devote considerable attention to what has long been referred to, disparagingly, as Washington’s backyard.