DORAL, Fla. — President Donald Trump on Saturday called for a unified military response to drug cartels across Latin America, signaling a renewed U.S. Focus on the region even as his administration grapples with escalating international crises. The call to action came during the “Shield of the Americas” summit, hosted at Trump National Doral Miami.
Trump urged leaders from across the hemisphere to deploy their militaries against drug trafficking organizations and gangs, which he characterized as an “unacceptable threat” to national security. “The only way to defeat these enemies is by unleashing the power of our militaries,” he said. “We have to use our military. You have to use your military.” He drew a parallel to the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State, suggesting a similar strategy could “eradicate the cartels at home.”
The summit followed a recent, assertive move by the Trump administration: a U.S. Military operation two months prior that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were brought to the United States to face drug conspiracy charges. However, the focus on Latin America unfolded against the backdrop of a newly launched war with Iran, alongside Israel, a conflict that has already claimed lives and disrupted global markets.
Trump’s time with the Latin American leaders was curtailed by the need to attend the dignified transfer of six U.S. Troops killed in a drone strike in Kuwait, a consequence of the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran. He described the deaths as a “very sad situation” and lauded the fallen soldiers as “great heroes.”
The “Shield of the Americas” summit, according to the White House, was intended to demonstrate a commitment to reasserting U.S. Dominance in the Western Hemisphere and countering Chinese economic influence in the region. Trump pledged to push back against years of perceived Chinese encroachment, though he did not elaborate on specific policies during the summit.
Trump also indicated a potential shift in U.S. Policy toward Cuba, suggesting his administration would pursue a deal with Havana after resolving the conflict in Iran. He predicted “great change” was coming to Cuba, stating the country was “very much at the end of the line.” Cuban officials have previously expressed openness to dialogue with the U.S., contingent on respect for Cuban sovereignty.
Seventeen countries were represented at the summit, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago. The gathering emerged from the cancellation of the 10th Summit of the Americas, which was scrapped following a U.S. Military buildup off the coast of Venezuela last year.
The Dominican Republic had initially barred Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela from attending the regional gathering, but faced threats of boycotts from Colombia and Mexico. The Dominican Republic postponed the event, citing “deep differences” within the region.
Ecuador and the United States recently conducted joint military operations against organized crime groups in the Ecuadorian Amazon, with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa stating this “is only the beginning” of a collaborative effort.
Notably absent from the summit were Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia – traditionally key players in U.S. Anti-narcotics strategy in the region. Trump criticized Mexico as the “epicenter of cartel violence,” accusing drug kingpins of orchestrating “much of the bloodshed and chaos in this hemisphere” and stating, “The cartels are running Mexico. We can’t have that. Too close to us. Too close to you.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the leaders for a working lunch following Trump’s departure for Dover Air Force Base. The lunch marked the public debut of Kristi Noem, recently removed as homeland security secretary by Trump, in her new role as a special envoy for the “Shield of the Americas.”
“We want our hemisphere to be safer, to be more sovereign, and to be more prosperous,” Noem told the assembled leaders.
