Colombia Joins U.S.-Led Shield of the Americas Anti-Cartel Alliance
Colombia has partnered with the United States to conduct joint military operations against narco-terrorism as part of a broader regional security strategy led by Donald Trump.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in Panama City that Colombia has requested joint military operations with the United States to destroy narco-terrorist networks. This agreement makes Colombia the fourth and largest Latin American nation to join the Shield of the Americas initiative and the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, following Ecuador, Honduras, and Guatemala. The partnership follows the recent inauguration of Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, who has offered to host U.S. troops and vowed to eradicate illicit crops.
To support this security crackdown, the United States Department of State plans to provide $1 billion in security assistance to the Colombian government. Hegseth framed the initiative under a revamped Monroe Doctrine, which he termed the "Donroe Doctrine," asserting U.S. primacy in defending the hemisphere. He advocated for the use of military force over traditional law enforcement, stating the coalition's goal is to "degrade, dismantle and destroy narco-terrorist networks."
During a meeting with defense leaders from 18 Latin American countries, Hegseth also urged nations to abandon the International Criminal Court to protect their sovereignty. While Panama President Jose Raul Mulino supported the coalition, Mexico and Brazil have remained absent from the alliance. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo declined to join the regional alliance to protect Mexican sovereignty.
