Trump Administration Expands Military Operations Against Latin American Cartels

The Donald Trump administration is implementing an aggressive strategy to increase U.S. military presence in Latin America and the Caribbean, treating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. This approach, described as a modern Monroe Doctrine, centers on a 18-nation counter-cartel coalition. To date, the U.S. military has conducted 70 strikes on vessels in the region, resulting in more than 230 deaths.

Under the direction of U.S. Southern Command, the Pentagon has shifted from maritime interdictions to high-tech surveillance and direct ground assistance. The military is deploying MQ-9 Reaper drones and quadcopters launched from unmanned boats to map smuggling networks in jungles and riverways. Recent operations include the first direct participation of U.S. troops in police raids in Ecuador and intelligence support for the capture of a gang leader in Colombia. Additionally, a U.S.-assisted strike in Venezuela killed the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang.

To sustain these efforts, the State Department is redirecting $52 million in foreign military financing to Panama, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. While the strategy aligns with a rightward political shift in the region, it has faced legal scrutiny regarding the lack of congressional authorization for the conflict. The administration has signaled a preference for right-wing allies, withholding visas for Brazilian federal police agents while right-wing candidate Flávio Bolsonaro promises to join the coalition if he defeats incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brazil's upcoming election.