US Military Action in Latin America Intensifies Under Trump Administration

US Officials Pledge Continued Military Operations Against Latin American Gangs at Americas Counter Cartel Conference

At the inaugural “Americas Counter Cartel Conference”, officials from the Trump administration reaffirmed their commitment to military operations against alleged criminal networks in Latin America. The conference, held on Thursday, brought together top officials from the US and several regional governments.

According to White House security adviser Stephen Miller, the US will continue to prioritize military action against Latin American gangs, citing the need for “hard power” to protect the American homeland. Miller stated that there is no “criminal justice solution” to addressing organized crime in the region, which he likened to armed groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS).

The Trump administration has applied a “global war on terror” approach to Latin America since taking office last year, including labelling drug cartels as “foreign terrorist organisations”. This approach has been championed by officials like Miller, who have argued that military power is necessary to defeat organized crime.

Recent US military operations in the region include strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean, as well as an operation to abduct Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The Pentagon has also announced joint operations with Ecuador’s military against designated terrorist organizations in the South American country.

The conference came as Latin American leaders gathered at a regional summit hosted by President Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth told the audience that the US is “prepared to take on” Latin America’s cartels and will “go on the offence alone, if necessary”. However, Hegseth also emphasized the importance of cooperation among regional governments in addressing the issue.

The Trump administration has dubbed its approach the “Donroe doctrine”, a parallel to the 1823 Monroe Doctrine. The US military has carried out at least 44 aerial strikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in an estimated 150 known deaths.

Source: Al Jazeera