Trump Latin America anti-cartel alliance 2026

In an October 12 address, de la Espriella reported 32,503 arrests, 33 ringleaders taken out of action, and 679 drug-production sites destroyed or disabled.

De la Espriella's government is seeking to reverse former President Gustavo Petro's 'total peace' policy, which pursued negotiations with several armed organizations.

The U.S. administration has pledged $1 billion in security aid to Colombia, pending congressional approval.

The U.S.-led "Shield of the Americas" initiative designated eight major criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations.

Brazil's deeply entrenched criminal organizations include the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and the Comando Vermelho.

The designated groups include the Sinaloa cartel, the Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG), and Tren de Aragua.

Jáuregui is a member of the conservative opposition PAN party.

Sheinbaum has insisted that foreign officials can only operate on Mexican soil if given prior clearance by the federal government.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly declined offers of US-led counter-narcotics operations in Mexico.

Two US agents and two Mexican law enforcement officials were killed in a car accident on April 19.

Cesar Jauregui resigned from his post as state attorney general in April.

Media identified the two US agents killed in the crash as members of the Central Intelligence Agency.

A prosecutor's office in Tijuana has been hit by nail-packed drones.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's government refuses to join the regional coalition.

The Shield of the Americas coalition excludes Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, and Nicaragua.

Before taking office, De La Espriella announced he would dismantle key elements of the total peace policy and reactivate arrest warrants against members of illegal armed groups.

Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited alleged links between the Iranian government and international terrorist groups and narcoterrorist groups as a reason for suspending diplomatic relations with Iran.

Trump called the Shield of the Americas initiative the largest and most powerful alliance for economic and national security ever to convene in the Western Hemisphere.

Ecuador uses the U.S. dollar as its currency but does not have a free trade agreement with Washington.

Roughly 70% of the world's cocaine passes through Ecuadorian ports, according to an FBI official cited by the Congressional Research Service.

The U.S. is Ecuador's largest trading partner, with U.S. exports to Ecuador totaling $7.7 billion in 2024.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City.

The coalition's 15 governments issued a joint statement saying they intended to impose asset freezes and visa restrictions on members and supporters of the targeted groups.

Trump pledged to use "unmatched military might" against drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere during a meeting of the Shield of the Americas coalition in New York City.