President Donald Trump on Saturday unveiled a new multinational effort to crush drug cartels across the Western Hemisphere — warning military force could be used to wipe them out.
Speaking at the “Shield of the Americas” summit at Trump National Doral near Miami, Trump announced the creation of “America’s Counter-Cartel Coalition,” a regional alliance aimed at dismantling drug trafficking networks and transnational gangs.
“The heart of our agreement is a commitment to using lethal military force to destroy the sinister cartels and terrorist networks once and for all,” Trump said. “We’ll get rid of them. You just have to tell us where they are.”
At least 17 countries have already signed on to the coalition, which will coordinate intelligence, military operations and law enforcement efforts across the hemisphere.
Trump compared the effort to the international coalition that defeated ISIS in the Middle East, saying a similar strategy is needed to eliminate cartel violence closer to home.
He also pointed to Mexico as the “epicenter of cartel violence,” accusing drug kingpins of fueling bloodshed and instability throughout the region.
The summit comes two months after a dramatic U.S. military operation captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is awaiting trial in the United States on drug and weapons conspiracy charges.
Trump praised Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodríguez for cooperating with Washington.
Leaders from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago attended the gathering alongside U.S. officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
“The only way to defeat these enemies,” Trump said, “is by unleashing the power of our militaries.”
The summit was held at Trump National Doral Miami. Palm Beach Buzz covered the event on site.
