Image: from Arturo McFields Yescas X @ArturoMcfields
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
DORAL, Fla. — President Donald Trump on Saturday convened a landmark summit of Latin American leaders at his Doral golf resort, formally launching a military-led international coalition aimed at “eradicating” drug cartels across the Western Hemisphere.
The gathering, dubbed the “Shield of the Americas” summit, saw the participation of twelve regional leaders, including Argentine President Javier Milei, El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, and Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa. During the event, President Trump signed a proclamation establishing the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition, a group committed to using “hard power” and lethal force rather than traditional law enforcement to dismantle criminal syndicates.
“Just as we formed a coalition to eradicate ISIS, we now need a coalition to eradicate the cartels,” Trump told the attendees. “The only way to defeat these enemies is by unleashing the power of our militaries. You have to use your military.”
The President offered the direct assistance of the United States military, including the use of highly accurate missile strikes against cartel leadership. He specifically singled out Mexico as the “epicenter” of the crisis, asserting that cartels are currently “running” the country—a claim that comes despite recent U.S. intelligence assistance in a Mexican raid that led to the death of Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.”
The summit represents a cornerstone of the administration’s “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine, a strategy aimed at reasserting U.S. dominance in the region while countering Chinese economic and political influence.
The initiative follows a series of aggressive regional moves by the Trump administration since January 2025, including a military operation to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and the recent recognition of an interim Venezuelan government.
Kristi Noem, appearing in her new role as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, echoed the President’s call for a more muscular foreign policy. “We want our hemisphere to be safer, to be more sovereign, and to be more prosperous,” she said.
While the coalition was hailed by conservative allies in the region, notable absences included the leaders of Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, highlighting deep regional divisions over the militarization of anti-narcotics efforts. Critics have expressed concern that a “military-first” approach could lead to increased violence and destabilize civilian institutions.
As the summit concluded, President Trump signaled that the focus on the Caribbean would continue, predicting the imminent “collapse” of the Cuban regime. “Cuba is in its last moments of life,” he said. “It will have a great new life.”