Trump Launches Americas Anti-Cartel Coalition

The "Shield of the Americas" summit was held at Trump's Doral resort in Florida, part of a broader hemispheric strategy dubbed the "Donroe Doctrine." This policy aims to reassert U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere while countering geopolitical rivals such as China, Russia, and Iran. The centerpiece of the summit was the creation of the "Americas Counter Cartel Coalition," a military alliance of 17 nations. President Trump stated the coalition's core mission is "a commitment to using lethal military force to destroy the sinister cartels." He also told the assembled leaders that the U.S. would use missiles against cartels if partner nations requested it. The recent military strike on a narco-terrorist boat is one of many under "Operation Southern Spear." This U.S. campaign targeting alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific began in September 2025 and has resulted in over 100 fatalities. The Trump administration has told Congress the U.S. is in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels. Attendees included a dozen leaders largely aligned with Washington, such as Argentine President Javier Milei and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa. Conspicuously absent were the leaders of the region's two largest economies, Mexico and Brazil, who were not invited to the gathering. During his 30-minute opening speech, Trump joked about the language barrier after praising Secretary of State Marco Rubio's Spanish. He said Rubio had a "language advantage over me cuz I'm not learning your damn language. I don't have time." Later, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added, "I only speak American." The participating nations were expected to sign the Doral Charter, a declaration committing them to closer cooperation against drug cartels, criminal gangs, and illegal migration. The agreement also affirms "the right of the peoples of our Hemisphere to chart their own destiny free from interference."