President Trump announced the creation of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition at a summit in Florida, pledging to use military force to 'eradicate the criminal cartels plaguing our region.' Seventeen Latin American countries have committed to join the initiative, which Trump compared to the coalition formed to defeat the Islamic State in the Middle East. He urged regional leaders to cooperate with the United States military, saying it was prepared to intensify operations against trafficking networks.

The administration has already expanded military involvement across Latin America and the Caribbean, designating more than a dozen criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations and carrying out dozens of strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels. Recent actions have included operations in Venezuela, intelligence support in Mexico and joint missions with Ecuador. Legal experts have questioned the legality of some strikes, noting restrictions on targeting civilians.

The summit drew conservative allies such as the presidents of Argentina and El Salvador, while several left-leaning leaders were not invited. Trump mixed forceful rhetoric with humor, praising some leaders and mocking others, including Mexico’s president, who has resisted unilateral United States military action on Mexican territory. Although the administration has historically emphasized border security and concerns about foreign influence, those issues received less attention during the gathering.