DORAL, United States — US President Donald Trump on Saturday urged Latin American nations to take aggressive military action against drug cartels, offering American support, including missile strikes against narco kingpins.
Speaking at his Doral golf club near Miami, Trump framed organized crime as a “cancer” that must be eradicated. He officially launched a 17-nation “counter cartel” coalition, encouraging governments in the region to use “hard power” against criminal networks.
“We’re working with you to do whatever we have to do. We’ll use missiles. You want us to use a missile? They’re extremely accurate,” Trump said, even mimicking the sound of a missile hitting its target.
The summit, dubbed “Shield of the Americas,” included right-wing leaders such as Argentina’s Javier Milei, Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa, and El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, who have recently pursued tough anti-crime policies. Trump also issued a sharp warning to Cuba, calling it “in its last moments of life” and criticizing the country’s economic and political situation.
The White House framed the coalition as a pledge for Latin American nations to act decisively against security threats. However, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel condemned the gathering as “neocolonial,” accusing the US of promoting military intervention in sovereign nations.
Experts note that rising cartel violence in countries like Ecuador and Chile has fueled support for hardline leaders, while the US’s interventionist approach faces less opposition than in previous decades. However, major players such as Mexico and Brazil were absent from the summit, raising questions about the coalition’s ability to fully combat narcotrafficking and drug-related terrorism.
The summit also coincides with the US’s ongoing conflict with Iran and recent joint operations in Ecuador targeting narcoterrorists. Trump’s aggressive rhetoric signals his intention to assert American influence across the Western Hemisphere, particularly against leftist or communist-led governments.
