Trump announces 'military coalition' against 'criminal cartels' on 'historic day' at Shield of the Americas summit
President Donald Trump hosted several Latin American leaders in Miami on Saturday for the inaugural Shield of the Americas summit, where he announced a coalition against drug trafficking and criminal cartels, criticizing officials in the region for allowing these groups to take control of various areas of their national territory, according to Reuters and The Hill.
Trump has described the efforts as an aggressive campaign against drug cartels, citing them as the main reason for increased US involvement in Latin America, including a pressure campaign against Venezuela that culminated in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
At one point, Trump suggested that the United States could even use missiles against cartel leaders if partners make such a request.
“On this historic day, we come together to announce a brand new military coalition to eradicate the criminal cartels that plague our region,” Trump said at the summit attended by leaders from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Trinidad-Tobago.
“Leaders in this region have allowed large swathes of territory in the Western Hemisphere to come under the direct control of transnational gangs, and they have ruled areas of your country,” the US leader added. “We will not allow that to happen,” Trump added.
“America's Anti-Cartel Coalition”
The agreement, called America's Anti-Cartel Coalition, was signed by at least 17 countries.
“At the core of our agreement is a commitment to use lethal military force to destroy sinister cartels and terrorist networks,” said Donald Trump. “Once and for all, we will get rid of them,” emphasized the American president.
Addressing the leaders present, the President of the United States said, “We're going to need your help. You just have to tell us where it is. We have amazing weaponry, as you may have noticed in the last short period of time.”
He described Mexico as the center of cartel activity and predicted major political change in Cuba, saying the country was “right at the end of the line” and reiterating that Cuban officials were negotiating with him and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump joked about the language differences
In an opening speech that lasted more than 30 minutes, Trump also touched on topics such as Iran, Ukraine, Pakistan and India, political support in the election perspective, former President Jimmy Carter, Dominican sugar, the construction of battleships, the “calming” personality of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the “beautiful voice” of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and the importance of translators.
Trump joked about the language differences between him and the mostly Spanish-speaking group of leaders at the summit. “I'm not learning your damn language,” he said. “I don't have time.”
