The United States military is seeking to extend its anti-cartel campaign from the water to land, pursuing agreements that would place U.S. forces on the ground in allied nations across Latin America, according to reports by Apnews. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced during a visit to Panama that Colombia, Guatemala, and Honduras had agreed to allow the U.S. to bring the fight to designated terrorist organizations on land.
U.S. Military Expands Campaign to Land Operations in Latin America
The initiative marks a new phase in the Trump administration’s strategy to pressure Latin American governments to align with U.S. security priorities. Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, the administration has designated 20 Latin American criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations, sent U.S. forces into Venezuela to capture its president, and involved Central Intelligence Agency agents in drug laboratory busts in Mexico, as detailed by Nbcbayarea.
Transition From Unilateral Boat Strikes to Joint Land Actions
The push for land operations follows a year of unilateral U.S. military boat strikes targeting suspected drug-ferrying vessels off Latin America’s Caribbean and Pacific coasts. According to Reuters, more than 200 people have been killed across more than 60 boat strikes since they began.
Hegseth defended the maritime strikes during a gathering of the U.S.-led Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition in Panama City, where he stated that designated terrorist organizations and partnered governments will be legitimate targets of the United States. Critics, however, have raised questions regarding the legality of the boat strikes and warned that the operations amount to war crimes. Hegseth dismissed the International Criminal Court during the meeting and encouraged coalition allies to withdraw from it.
Prospects for Joint Strikes in Colombia and Regional Reactions
Hegseth raised the possibility of joint U.S. strikes against armed groups in Colombia, where conservative president Abelardo de la Espriella took office. De la Espriella’s government has committed to joining the Trump-founded Shield of the Americas program and authorized joint military operations to destroy terrorists and terror networks. Hegseth noted that discussions included potential joint actions against the National Liberation Army, Colombia’s last major guerrilla group, as well as remnants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
Alongside Hegseth in Panama, Colombia’s new Defense Minister Jorge Eduardo Mora stated that the time has arrived for cartels to confront the power and capabilities of the entire hemisphere under U.S. leadership. Meanwhile, other regional reactions varied. Guatemala’s President Bernardo Arévalo denied agreeing to joint anti-drug operations, asserting they would require congressional approval to be legal. Honduras, Colombia, and Ecuador did not respond to requests for comment regarding Hegseth’s statements.
Strategic Intentions and Sovereignty Concerns
Analysts note that the expanding military presence aims to project power and assert American dominance over the Western Hemisphere. Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank described the dynamic as an attempt to legitimize increased military use, calling it an asymmetrical relationship rather than true cooperation. Furthermore, William LeoGrande, a Latin American specialist at American University, pointed out that sustained U.S. combat operations alongside local forces would test deep-rooted sensitivities regarding national sovereignty and the presence of foreign troops.
