DORAL, Fla. — President Donald Trump announced Saturday the formation of a new multinational military coalition with a sole objective of dismantling criminal organizations across the Western Hemisphere in a decisive response to international drug trafficking and regional threats.
While speaking at the inaugural Shield of the Americas Summit, the President welcomed leaders from multiple countries and declared the formation of American’s Counter Cartel Coalition, committing participating countries to a dynamic effort, coordinating lethal force against criminal organizations. The gathering in Doral, Florida and held at Trump National brought heads of state from around the globe to address shared threats to security and affluence in the region.
As convened on March 7, the summit was primarily focused on practical military cooperation and building upon recent U.S. successes in drug flow interdiction and the targeting of high-profile cartel figures. President Trump continued to outline the coalition’s core mission and highlighted U.S. border achievement while drawing parallels to past international cooperation.
United Front Against Cartel Syndicates
The President opened his remarks by acknowledging and greeting assembled leaders while emphasizing the strategic significance of the Western Hemisphere. The coalition as described by President Trump, is a direct evolution of prior diplomatic efforts. “On this historic day, we come together to announce a brand new military coalition to eradicate the criminal cartels plaguing our region,” Trump stated. The President also noted that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and representatives of 17 different nations entered the alliance in Miami, earlier this week.
“The heart of our agreement is a commitment to using lethal military force to destroy the sinister cartels and terrorist networks once and for all,” added President Trump. “We’ll get rid of them. We need your help. You have to just tell us where they are.”
President Trump forwarded his statements by outlining the shared objectives of participating nations before announcing the formal signing of a proclamation to launch the coalition, etching the coalition as a permanent framework for broader hemispheric cooperation.
After Action Report: Lessons Learned in Venezuela
Attention was shifted to the recent U.S. success in Venezuela as proof of the potential effectiveness of a multinational coalition. President Trump highlighted the precision raid carried out by U.S. armed forces in “Operation Absolute Resolve” that captured Venezuelan leader and narcotics kingpin Nicolas Maduro at a heavily fortified compound.
“We lost nobody. Not one person was lost. Not one aircraft or no military equipment, zero” recounted President Trump.
The success of the operation brought immediate change to a population chained to a criminal socialist regime, as the operation trailblazed formal recognition of a new Venezuelan government under President Delcy Rodriguez. The dismantling of the Maduro regime also secured historic agreements on gold and mineral sales, steps that are part of a broader transformation in the country.
A Secure Border Means Less Drugs, Less Crime
The progress is in the data, as drugs entering the United States by sea have declined 96 percent and fentanyl crossings have fallen 67 percent under the Trump administration. “We went from the worst border in history to, by far, the best border,” said Trump as he expounded upon the positive results of a secure border.
President Trump then pointed to recent operations in Iran, where the world witnessed a surgical dismantling of Iranian naval and air defense assets. These accomplishments, as observed, demonstrate the capability available to support regional partners in the global mobilization against cartels and criminal organizations.
The address was concluded by Trump as he signaled forward momentum. “As we achieve a historic transformation in Venezuela, we’re also looking forward to the great change that will soon be coming to Cuba,” he said, adding that Cuba is “at the end of the line.”
Seventeen countries are identified to have joined the coalition in cooperation with President Trump, including leaders attending the summit from Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, The Dominican Republic, Panama, Honduras, El Salvador, and more. Notably, leaders from Mexico and Colombia were not in attendance.
The initiative is a restoration of regional stability and American leadership in the hemisphere. As the summit occurred against the backdrop of the administration’s broader hemispheric policy, the coalition will advance security and economic prosperity, while countering foreign interference in the Western Hemisphere. The gathering was concluded with a formal proclamation being signed, underscoring Trump’s unified commitment to unclenching the regional cartel grip, once and for all.
