US-Colombia Anti-Drug Push
Colombia Requests US Joint Anti-Drug Operations and Joins Regional Shield of the Americas
Key Points
Shield of the Americas was launched in the spring at the initiative of U.S. President Donald Trump, and Colombia will become its 19th member.
De la Espriella’s plans include forging a military alliance with the United States and Israel as part of a broader Plan Colombia II, and he has floated hosting U.S. troops on Colombian soil.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Latin American countries not to recognize the International Criminal Court, arguing that they should abandon the ICC to protect sovereignty.
Gustavo Petro was not invited to the March summit where the Shield of the Americas was discussed, highlighting ongoing inclusivity questions within regional security dialogues.
U.S. airstrikes in September targeting suspected drug routes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific killed at least 215 people, drawing rights groups’ questions about legality.
Colombia's newly inaugurated president has asked the United States to launch joint military operations against drug traffickers, and the Pentagon said yes. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the move from Panama, where he was attending a regional counter-cartel summit, saying Colombia's new leader has requested "U.S.-Colombian collaboration in joint military operations," according to KTSA.
Colombia will also become the 19th member of the Shield of the Americas, a U.S.-led security alliance launched in spring 2026 at the initiative of President Donald Trump. The moves mark a sharp break from the policies of Colombia's previous government and signal a closer military partnership with Washington, according to Breitbart.
New Colombian President Requests U.S. Troops on Colombian Soil
Abelardo de la Espriella, known as "El Tigre," took office and moved quickly to align Colombia with Washington. He has floated hosting U.S. troops inside Colombia as part of what he calls Plan Colombia II. His broader plan includes forging a military alliance with both the United States and Israel, according to Head Topics.
Hegseth praised the new government's approach. He called these steps "aggressive, concrete participation" by a key regional partner. Colombia has been hit by its worst wave of violence in years, giving de la Espriella strong political motivation to crack down hard on narco-terror networks, according to TRT World.
Shield of the Americas Grows to 19 Members at Panama Summit
The Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, formally known as the Shield of the Americas, was launched in March 2026. Hegseth was in Panama for a two-day summit of the group when Colombia's membership was confirmed, according to AS/COA. The coalition is a U.S.-led effort to coordinate regional pressure on drug cartels.
Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro was not invited to the March summit where the alliance was discussed. His exclusion raised questions about who gets a seat at the table in U.S.-led regional security talks. De la Espriella's quick move to join shows how fast the political winds in Bogotá have shifted, according to AS/COA.
U.S. Airstrikes Killed 215 People, Drawing Rights Group Scrutiny
The expanded partnership comes with controversy. U.S. airstrikes in September targeted suspected drug routes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Those strikes killed at least 215 people. Rights groups quickly raised questions about the legality of the operations, according to TRT World.
Critics argue the strikes blur the line between military action and law enforcement. The U.S. has not publicly detailed the legal framework used to justify the September attacks. As joint operations with Colombia ramp up, those legal questions are likely to grow louder.
Hegseth Pushes Latin America to Abandon the ICC
Beyond counter-cartel operations, Hegseth used the Panama summit to push a broader political agenda. He urged Latin American countries to stop recognizing the International Criminal Court. He argued that backing the ICC undermines national sovereignty, according to AS/COA.
The ICC push fits a wider U.S. strategy of pulling allied governments away from international legal bodies that Washington views as hostile. For Colombia, joining the Shield of the Americas while distancing itself from the ICC would mark a sweeping realignment toward U.S. foreign policy priorities, according to Head Topics.
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