Ecuador joins Americas cartel coalition forum in Panama

Ecuador joined nearly 20 nations at the Coalition Against Cartels of the Americas (A3C) forum in Panama, a significant step towards coordinated action against drug trafficking and organized crime. The A3C, also known as the American Shield Coalition, was officially presented in March and is now transitioning from Operation Southern Shield, which has targeted numerous vessels and resulted in significant casualties.

“

Our objective is simple: to turn this coalition into a coordinated and effective team that directly combats the enemy. We cannot limit ourselves to meeting and debating. We must act jointly, working side by side to exert total systemic pressure on these terrorist networks and safeguard our hemisphere.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is expected to attend the forum. General Francis Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command (Southcom), stated that the new working group will serve as Southcom's "enforcement arm" against hemisphere-wide threats. He emphasized the forum as a "decisive turning point" in the fight against cartels and narcoterrorism, stressing the need to move beyond discussion to coordinated, systemic pressure on these networks.

“

We must move from political discourse to joint action.

Panamanian Minister of Public Security Frank Ábrego echoed this sentiment, calling for a shift "from political discourse to joint action." He highlighted the coalition's potential to dismantle criminal finances and protect communities. Ábrego noted the sophisticated methods employed by organized crime, including high-end technology and the recruitment of minors.

“

the coalition has the opportunity to become a mechanism capable of dismantling criminal finances and protecting the communities of the region

Ecuador's participation, represented by Interior Minister John Reimberg and Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo, underscores the country's commitment to regional security efforts. The forum aims to transform the coalition into an effective, coordinated team to directly combat the enemy, safeguarding the hemisphere from the multifaceted threats posed by cartels and narcoterrorism.

“

The forum of the American Cartels Coalition, organized by our friends in Panama, marks a decisive turning point in our regional fight against cartels and narcoterrorism.