US Plans Land Assaults on Drug Cartels in Latin America

The United States is formulating plans to extend its anti-drug operations onto land in Latin America, following a series of attacks on suspected smuggling vessels. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the initiative aims to dismantle drug cartels by targeting them within their operational bases on land, mirroring the impact of previous maritime operations.

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On land, we will have the same effect.

Speaking in Panama, Hegseth revealed that the strategy is being developed within an alliance of 19 nations and could expand to encompass all regions where drug trafficking organizations operate. The U.S. seeks to collaborate with regional partners, including Ecuador and Colombia, to bring the fight directly to the cartels. Hegseth emphasized that these land-based operations would aim to achieve similar effects to the recent attacks on drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.

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Wherever you smuggle drugs or threaten the American people or our partners, you are a target on par with IS or al-Qaeda.

Hegseth issued a stern warning, stating that drug cartels, regardless of their location or methods, are considered targets on par with terrorist groups like ISIS or al-Qaeda. He declared the U.S. government's intention to "find and destroy these networks by all means available." The coalition, however, notably excludes Mexico, despite its significant role in the global drug trade, due to its left-leaning government, while countries with right-leaning governments are participating.

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We are going to find and destroy these networks by all means the U.S. government has at its disposal.