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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Will Leave at the Month’s End
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Conflict & Security

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Will Leave at the Month’s End

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested joint strikes on Colombian armed groups, welcoming Colombia to a counter-narcotics coalition.
  • Colombia's new president vowed a security crackdown and pledged $1 billion in US security assistance.
  • Critics label US strikes as war crimes, while Hegseth encouraged allies to withdraw from the International Criminal Court.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has floated the possibility of joint strikes targeting Colombian armed groups, signaling a significant expansion of US counter-narcotics efforts in the region. Hegseth welcomed Colombia into a US-led military coalition after its conservative president took office last week, stating that Colombia has authorized "joint military operations to destroy terrorists and terror networks."

Yes

— Pete HegsethWhen asked if he had discussed joint strikes against armed groups with his Colombian counterpart.

Speaking in Panama, Hegseth confirmed discussions with his Colombian counterpart regarding joint strikes against groups like the National Liberation Army (ELN) and remnants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, both designated as terrorist organizations by the US. "Designated terrorist organizations, with partnered governments, will be legitimate targets of the United States government," Hegseth asserted, indicating a broader scope for US military action in the hemisphere.

Designated terrorist organizations, with partnered governments, will be legitimate targets of the United States government.

— Pete HegsethWhen asked if such operations were expected to include Colombia.

This policy shift under President Donald Trump's administration extends beyond previous focuses, with over 200 people killed since US military strikes on suspected drug boats began last September. Critics have condemned these strikes as war crimes, drawing comparisons to actions warranting International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation. Hegseth, however, blasted the ICC, urging coalition allies to withdraw from it.

We will defend our hemisphere from external threats.

— Pete HegsethInvoking a revamped Monroe Doctrine to assert US primacy across the Americas.

Colombia's new President Abelardo De La Espriella has embraced a hardline security approach, vowing to "definitively eradicate the scourge of illicit crops." The Trump administration announced plans to provide $1 billion in US security assistance to his government. De La Espriella blames his predecessor for an expansion of armed groups. Colombia's Defense Minister Jorge Eduardo Mora stated that Colombia could play a critical role in combating narco-traffickers along its coasts, declaring, "I think the time has arrived for the narco-terrorist cartels to confront the power and the capabilities of the entire hemisphere, led by the United States."

definitively eradicate the scourge of illicit crops.

— Abelardo De La EspriellaDuring his swearing-in remarks, vowing a security crackdown.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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