Trump rallies Latin American allies against drug cartels | United Nations News
US-Led Coalition Allies on Sanctions Against Crime Groups Following Trump’s Call for Action
New York City — During a meeting of the Shield of the Americas coalition, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to combat drug cartels operating in the Western Hemisphere. He pledged to utilize “unmatched military might” against these organizations, which he labeled the “ISIS of the Western Hemisphere.”
In discussions with leaders and foreign ministers from the coalition on Tuesday, Trump urged member nations to formally identify 24 criminal organizations as mutual threats to regional stability. He called for “crushing sanctions” to be imposed on these groups, emphasizing the need for collective action alongside the United States.
Held on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the coalition’s 15 member governments subsequently issued a unified statement. They indicated plans to implement asset freezes and visa restrictions targeting members and supporters of the identified criminal organizations, as well as pursuing criminal charges against them.
Among those highlighted were two groups designated as terrorist organizations by the US: Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), a prominent gang in Central America, and Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang with influence in Colombia, Peru, and Chile. The list also encompasses major Mexican cartels, the National Liberation Army from Colombia, Brazil’s Primeiro Comando da Capital, Comando Vermelho, and Peru’s Shining Path.
Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Rampietti reported from Bogota, Colombia, noting that the coalition’s statement was mainly symbolic for the moment, as each country must navigate its own legal processes. “In Colombia, for instance, a new law must pass through Congress. The government has requested Congress to draft such legislation. While immediate consequences might not materialize, this marks a significant step towards advancing the initiative that the US has aimed for in Latin America,” Rampietti stated.
The coalition includes governments closely aligned with Trump, such as Argentina, Ecuador, and El Salvador. Colombia and Peru joined recently, following the election of Trump-supportive leaders. Notably, Brazil and Mexico have opted not to participate.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who attended the meeting, commended the emergence of strong leaders committed to addressing transnational terrorism.
The gathering represents a continued effort by the Trump administration to galvanize regional support for a more forceful stance against drug trafficking. Since his return to office last year, Trump has classified cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and ordered multiple strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, accusing them of transporting narcotics to the US. Reports indicate these operations have resulted in over 223 fatalities, with UN experts asserting that such actions could violate international law and potentially constitute crimes against humanity.
The Trump administration’s National Security Strategy, released late last year, proposed a revitalized Monroe Doctrine, a policy from the 19th century asserting US primacy in the region, often criticized for its association with extensive US intervention.
On Tuesday, Trump also signed an agreement regarding Greenland, which fell short of his prior demand for the island to become US territory. This renewed focus on the hemisphere has sparked concerns among leaders in the region. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, during his speech at the UN, expressed strong reservations, cautioning Latin American and Caribbean nations against “renewed hegemonic temptations,” asserting, “Brazil is nobody’s backyard.”
