The Aporia
The Aporia
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump hosted a Shield of the Americas event in New York City during the United Nations General Assembly. The coalition, established by Trump in 2026, aims to combat drug violence and organized cartels across North and South America. At a summit earlier in March held in Doral, Florida, Trump announced the creation of the “Americas Counter Cartel Coalition,” aiming to curb drug-related violence in the Western Hemisphere.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Trump pledged to use "unmatched military might" against 24 criminal organizations he deems as major threats. These include groups like Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Tren de Aragua, which have been labeled “terrorist” by Washington. The coalition, comprising 15 governments, issued a joint statement committing to impose asset freezes and visa restrictions on members of these targeted organizations.
While emphasizing regional cooperation against narco-terrorism, Colombian Vice President José Manuel Restrepo clarified during an interview with Fox News Digital that while Colombia supports the initiative, U.S. forces will not be conducting operations within its borders; instead, it will be handled by Colombian troops. This underscores efforts to ensure sovereignty and security in Latin America amidst shifting political dynamics across the region.
