Colombia and Peru join Shield of the Americas security coalition

Colombia and Peru have announced their intention to join the ‘Shield of the Americas’, a multilateral security coalition established by Donald Trump to combat drug trafficking and criminal cartels.

In Colombia, President Abelardo de la Espriella authorized joint military operations with the United States to target ‘narcoterrorist’ structures. U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the move during a forum in Panama City, noting that Colombia becomes the 19th partner in the coalition. The cooperation is expected to focus on strategic intelligence, technological interoperability, logistics, and specialized training.

In Peru, President Keiko Fujimori also signaled alignment with the security initiative. The coalition, which was created in Florida this past March, includes several other nations such as Argentina, Chile, and Panama. The alliance aims to use force to dismantle criminal organizations across the region.