Pentagon expands military operations against drug cartels in Latin America

The Pentagon is significantly expanding its military role in combating drug trafficking across Latin America and the Caribbean. According to reports, the U.S. is deploying advanced drones to map smuggling networks and increasing its involvement in ground operations.

General Francis L. Donovan, head of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), stated that the military is evaluating various options to create ‘total systemic friction’ against cartels, including strikes, detentions, and raids on hideouts. This represents a shift for SOUTHCOM, which has traditionally focused on intelligence sharing, training, and disaster relief.

Recent actions include a dawn raid in Ecuador involving approximately 50 U.S. military and security personnel working alongside Ecuadorian police to target a cocaine network linked to a Mexican cartel. This marked the first direct participation of U.S. troops in police operations within Ecuador. Additionally, U.S.-made drones were utilized in recent raids against drug cartels in Colombia. The U.S. Department of State has also proposed reallocating military funding to support operations in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Panama.