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Americas Against Cartels Coalition summit in Panama

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-12 23:17 UTC → 2026-08-13 00:22 UTC · added removed

Americas Against Cartels Coalition summit in Panama

The Americas Against Cartels Coalition (A3C), also referred to as or the ‘Shield of the Americas’, has convened in Panama City to coordinate multilateral efforts against transnational organized crime. The coalition aims to transition from political discourse to collective action targeting crime, including narcotics, money laundering, human trafficking, and arms smuggling. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino opened the forum by identifying narco-terrorism as a primary threat to regional stability and the Panama Canal, which he noted is a strategic target for criminal organizations. The summit coincides with the Panamax 2026 military exercises and the operation of the Western Hemisphere Joint Task Force, established by the U.S. Southern Command as an ‘enforcement arm’ to address hemispheric threats. During the summit, proceedings, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that Colombia, under newly inaugurated President Abelardo De La Espriella, will join the coalition as its 19th member. Hegseth stated that the The Colombian government has authorized joint military operations with the United States to combat narco-terrorism. To support these efforts, the U.S. Department of State announced plans to provide narco-terrorism, supported by a planned $1 billion in U.S. security assistance assistance. Hegseth used the platform to Colombia. In Colombia, opposition leaders have criticized advocate for the agreement, arguing it compromises national sovereignty. In his address, Hegseth invoked ‘Donroe Doctrine’, a revamped version of the Monroe Doctrine, which he termed the ‘Donroe Doctrine’, Doctrine emphasizing U.S. primacy in defending the hemisphere from external threats. hemisphere. He also criticized the International Criminal Court, encouraging urged allies to withdraw from the organization following international scrutiny of U.S. International Criminal Court, questioning its jurisdiction over partner military strikes in the Caribbean. operations. These strikes have resulted in over 200 deaths since last September, a figure related to the transition developments face criticism from Operation Southern Spear, which the Washington Office Colombian opposition leaders regarding national sovereignty, as well as from human rights organizations. Reports indicate that U.S. military strikes on Latin America (WOLA) reports has targeted over 60 suspected drug vessels and since September 2025 have resulted in at least 221 deaths. Some deaths, leading some experts have characterized these to characterize the incidents as extrajudicial killings. The summit coincides with the Panamax 2026 military exercises, involving 1,700 elite personnel from various nations, including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and the United States, to secure the Panama Canal. This follows the establishment of the Western Hemisphere Joint Task Force by the U.S. Southern Command, described by General Francis Donovan as the ‘enforcement arm’ of the department.

Versions

  1. 2026-08-13 00:22 UTC Americas Against Cartels Coalition summit in Panama
  2. 2026-08-12 23:17 UTC Americas Against Cartels Coalition summit
  3. 2026-08-12 22:10 UTC Americas Against Cartels Coalition summit
  4. 2026-08-12 06:04 UTC Americas Against Cartels Coalition summit

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