US military operations against Latin American drug cartels

The United States military has intensified its efforts against drug trafficking networks in Latin America and the Caribbean through Operation Southern Spear. The Trump administration classifies these confrontations with cartels as an ‘armed conflict,’ with Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson stating that traffickers threatening the American people will be ‘hunted, found, and killed.’

Since the operation’s first strike in September 2025, the Pentagon has conducted 67 attacks. While Secretary of War Pete Hegseth claimed that Colombia, Guatemala, and Honduras agreed to joint operations, Guatemala has denied such an arrangement. U.S. missions have also expanded into Ecuador as of March 2026.

Recent developments show a significant expansion of the military’s role. U.S. Southern Command is now evaluating methods to create ‘total systemic friction’ against cartels through strikes, raids, and detentions. This includes the deployment of advanced drones to map smuggling networks and direct participation in ground operations, such as a dawn raid in Ecuador involving U.S. military and security personnel working with local police. The U.S. Department of State has also proposed reallocating military funding to support operations across Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Panama.