# US Southern Command Western Hemisphere Task Force > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-southern-command-western-hemisphere-task-force > Updated: 2026-08-05T14:33:43.000Z. Sources: 30. Developments: 2. In early August 2026, the U.S. Southern Command announced the activation of the Joint Task Force‑Western Hemisphere (JTF‑WHEM), a new regional force that brings together the United States and 18 partner nations across Latin America and the Caribbean. The task force replaces earlier operations such as Operation Lanza del Sur and the Southern Spear task force, and is presented as part of SOUTHCOM’s “Shield of the Americas” (Escudo de las Américas) strategy. Led by Marine Division General Kevin Jarrard under the overall command of General Francis L. Donovan, JTF‑WHEM will coordinate intelligence sharing, joint training, maritime interdiction, and humanitarian assistance to counter transnational organized crime, strengthen regional security, and enable rapid crisis response throughout the Western Hemisphere. The coalition includes nations such as Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, Belize, Chile, Guatemala, Jamaica, Peru and Colombia’s president‑elect Abelardo de la Espriella. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-05: US SOUTHCOM launches 18‑nation Western Hemisphere Joint Force to combat organized crime US SOUTHCOM formed an 18‑nation Western Hemisphere Joint Force, led by Gen. Kevin Jarrard, to curb organized crime and boost regional security. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-southcom-launches-18nation-western-hemisphere-joint-force-to-combat-organized-crime ### 2026-08-03: U.S. Southern Command activates Joint Task Force‑Western Hemisphere with 18 nations U.S. Southern Command launches Joint Task Force‑Western Hemisphere with 18 American nations, led by Gen. Kevin Jarrard, to replace Operation Lanza del Sur and boost regional anti‑crime operations. 27 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-southern-command-expands-operations-with-new-task-force-and-chile-joint-drill --- Cite as: US Southern Command Western Hemisphere Task Force. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-southern-command-western-hemisphere-task-force