U.S. Expands Drug War in Latin America with Troop Deployments
U.S. military is sending troops to Latin America to fight drug traffickers, with training and support operations underway.
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The U.S. military is ramping up its counter-drug efforts in Latin America by deploying Army troops to Panama, Colombia, and Honduras, according to reports. The Pentagon’s expanded campaign includes training for regional forces and support for military advisers, as part of a broader strategy to disrupt drug trafficking networks.
According to The New York Times, soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York, have begun deploying to Panama for jungle training. The initial group consists of around 600 soldiers, with additional training planned in Colombia and Honduras. However, the U.S. Embassy in Panama disputed the scale of the deployment, stating that only 120 soldiers from the division were participating in a two-week course and would return to their units afterward.
The discrepancies in the reports highlight the complexity of the current deployment. While the Times suggests the training group may be part of a larger military operation, the exact relationship remains unclear. Beyond training, the report indicates that some soldiers could assist in guarding American helicopters and supporting Special Operations personnel if needed. These troops would primarily work alongside regional forces conducting raids against suspected drug traffickers, though the report does not confirm that the newly deployed soldiers will carry out raids themselves.
The military expansion is part of Washington’s push for regional governments to intensify anti-cartel operations and increase cooperation with U.S. forces. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has led the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, which emphasizes aggressive tactics against drug traffickers. At a recent gathering in Panama, Hegseth described the coalition’s motto: “We do bad things to bad people.”
The Pentagon has already conducted numerous strikes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific against vessels suspected of transporting drugs. General Francis L. Donovan, who leads U.S. Southern Command, has stated that land strikes are among the military’s options for disrupting cartel operations. He also emphasized the importance of law enforcement and border security measures, such as increased cargo scanner use at border checkpoints.
Source: Daily Wire
