WASHINGTON
US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced the creation of a new military coalition aimed at combating powerful criminal gangs and cartels across the Americas, saying the initiative is necessary to restore law and order in the Western Hemisphere.
Speaking at the Shield of Americas Summit, Trump said the new alliance, formally called the America’s Counter-Cartel Coalition (ACCC), will deepen military cooperation among regional partners to counter transnational criminal organizations that he described as a growing threat to regional and global security.
About the ongoing strikes on Iran, Trump said it is a “service that we’re really providing, not for the Middle East, but for the world,” Trump said during the summit.
The gathering brought together several leaders from the Americas, including Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader, and Chilean president-elect Jose Kast.
Speaking at the summit, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said: “The America’s Counter Cartel Coalition, the ACCC, will be a force for good, for peace through strength in this hemisphere.”
Trump said the coalition is being launched because large areas of the hemisphere have fallen under the influence of violent criminal networks.
“Leaders in this region have allowed large swaths of territory in the Western Hemisphere to come under the direct control of transnational gangs,” he said. “These brutal criminal organizations pose an unacceptable threat to national security.”
According to Trump, the groups operate through “murder, torture, extortion, drug trafficking, bribery and terror,” and in some cases have developed military capabilities that rival national armed forces.
“In some cases, they say they’re more powerful than the military in the country. Can’t have that,” he said.
Military cooperation against cartels
Trump said the coalition will expand cooperation between US forces and regional militaries, stressing that conventional law-enforcement tools alone are insufficient to confront organized criminal groups.
“The only way to defeat these enemies is by unleashing the power of our militaries,” he said. “You have to use your military. You can’t fight these people with just police.”
He added that the US is prepared to support partner nations with a range of capabilities if requested.
“We will do whatever you need if you want,” Trump said, noting that some countries may prefer other approaches but that Washington is ready to assist.
Mexico cartels at center of violence
Trump said the “epicenter of cartel violence” in the hemisphere lies in Mexico, accusing criminal groups there of driving instability across the region.
“The Mexican cartels are fueling and orchestrating much of the bloodshed and chaos in this hemisphere,” he said. “The United States government will do whatever is necessary to defend our national security and to protect the safety of the American people.”
He also urged regional governments to adopt stricter measures against gang activity.
“The savages who murder and rape with impunity must be permanently removed from society,” Trump said.
Venezuela and regional policy
Trump also highlighted what he described as recent US actions in Venezuela, including a military operation earlier this year.
“In January, America’s armed forces ended the reign of one of the biggest cartel kingpins of all with the operation Absolute Resolve to bring outlaw dictator Nicolas Maduro to justice in a precision raid,” he said.
Trump said the operation lasted about 18 minutes and resulted in Maduro’s capture without US casualties.
Following the operation, Trump said Washington has begun working with Venezuela’s new leadership.
“Since that operation, we’ve been working closely with the new president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, who’s doing a great job working with us,” he said.
Trump added that the US has formally recognized the Venezuelan government and recently reached what he called a “historic gold deal” allowing the two countries to cooperate on the sale of Venezuelan gold and other minerals.
Wider geopolitical message
Trump said the coalition reflects a broader doctrine aimed at preventing foreign influence and instability in the Western Hemisphere.
“One of these situations in Venezuela and Cuba should make clear under a new doctrine: we will not allow hostile foreign influence to gain a foothold in this hemisphere,” he said.
He also drew comparisons with the US-led coalition that fought the Daesh/ISIS militant group in the Middle East.
“Just as we formed a coalition to eradicate ISIS in the Middle East, we must now do the same thing to eradicate the cartels at home,” Trump said.
The US president concluded by formally launching America’s Counter-Cartel Coalition, saying it would strengthen regional security and cooperation.
“With the courage and resolve of the leaders in this room, we’ll make our nations safer, stronger, richer and more successful than ever before,” he said.
