US Targets Cartels: 215 Killed in Strikes
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth travels to Panama to deepen defense cooperation and deliver remarks at the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition Forum, as the US sees a 65% reduction in narco-vessel movements in the Western Caribbean
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has traveled to Panama to deepen defense cooperation with the Central American nation, meeting with President José Raúl Mulino and Colombian senior officials. The visit comes as the US has launched a campaign against drug cartels in Latin America, with Colombia authorizing joint military operations with the US to target drug traffickers.
The US military has killed at least 215 people in strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean. The US has seen a significant reduction in narco-vessel movements, with a 65% decrease in the Western Caribbean, a 60% reduction in the Eastern Caribbean, and a nearly 50% reduction in the Eastern Pacific.
Hegseth will deliver remarks at the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C) Forum, a US-led multinational coalition launched in early March to coordinate security and military efforts among member nations to counter transnational criminal organizations. Colombia is the 19th country to join the coalition.
The US has revived jungle warfare training in Panama for the first time in over two decades, with the PANAMAX 2026 exercise, a US Southern Command (Southcom)-sponsored multinational exercise, focusing on simulated threats to the Panama Canal and the area.
## Why it matters The US campaign against drug cartels in Latin America has significant implications for regional security and the global fight against transnational crime. The Panama Canal, a critical waterway, is a key terrain that must be secured, according to Hegseth. The US has accused China of attempting to exert control over strategic land and critical infrastructure in the hemisphere, and the US is seeking to counter this influence.
The visit by Hegseth to Panama and the launch of the A3C coalition demonstrate the US commitment to deepening defense cooperation in the region and targeting drug cartels. The US military's strikes on suspected drug boats in international waters have been controversial, with some accusing the US of acting illegally.
## What happens next The US is expected to continue its campaign against drug cartels in Latin America, with the A3C coalition playing a key role in coordinating security and military efforts among member nations. The US will likely continue to work with Colombia and other regional partners to target drug traffickers and disrupt their operations. The outcome of these efforts will have significant implications for regional security and the global fight against transnational crime.
