Former President Donald Trump is set to host a significant gathering this Saturday at the Trump National Doral Miami, where he will bring together over a dozen Latin American leaders. The event, termed the 'Shield of the Americas' summit, aims to establish a regional alliance focused on combating drug trafficking, illegal migration, and curbing the influence of China, Iran, and Cuba in Latin America.
Notable attendees include Javier Milei from Argentina, Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, and Daniel Noboa from Ecuador. Joining them will be Santiago Peña from Paraguay, José Raúl Mulino of Panama, Luis Abinader from the Dominican Republic, Rodrigo Chaves of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Paz from Bolivia, Nasry 'Tito' Asfura of Honduras, Irfaan Ali from Guyana, and Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago. José Antonio Kast, the president-elect of Chile, will also be present, ahead of his official inauguration on March 11. Accompanying Trump is Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for the White House, highlighted the event as an unprecedented alliance: "The President will engage in discussions with these leaders, who have formed a historic coalition to address massive illegal migration and the threat posed by criminal and terrorist networks."
The summit will take place at Trump's own golf resort and was announced by the White House last Tuesday. This initiative is part of what Washington describes as a "reinterpretation of the Monroe Doctrine" and is integrated into the United States' National Security Strategy 2026. Senator Markwayne Mullin has been appointed as the special envoy for the initiative, succeeding Kristi Noem, who was initially named for this position.
The summit is rich in geopolitical symbolism. Just this Friday, Ecuador and the United States conducted their first joint military operation against the narco group Comandos de la Frontera (CDF) in the Sucumbíos province of the Amazon. Additionally, Quito expelled Cuba's entire diplomatic mission days before the summit as a show of alignment with Washington.
Regarding Cuba, Trump has ramped up his rhetoric in recent days. On Friday, he told CNN that the Cuban regime is eager to negotiate and that his administration is "intensely focused" on the issue. On Thursday, during a White House event with Inter Miami and Lionel Messi, he told Rubio directly: "Your next project will be Cuba."
Key Questions about the 'Shield of the Americas' Summit
What is the main focus of the 'Shield of the Americas' summit?
The summit focuses on creating a regional coalition to tackle issues such as drug trafficking, illegal migration, and the influence of external powers like China, Iran, and Cuba in Latin America.
Who are some of the key leaders attending the summit?
Key attendees include leaders like Javier Milei of Argentina, Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, Daniel Noboa of Ecuador, and José Antonio Kast, the president-elect of Chile.
What recent actions have Ecuador and the United States taken in relation to this summit?
Ecuador and the United States conducted a joint military operation against the Comandos de la Frontera (CDF) in the Amazon region, and Ecuador expelled Cuba's diplomatic mission, aligning with Washington's stance.