On Saturday, President Donald Trump declared alongside Latin American leaders that anarchy in the hemisphere will no longer be tolerated.
These remarks, made at the Trump National Doral resort in Miami during the "Americas Shield" summit, underscore the president's commitment to forming a military coalition to combat "cartel violence."
The summit brought together leaders from 12 Latin American and Caribbean countries to establish a regional alliance against drug trafficking, cartels, illegal migration, and transnational organized crime.
Notable attendees included Javier Milei (Argentina), Nayib Bukele (El Salvador), Daniel Noboa (Ecuador), Santiago Peña (Paraguay), Luis Abinader (Dominican Republic), José Raúl Mulino (Panama), Rodrigo Chaves (Costa Rica), and Nasry Asfura (Honduras), as well as representatives from Trinidad and Tobago and Bolivia. Also present was Chile's president-elect, José Antonio Kast, who is set to take office on March 11, becoming the first far-right leader in the nation since its return to democracy.
Left-leaning or center-left governments in the region, such as Mexico (Claudia Sheinbaum), Colombia (Gustavo Petro), Brazil (Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva), Nicaragua, and Venezuela, were intentionally excluded. This highlights the ideological divide within the hemisphere.
Cuba was also a topic of discussion. Trump asserted that his administration would "address Cuba" and claimed that the regime is in its "final moments" due to a lack of financial resources, oil, and international support.
During his opening remarks, Trump argued that Cuba's political system is in a terminal crisis, reflecting the decline of the model that has governed the island for decades.
"Cuba is at the end of the road, truly at the end of the road. They lack money, they lack oil. They have a flawed philosophy. They have a flawed regime that has been detrimental for a long time," the president stated to nearly 15 Latin American leaders gathered at the event.
"Cuba is in its final moments as it has been. It will have a very significant new life, but it is in its final moments as it currently exists," he added.
Key Insights from the Americas Shield Summit
What was the main purpose of the Americas Shield summit?
The main purpose of the summit was to create a regional coalition to fight against drug trafficking, cartels, illegal migration, and transnational organized crime in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Who were some of the prominent leaders attending the summit?
Prominent leaders included Javier Milei from Argentina, Nayib Bukele from El Salvador, Daniel Noboa from Ecuador, and José Antonio Kast, the president-elect of Chile, among others.
Why were certain countries excluded from the summit?
Countries with left-leaning or center-left governments, such as Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, were excluded to emphasize the ideological divide within the region.