Trump Forms 17-Nation Coalition, Offers US Missile Strikes to Wage War on Cartels

At a Shield of the Americas summit in Doral, Florida on March 7, President Donald Trump announced the formation of a regional security pact to confront drug cartels.

“At the inaugural “Shield of the Americas” summit in South Florida, United States President Donald Trump announced the creation of what he calls the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition: a group of a dozen politically aligned countries committed to fighting drug trafficking”

Al Jazeera

He signed a declaration that organizers called the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition, with the name varying slightly across reports.

Al Jazeera

KGAN reported that he 'signed a proclamation creating an Americas Counter Cartel Coalition.'

News Mobile said he 'announced the creation of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition ... an alliance of 17 nations intended to use lethal military force to dismantle transnational criminal organizations.'

Al Jazeera described it as the 'Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition — about a dozen politically aligned countries pledging to fight drug trafficking.'

POLITICO noted that 'Seventeen countries signed an Americas Counter Cartel Coalition declaration', and outlets varied in their reported counts, underscoring discrepancies in reported membership across outlets.

Trump framed the coalition as a military-first response, repeatedly pledging lethal force and even missile strikes against cartel leaders.

Multiple reports cite him urging partners to use armed forces rather than conventional policing.

CBS News

La Estrella de Panamá said he signed a proclamation authorizing the use of joint military power to "annihilate" drug cartels and that the plan emphasizes "precision missile strikes."

News Mobile quoted him describing the initiative as operationalizing "hard power" against cartels.

tag24 reported he "offered U.S. support — including the possibility of missile strikes targeting narco kingpins."

DW captured Trump's theatrical description of strikes, quoting him mimicking a missile sound — "Piu, right into the living room" — and saying, "That's the end of that cartel person."

The summit drew a patchwork of right-leaning and U.S.-aligned leaders, while notable regional powers stayed away.

“US President Donald Trump hosted Latin American leaders on Saturday at his Miami-area golf club for what the White House called the "Shield of the Americas" summit”

DW

KGAN listed attendees including leaders from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago.

La Estrella named backers such as Argentina’s Javier Milei, El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele and Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa.

Al Jazeera framed the meeting as part of "a wider second-term foreign-policy pivot toward closer ties with right-wing governments in the region."

La Prensa warned that the coalition's political composition and the "absence of major players Mexico and Brazil undermines any effective anti-cartel campaign."

Organizers and U.S. officials outlined concrete operational measures that mix high-end military capabilities with intelligence-sharing and partner force integration.

La Estrella detailed an operational plan emphasizing "use of lethal force, precision missile strikes and surveillance on cartel command centers, shared intelligence and training to integrate partner armed forces, and intensified naval and air blockades to intercept narcotics."

Financial Times

KGAN and WJAR noted U.S. appointments and roles such as naming Kristi Noem a "special envoy for the coalition."

POLITICO reported the declaration includes goals to curb trafficking, migration and to block "malign foreign influences" as part of building "the most effective fighting force" with hemispheric allies.

The New York Post cited Trump urging governments to "identify cartel operatives so U.S. forces ... can strike them."

Reports and analysts highlighted immediate political and practical critiques.

“Trump hosts Latin America allies to form coalition against drug cartels US President Donald Trump encouraged right-wing Latin American leaders gathered at his Florida golf club on Saturday to take military action against drug trafficking cartels and transnational gangs that he says pose an “unacceptable threat” to the region's national security”

France 24

Several outlets noted Trump compared the effort to the U.S.-led campaign against ISIS, framing it as a high-intensity military fight.

France 24

Others warned the coalition may be fragile or politically driven.

KGAN and WJAR both recorded Trump's comparison to the fight against ISIS.

Al Jazeera stressed a shift toward partnerships with right-wing governments.

POLITICO relayed his combative rhetoric that prior U.S. policy 'abandoned' places and quoted him describing recent actions as '15 out of 10' and saying 'We did the world a favor.'

La Prensa cautioned the initiative is 'fragile and reactive.'

DW captured Trump's promise to 'do whatever you need,' highlighting the administration's offer of direct U.S. operational support.

Critics say this mix raises legal, sovereignty and escalation concerns across the hemisphere.