Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Latin American allies to join an expanding US-led military campaign against drug cartels, calling for concrete, coordinated action against transnational trafficking networks during a coalition meeting in Panama on Wednesday.

Hegseth addressed the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C), the military and security component of President Donald Trump’s Shield of the Americas initiative launched in March. He announced a new operational motto for the group: "We do bad things to bad people." Hegseth stated that traffickers were about to meet a "new sheriff in town" and pressed participating governments to deepen military cooperation.

Coalition Expansion and Military Coordination

Colombia became the coalition’s 19th member this week, following months of strained relations under former President Gustavo Petro. Hegseth said Colombia’s new government had authorized "joint military operations to destroy terrorists and terror networks." He also left open the possibility of joint US-Colombian strikes against groups Washington designates as terrorists.

The US has expanded its operational footprint in the region, deploying F-35 fighters to Puerto Rico last year as operations against designated narco-terrorist groups intensified. On August 4, US Southern Command activated Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere to integrate intelligence, surveillance, planning, and multinational coordination.

Commander Gen. Francis Donovan said the unit would apply sustained pressure on criminal networks while strengthening cooperation with regional partners.

Legal Scrutiny and Regional Tensions

The expanding campaign faces significant legal questions. Reuters reported that more than 200 people have died since US forces began striking suspected drug-smuggling boats last September. Critics have questioned the legality of the attacks, while Hegseth insists the campaign complies with international humanitarian law. Congressional Democrats raised potential legal questions over the strikes in June.

Mexico continues to resist US military operations on its soil. President Claudia Sheinbaum has emphasized sovereignty while maintaining security cooperation with Washington. This tension emerged when Trump first escalated his anti-cartel strategy.

Hegseth pledged continued US support for coalition operations across the hemisphere, stating, "When we say we will dismantle the cartels, we mean it."