Trump Proposes Military Support to Latin America Against Cartels

On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Latin American nations to leverage U.S. military power to combat drug cartels, offering missile support to target narco kingpins.

During a meeting at his Doral Golf Club in Miami, Trump proposed a formal launch of a 17-nation coalition to counter organized crime, which he likened to a cancer threatening the region. He emphasized the need for military action against criminal organizations and warned against the spread of such threats, particularly referencing Venezuela's authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro.

Trump hosted leaders from Argentina, Ecuador, and El Salvador, among others, and highlighted a recent crackdown on gangs in El Salvador that resulted in the arrest of ten thousand individuals. He also noted the absence of Mexico and Brazil in this coalition, suggesting that without their involvement, efforts to tackle narcotrafficking would be less effective.

The meeting comes amid rising violence from drug cartels in the region, which has strained security in countries like Ecuador and Chile.