FIRST ON FOX: According to Joseph M. Humire, Acting Assistant Secretary of War for Homeland Defense and Americas Security Affairs, the United States is advancing a sweeping hemispheric security strategy aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organizations and countering the growing footprint of geopolitical rivals across Latin America.
Central to this effort is the “Shield of the Americas,” a multi-level initiative designed to integrate military, intelligence and law enforcement capabilities in partner countries in the Western Hemisphere.
‘Shield of the Americas is a presidential framework to form an alliance in the Western Hemisphere. The American Counter Cartel Coalition fits into it, but is not exclusive to it. We now have 18 members in the coalition. And in the Shield there are thirteen countries,” Humire said.
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President Donald Trump speaks during the ‘Shield of the Americas’ summit at Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida, March 7, 2026. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
“The proclamation that President Trump signed on March 7 was centered around the Coalition, and the Coalition is aimed at allowing partner countries in Latin America to look at partner-led, deterrence-oriented operations against antitrust infrastructure and targets within their sovereign territories, both on land and maritime territory.”
Humire said: “In the past, we provided training, capacity building and a lot of different things to our partners so that they could go after the cartels. What’s different in this administration is that now we are guiding our partners to address the shared threats. In some cases we have already been authorized to do that, such as in Ecuador, where we have been authorized by President Daniel Noboa to not only advise and assist his military as they engage in counter-terrorism operations, but also to guide his forces as they engage in those operations.”
A soldier stands guard over a charred vehicle after it was set on fire in Cointzio, Michoacán state, Mexico, Sunday, February 22, 2026, following the death of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as ‘El Mencho’. (AP Photo/Armando Solis)
Humire says: “The second difference from previous administrations is that we are leaning on deterrence-oriented operations, which means we are encouraging our partners to use hard power to send a signal to the cartels to complement the interdiction. We are still seizing narcotics. We are still arresting major cartel members. We are now also destroying cartel infrastructure and, in some cases, taking out cartel members. That is something that is new.”
Mexico
“Mexico is not a member of the coalition. We are encouraged by Mexico’s recent operation against El Mencho. That was an offensive operation against a high-value individual linked to a major cartel. We look forward to Mexico joining in the future. Our relationship with Mexico is very strong militarily. We have done a lot of training and capacity building with Mexico. But to date, we still have no U.S. troops accompanying Mexico on the country’s sovereign territory,” he said.
“Mexico, like many other countries, has seen what happened in Venezuela and now understands that there is a preferred partner in the Western Hemisphere and in the world, namely the United States, and not China, Russia or Iran.”
The Pentagon’s actions under this framework include the deployment of additional surveillance assets, enhanced maritime patrol operations, and the integration of cyber capabilities to detect and disrupt illicit networks. The country has also prioritized capacity building efforts to strengthen partner countries’ ability to support long-term anti-trust operations.
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President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney hold their country’s cards during the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington on December 5, 2025. (Stephanie Scarbrough, Pool/AP Photo)
Humire continued: “This is a historic effort to make the Western Hemisphere a top regional priority for U.S. national security in a way we have never done before. President Trump has created a monumental change in U.S. foreign policy and national security.”
In addition to cartel activity, the initiative reflects growing concerns about the influence of China, Russia and Iran in the region.
China’s expansion of infrastructure investments with dual-use capabilities, Iran-linked networks associated with illicit financing and proxy activities, and Russian disinformation campaigns are major threats to regional stability.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Center-R) meets with Paraguayan Secretary of State Ruben Ramirez Lezcano (Center-L) at the Department of State in Washington, DC, on December 15, 2025 as Paraguayan Secretary of Defense General Óscar Luís González Cañete (L) and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for U.S. Security Affairs Joseph Humire (R) look on. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
To counter these efforts, the Pentagon has increased intelligence cooperation with allied governments, expanded joint cybersecurity initiatives, and supported efforts to secure critical infrastructure from foreign control or exploitation. Military-to-military cooperation has also been scaled up to strengthen alignment with US strategic priorities.
Panama
“Since Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Rubio went to Panama last year, China has had significantly less influence in that country. They have lost access to the ports and are no longer promoting their investments,” Humire said.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Panama Canal Authority Administrator Ricaurte Vasquez and U.S. Southern Command Commander Admiral Alvin Holsey pose during a tour of the Miraflores Locks in Panama City, Panama, April 8, 2025. (Aris Martinez/Reuters)
“China also had a lot of influence over the Panamanian government. That influence is no longer there. Panama has withdrawn from the Belt and Road Initiative, becoming the first country in Latin America to do so. From the War Department, we have worked with Panama to build a lasting presence on the Panama Canal, including a jungle operations school on the Atlantic side and a joint security operations group on the Pacific side. All to promote the security of the Panama Canal.”
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Venezuela
Humire continued: “The stabilization efforts in Venezuela are going well. Despite Maduro’s very close relationship with Iran, China and Russia, this was not enough to defend him. In the aftermath of Operation Absolute Resolve, we have seen tension between these different external actors because, while they have had a level of cooperation, they do not have exactly the same interests.”
Imprisoned Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, along with their attorneys Barry Pollack and Mark Donnelly, will appear in federal court in New York City on Monday, January 5, 2026. (Jane Rosenberg)
“This is evident from the fact that before, during and after Operation Absolute Resolve, neither Russia, China or Iran, or even Cuba for that matter, could do anything to keep Nicolas Maduro in power. They might have sent some equipment and armaments, but that did not defend Maduro from that operation, and the Cuban security that was with him was unable to defend him. Russia, China, Iran or Cuba could not stop a very successful US military action in support of US law enforcement.”
“The message to all countries in Latin America, and frankly to the world, is that they should think twice about partnering with Russia, China or Iran, because that partnership will not deliver results,” Humire said.
Cuba
As part of its broader hemispheric strategy, the administration is also recalibrating its policy toward Cuba, viewing the island as a persistent security concern due to its ties to U.S. adversaries.
“The White House is leading talks with Cuba in the aftermath of Venezuela. Cuba relied on subsidized oil from Venezuela in exchange for security services. But those security services didn’t do much for Venezuela when it mattered, so I believe there is some friction between the Cuban and Venezuelan governments,” he said.
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