Colombia Joins U.S.-Led Counter-Narcotics Coalition Amid Rising Tensions in Latin America

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth welcomed Colombia into a military coalition targeting drug trafficking across the Western Hemisphere. The move followed Colombia’s conservative president’s recent inauguration and included plans to authorize joint military operations against terror networks. This coalition, called the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition, convened in Panama, a focal point for U.S. Latin America policy under President Trump. U.S. military actions against suspected drug operations have already resulted in significant casualties, intensifying debates over policy actions described by critics as war crimes. The U.S.-backed initiative has reshaped political landscapes, with Colombia pledging military collaboration and $1 billion in U.S. aide,…