Defense Secretary Hosts Americas Counter Cartel Conference

Event held at SOUTHCOM office in Doral, Florida

Mar. 5, 2026 at 2:08pm

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is hosting the Americas Counter Cartel conference at the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) office in Doral, Florida. The conference is being livestreamed for the public to view.

Why it matters

The Americas Counter Cartel conference brings together government officials, law enforcement, and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for combating transnational criminal organizations and drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. As a key regional command, SOUTHCOM's role in these efforts is significant.

The details

The conference is taking place at the SOUTHCOM headquarters in Doral, Florida. SOUTHCOM is responsible for U.S. military operations in Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean. The event is being hosted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and is open to the public via a livestream.

  • The conference is being held on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

The players

Pete Hegseth

The current U.S. Secretary of Defense.

U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)

The U.S. military's regional command responsible for operations in Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean.

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The takeaway

The Americas Counter Cartel conference at SOUTHCOM highlights the U.S. government's ongoing efforts to combat transnational criminal organizations and drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere, a key priority for national security.