Defense Secretary Visits U.S. Southern Command Amid Intensifying Middle East Strikes

Hegseth to attend Americas Counter Cartel Conference as U.S. joins Ecuador drug war operation

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is traveling to U.S. Southern Command in Doral, Florida to attend the Americas Counter Cartel Conference, as U.S. military strikes in the Middle East continue to intensify. This comes just days after the U.S. joined an operation in Ecuador aimed at fighting drug trafficking operations that have turned the country into a major cocaine exporter.

Why it matters

The visit highlights the Trump administration's focus on combating transnational criminal organizations and drug trafficking, which it sees as a threat to U.S. homeland security. The joint U.S.-Ecuador operation also signals a regional approach to tackling the drug trade, which has spilled over borders in the Western Hemisphere.

The details

Hegseth will attend the Americas Counter Cartel Conference in Doral, which is expected to highlight the recent joint U.S.-Ecuador operation targeting drug trafficking networks. U.S. Southern Command released footage of the operation, which Ecuador's military chief said shows the U.S. recognizing that these threats extend beyond just Ecuador and Colombia to the broader region.

  • Hegseth is visiting U.S. Southern Command on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
  • The joint U.S.-Ecuador operation took place just days prior to Hegseth's visit.

The players

Pete Hegseth

The current U.S. Secretary of Defense, visiting U.S. Southern Command in Doral, Florida.

Daniel Noboa

The President of Ecuador, who publicly called on President Trump to join Ecuador's efforts to curb the drug war.

Henry Delgado

The Head of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Ecuador, who stated that the U.S. has recognized drug threats extend beyond just Ecuador and Colombia.

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What they’re saying

“What is interesting is that the United States has understood that these threats are no longer only in Ecuador. Not only in Colombia. They're in the region and across the Western Hemisphere. That is precisely why they directed their attention toward our region and toward our country.”

— Henry Delgado, Head of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Ecuador

What’s next

The Americas Counter Cartel Conference in Doral is set to begin later on Thursday morning, where the joint U.S.-Ecuador drug interdiction operation is expected to be a key topic of discussion.

The takeaway

This visit by the Defense Secretary and the joint U.S.-Ecuador operation highlight the Trump administration's regional approach to combating the transnational threat of drug trafficking, which it sees as a critical homeland security issue requiring coordination across the Western Hemisphere.