Trump Hosts Inaugural Shield of the Americas Summit

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

President Trump hosted the first-ever Shield of the Americas Summit in Doral, Florida, signaling a strategic shift in US engagement with the Western Hemisphere. The summit brought together 17 nations, including 12 foreign heads of state, to discuss regional security cooperation, intelligence sharing, and economic partnerships - a departure from the often vague pledges of past summits. While security was the central focus, the summit also saw the signing of several new economic deals, including a minerals agreement with Chile.

Why it matters

The high-level attendance and tangible outcomes of the Shield of the Americas Summit demonstrate that the Western Hemisphere is a genuine strategic priority for the Trump administration, not just rhetoric. This marks a shift away from past regional forums that struggled to produce concrete results. However, the summit missed an opportunity to more directly address the growing influence of US adversaries like China in the region.

The details

The summit featured discussions on intelligence sharing, military cooperation, and defense partnerships - key elements of the administration's security-forward agenda for Latin America outlined in the National Security Strategy. On the economic front, several new deals were signed, including a minerals agreement between the US and Chile. The summit also signaled the Trump administration's desire to bypass some existing regional bodies, like the Organization of American States, in favor of a coalition of like-minded partners.

• The Shield of the Americas Summit took place on March 7, 2026 in Doral, Florida.
• President Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing at the end of March 2026.

What’s next

President Trump plans to visit Beijing at the end of March 2026, where the Western Hemisphere and countering Chinese influence in the region is expected to be a key topic of discussion.