U.S. Unveils 'Greater North America' Plan, Reshaping Latin American Geopolitics

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The Trump administration has announced a new 'Greater North America' initiative that redefines the geopolitical boundaries of Latin America and the Caribbean. This plan, framed within the U.S. hemispheric security strategy, stretches from Ecuador to Greenland and encompasses the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Guyana. The goal is to strengthen Washington's influence and control over the continent, viewing these countries as key partners. This move has been met with strategic silence from regional leaders, who prefer to ignore a decision they were not consulted on.

Why it matters

The 'Greater North America' plan represents a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America, abandoning the concept of the 'Global South' and asserting direct control over the region's resources and security. This undermines the autonomy and sovereignty of countries in the region, which had previously sought to develop regional cooperation frameworks like UNASUR and CELAC to preserve their independence. The plan also comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, suggesting the U.S. is rapidly consolidating a continental economic and energy bloc to reduce reliance on global supply chains.

The details

The 'Greater North America' initiative was announced by U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, on the eve of President Trump's address to the nation in which he stated the U.S. would strike Iran 'extremely hard' in the coming weeks. Hegseth defined this new regional geography, stretching from Ecuador to Greenland, as falling within the U.S. zone of direct defense interest. The aim is to ensure the security of critical resources, maritime routes, and the Panama Canal, with the stated goal of strengthening defense cooperation and controlling drug trafficking routes. This move effectively removes more than a dozen Latin American and Caribbean countries from the 'Global South' designation, which has historically represented a counterweight to U.S. hegemony.

• On March 5, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted the defense ministers of 17 countries at the Southern Command headquarters in Doral, Florida to lay the groundwork for direct military strikes against narco-terrorism.
• On March 7, the presidents of the region signed the Doral Charter at a meeting in Doral, Miami, sealing an alliance that institutionalizes military cooperation and intelligence sharing.
• On March 31, the formalization of 'Greater North America' was announced, fragmenting the continent and burying the aspirations for autonomy of regional organizations like UNASUR and CELAC.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The U.S. is expected to press forward with the 'Greater North America' plan despite limited resistance from the largely subdued region, as it seeks to consolidate control over the continent's natural resources and security.