Trump Summons 'Western Hemisphere Avengers' to Miami Summit

Leaders from Latin America meet with Trump to discuss combating Chinese influence in the region

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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In a move reminiscent of the Avengers, President Donald Trump has invited numerous conservative and right-leaning leaders from Latin America to meet with him in Miami on March 7. The summit is expected to focus on combating Chinese influence in the region, as well as the ongoing situation in Venezuela. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense has held a first-of-its-kind Western Hemisphere Chiefs of Defense Conference, with Secretary Pete Hegseth calling for regional allies to "unite in deterrence against bad actors." The article also provides updates on developments in Venezuela, Cuba, and upcoming elections in Colombia and Brazil.

Why it matters

This summit represents a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy towards Latin America, with the Trump administration taking a more assertive and interventionist approach to counter Chinese influence and support conservative political movements in the region. The gathering of these 'Western Hemisphere Avengers' signals a new era of U.S. involvement and power projection south of the border.

The details

The Miami summit on March 7 is expected to include leaders such as Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, Javier Milei of Argentina, Daniel Noboa of Ecuador, Santiago Peña of Paraguay, Rodrigo Paz of Bolivia, and Nasry Asfura of Honduras. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense conference in Washington brought together defense chiefs from 34 Western Hemisphere countries, with Secretary Hegseth calling for increased regional security cooperation and the 'reestablishing and enforcing of the Trump corollary of the Monroe Doctrine'.

  • The Miami summit is scheduled for March 7, 2026.
  • The Western Hemisphere Chiefs of Defense Conference took place this week in Washington, D.C.

The players

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who is leading the charge to counter Chinese influence and support conservative political movements in Latin America.

Marco Rubio

A U.S. senator who is working closely with the Trump administration on its Latin American foreign policy initiatives.

Nayib Bukele

The president of El Salvador, considered one of the conservative 'Avengers' in the region.

Javier Milei

An Argentine politician and economist who is part of the conservative movement in Latin America.

Pete Hegseth

The U.S. Secretary of Defense, who called for regional allies to "unite in deterrence against bad actors" at the Western Hemisphere Chiefs of Defense Conference.

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What they’re saying

“We, like you, want — and will — achieve a permanent peace in this hemisphere. So, let's work together [with] our militaries: exercising, training, operations, [intelligence], access, basing, overflight, you name it — let's work together.”

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense

“The United States is asserting, reestablishing and enforcing the Trump corollary of the Monroe Doctrine.”

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense

What’s next

The judge in the case of the alleged Waymo vandal will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the suspect out on bail.

The takeaway

This summit and the broader U.S. foreign policy shift towards Latin America represent a new era of American assertiveness and intervention in the region, with the goal of countering Chinese influence and supporting conservative political movements aligned with the Trump administration's vision for the Western Hemisphere.