Hegseth Urges Latin American Allies to Take Aggressive Action Against Drug Cartels

Defense Secretary warns Trump administration will act alone if governments fail to combat criminal organizations threatening the U.S.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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In a speech at U.S. Southern Command in Miami, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Latin American countries to adopt a more aggressive approach against drug cartels, warning that the Trump administration would be forced to act unilaterally if governments fail to effectively combat criminal organizations that directly threaten the United States and border security.

Why it matters

Hegseth's comments reflect the Trump administration's renewed focus on Latin America and its desire to leverage military assets to restore U.S. dominance in the hemisphere, even as the administration also fights a war in Iran. This shift represents a departure from previous administrations' reliance on civilian law enforcement to combat drug cartels, raising concerns about the risks of militarizing the fight against organized crime in a region with weaker rule-of-law institutions and a history of military human rights abuses.

The details

Hegseth spoke at the first 'Americas Counter Cartel Conference,' attended by defense officials from allied conservative governments in Latin America, including Argentina, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. He pledged U.S. support to combat cartels, restore deterrence, and 'make the Americas great again,' echoing the rhetoric of Trump's 'Donroe Doctrine' that seeks to assert greater military dominance in the region. Stephen Miller, the deputy White House chief of staff, also spoke, describing cartels as the 'ISIS and al-Qaida of this hemisphere' and calling for the use of 'hard power' and lethal force over criminal justice.

  • The conference took place on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
  • On Saturday, March 7, 2026, the Latin American presidents are scheduled to attend a summit with President Trump at his nearby golf club.

The players

Pete Hegseth

The U.S. Defense Secretary who delivered the speech urging Latin American countries to take a more aggressive approach against drug cartels.

Stephen Miller

The deputy White House chief of staff and a key architect of the Trump administration's aggressive stance in the Latin American region.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who has pledged a renewed focus on Latin America, including a greater reliance on the U.S. military to neutralize drug cartels.

Nayib Bukele

The President of El Salvador who has promised to use an 'iron fist' approach against criminal groups, and who has won support from the Trump administration for his hardline stance.

Rebecca Bill Chavez

The president of the Inter-American Dialogue and a former deputy assistant defense secretary for Western Hemisphere affairs, who has raised concerns about the risks of militarizing the fight against cartels in a region with weaker rule-of-law institutions.

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What they’re saying

“America is prepared to take on these threats and go on the offense alone if necessary.”

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary

“Cartels that operate in this hemisphere are the ISIS (Islamic State group) and al-Qaida of this hemisphere and must be treated just as ruthlessly.”

— Stephen Miller, Deputy White House Chief of Staff

“The human rights that we are going to protect are not those of the savages that rape, torture and murder but those of the average citizens.”

— Stephen Miller, Deputy White House Chief of Staff

What’s next

The Latin American presidents are scheduled to attend a summit with President Trump on Saturday, March 7, 2026, where they are expected to discuss further cooperation in the fight against drug cartels.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's shift towards a more militarized approach to combating drug cartels in Latin America represents a significant departure from previous strategies, raising concerns about the potential risks of weakening civilian oversight and rule-of-law institutions in the region. The success of this new approach will depend on the ability of the U.S. and its Latin American allies to balance security imperatives with the need to strengthen democratic governance and respect for human rights.