U.S. Officials Urge Latin American Allies to Intensify Fight Against Drug Cartels

Defense Secretary Hegseth and White House Adviser Miller call for more aggressive military action against criminal organizations

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 take 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 threaten the United States and border security. Hegseth's comments were echoed by White House adviser Stephen Miller, who said cartels must be treated "just as ruthlessly" as terrorist groups like ISIS.

Why it matters

The Trump administration is seeking to leverage military assets to restore U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere, shifting away from a traditional law enforcement approach to fighting organized crime and terrorist networks. This more aggressive stance raises concerns about the risks of militarizing the fight against cartels without strong rule-of-law institutions and civilian oversight.

The details

Hegseth and Miller spoke at what the Pentagon called the first "Americas Counter Cartel Conference," attended by representatives from several conservative Latin American governments closely aligned with President Trump. Hegseth pledged U.S. support to "combat cartels, restore deterrence and 'make the Americas great again,'" while Miller said "hard power" and lethal force must be used against the "savages" of the cartels. The administration has already designated some cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and declared the U.S. in "armed conflict" with them, leading to dozens of military strikes on suspected drug smugglers.

  • On Thursday, Hegseth and Miller made their remarks at the conference in Miami.
  • On Saturday, Latin American presidents are scheduled to attend a summit with President Trump at his nearby golf club.

The players

Pete Hegseth

U.S. Defense Secretary who called for Latin American countries to take a more aggressive approach against drug cartels.

Stephen Miller

Deputy White House Chief of Staff and a key architect of the Trump administration's aggressive stance in the region.

Donald Trump

President of the United States who has pledged a renewed focus on Latin America, designating some cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and declaring the U.S. in "armed conflict" with them.

Nayib Bukele

President of El Salvador who has promised to use an "iron fist" against criminal groups.

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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 Trump administration's more aggressive approach to combating drug cartels, including the use of military force, is likely to continue and potentially escalate in the coming months and years.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's shift toward a military-led strategy to fight drug cartels in Latin America raises concerns about the risks of weakening civilian institutions and oversight in a region with a history of human rights abuses by armed forces. The long-term effectiveness and consequences of this approach remain to be seen.