Hegseth Says Colombia Authorized Joint Military Operations With the US
Colombia · Security Key Facts New member Hegseth said Colombia would join the US-led Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition — nicknamed the Shield of the Americas (Escudo de las Américas) — as its 19th member, announced 12 August 2026. Joint ops Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Colombia authorized “joint military operations to destroy terrorists and terror networks” […] The post Hegseth Says…
On 12 August 2026, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Colombia had authorized joint military operations against drug cartels. President Abelardo de la Espriella, a newly inaugurated pro-US leader, had also offered to host American troops on Colombian soil. The deal extends Washington's campaign against cartels across Latin America, covering not just drug trafficking but the armed groups that profit from it.
This shift in Colombia's internal security calculus has significant implications for security, politics, and the business climate. The agreement also places Colombia as the 19th member of the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition, nicknamed the Shield of the Americas. This would make the Pentagon a co-combatant in Colombia's internal conflict, with potential repercussions for groups like the ELN and dissident FARC factions.
The timing of this announcement is notable, as it coincides with President Trump's efforts to empower US federal law enforcement to use cyber tools against transnational criminal organizations. The move comes at a time when Colombia is facing immense pressure to tighten its security and align its legal framework more closely with Washington's preferences.
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