Map Shows All 'Shield of the Americas' Nations as Trump's Alliance Grows
Colombia became the 19th member of a U.S.-led coalition targeting drug cartels across the Western Hemisphere this week.
Colombia joined the U.S.-led Shield of the Americas alliance on Wednesday, becoming the 19th member after President Abelardo De La Espriella's inauguration. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Colombia's new defense minister, Jorge Eduardo Mora, to discuss joint military operations against terrorists and terror networks. The U.S. has pledged $1 billion in security assistance to Colombia.
The alliance, which started with 12 countries, has expanded to nearly all of the Western Hemisphere, excluding Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, and Canada. Colombia is the largest addition to the coalition. The administration's approach has been met with mixed reactions in Washington, with Republicans generally supporting the military campaign while Democrats have raised concerns about U.S. military operations abroad and the president's authority to order them without congressional approval.
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