‘They’re cancer’: Trump threatens cartels, Cuba at Latin American summit

Al JazeeraCenterEN 9 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffMarch 7, 2026 at 07:56 PM

AI Summary

long article 9 min

At the "Shield of the Americas" summit in South Florida on March 7, 2026, US President Donald Trump announced the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition, comprised of a dozen politically aligned countries committed to combating drug trafficking. Trump advocated for military action against cartels, even suggesting launching missiles in Latin America, rather than relying solely on law enforcement. The summit highlighted a shift in US foreign policy, with closer ties to right-wing governments in Latin America, as evidenced by the attendance of leaders from Argentina, El Salvador, and Ecuador. Notably absent were top-level representatives from Mexico and Brazil, countries led by left-wing presidents who have resisted some of Trump's policies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the strong relationships with the attending nations, contrasting them with less reliable traditional allies.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Javier Milei 50% Nayib Bukele 50% Marco Rubio 50% Daniel Noboa 50% Shield of the Americas ×260% Cuba 60% Mexico ×260% Brazil ×260% Latin America ×270% Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition 70% United States ×480% Donald Trump ×590%

Keywords

cartels 100% shield of the americas summit 80% drug trafficking 70% latin america 70% military intervention 60% americas counter-cartel coalition 60% foreign policy 60% right-wing governments 50% us relations 50%