Hegseth Welcomes Colombia to Counter-Narcotics Alliance

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Colombia has joined a counter-narcotics coalition and will participate in joint military operations against terrorists. The announcement came after the inauguration of Colombia's new conservative president, Abelardo de la Espriella, who requested U.S. collaboration in combating "narco-terrorism."

During a meeting of the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition in Panama, Hegseth stated that Colombia would also join the "Shield of the Americas" initiative, which aims to unite Latin American countries in fighting drug cartels. The U.S. plans to provide $1 billion in security assistance to Colombia.

Hegseth also urged the nearly 20 countries in attendance to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, criticizing its actions against Israel and its investigations into U.S. personnel. He invoked a revamped Monroe Doctrine, calling it the "Donroe Doctrine," to assert U.S. primacy in the Americas and defend the hemisphere from external threats like narco-traffickers.

President de la Espriella, known as "El Tigre," has vowed a security crackdown and pledged to eradicate illicit crops, aligning with the Trump administration's policies. His election signals a rightward shift in Latin America, driven by economic concerns and rising crime.

Separately, Hegseth addressed reports of poor conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East, calling them "completely misrepresented." He stated that the U.S. military ensures crews have what they need, acknowledging the challenges of extended deployments, particularly in wartime.