Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced a renewed focus for U.S. Southern Command (Southcom) on protecting the sovereignty of the Americas and deterring threats. During a visit to Panama’s Combined Jungle Training Center-South, he emphasized military readiness and partnerships to combat transnational drug cartels, illegal migration, and foreign interference. The mission shift follows a 18-month transition, with Southcom now prioritizing military capabilities against real threats. Hegseth highlighted multinational efforts, including the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, which now includes 19 nations, with Colombia joining recently. Training exercises like Panamax 2026 and partnerships with Panama, Ecuador, and Colombia aim to strengthen regional security. The coalition’s new motto, ‘We do bad things to bad people,’ underscores efforts to target drug cartels and designated terrorist organizations. Hegseth also referenced a modernized Monroe Doctrine corollary to safeguard key infrastructure like the Panama Canal from foreign influence.
© U.S. Government.
Summary adapted from https://war.gov
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