Miami — On Saturday, President Donald Trump gathered right-wing leaders from Latin America at his Doral golf club. He urged them to fight drug cartels with full military force. Moreover, he promised strong US support — including accurate missile strikes on cartel bosses whenever needed.
Trump described the cartels as a dangerous “cancer” that must not spread. Therefore, he stressed that only military power can defeat them. “The only way to beat these enemies is by unleashing the power of our militaries,” he said clearly. “We have to use our military.”
New Coalition Takes Shape
First, Trump formally launched a 17-nation “counter cartel” coalition. The White House called it a firm pledge to use “hard power” against organised crime. Then, he told the leaders directly: “We’re working with you to do whatever we have to do.”
For example, he offered missiles without hesitation. “You want us to use a missile? We’ll use missiles,” Trump declared. “They’re extremely accurate. ‘Piu,’ right into the living room. That’s the end of that cartel person.” In addition, he added, “We’ll do whatever you need.”
Key Allies in the Room
Among the attendees were Argentina’s Javier Milei, Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa, and El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele. Their tough anti-crime records already inspire many across the region. Furthermore, leaders or representatives from Bolivia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago joined them. Chile’s president-elect Jose Antonio Kast was also present.
Meanwhile, cartel violence has exploded in places once considered safer, such as Ecuador and Chile. As a result, this growing insecurity helped right-wing parties win recent elections. Consequently, Trump’s bold ideas face less resistance than similar US moves in the past.
Cuba Faces Sharp Warning
Next, Trump turned his attention to Cuba. Since no Cuban officials received an invitation, he spoke freely. “Cuba’s in its last moments of life,” he warned. “They have no money, they have no oil. They have a bad philosophy.” He concluded firmly, “I’ll take care of Cuba.”
Recent Actions and Missing Players
At the same time, Trump highlighted quick wins. For instance, the US helped remove Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro. Now his replacement works closely with Washington on oil reserves. Similarly, joint US-Ecuador operations struck hard — a video released Friday showed a cartel house exploding in the forest.
However, two big countries stayed away. Mexico and Brazil, led by left-leaning presidents Claudia Sheinbaum and Lula da Silva, sent no one. Analyst Irene Mia explained the problem: “Without Mexico and Brazil, it’s not going to be very successful.” After all, Mexican cartels control supply chains, while Brazilian ports feed Europe’s drug trade.
Lingering Violence in Mexico
Finally, Mexico still reels from last month’s events. When soldiers killed top cartel leader El Mencho, his supporters blocked highways, burned cars, and attacked businesses in several states. Therefore, the security crisis continues to fuel calls for stronger action.
Trump’s direct approach aims to unite allies against a shared enemy. Yet success may depend on bringing more countries on board.
