Shield of the Americas: The Geopolitics Behind US-Led Counter-Cartel Coalition

Under Trump’s corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, the US has advanced a new coalition, “Shield of the Americas,” in the Western Hemisphere. While framed as a counter-cartel initiative, the effort also seeks to curb China’s expanding influence in Latin America. Beijing is closely monitoring the development and adjusting its regional strategy to preserve its long-term foothold.

What is the Shield of Americas (SoAs)?

The Shield of Americas (SoAs) is a newly launched multilateral military alliance between the US and Latin American states. The “Shield of the Americas” conference, which the White House described as such, was held by US President Donald Trump on Saturday in Miami at his golf club with Latin American leaders. As per the US officials, this multilateral grouping is aimed at dismantling drug cartels and criminal networks operating in the region through a combined security web. It is also meant to contain external powers’ influence in the region, which threatens American security.

“The alliance is our commitment to use lethal military force to destroy the sinister cartels and terrorist networks” (President Donald J. Trump – SoAs Summit)

“The alliance is our commitment to use lethal military force to destroy the sinister cartels and terrorist networks” (President Donald J. Trump – SoAs Summit)

The alliance is comprised of approximately seventeen member countries, with the exclusion of Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. Another major interesting fact about the grouping is that it is mainly comprised of Trump’s like-minded partner nations – far-right conservative Latin American........

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