Trump convenes ‘Shield of Americas’ summit with 12 Latin American leaders | Donald Trump

Donald Trump switched channels from Iran to the Western Hemisphere on Saturday, convening a gathering of Latin American leaders at his Miami-area golf club to discuss regional interests and establishing what he called an “anti-cartel coalition.”

“Just as we formed a coalition to eradicate Isis, we now need a coalition to eradicate the cartels,” he told 12 regional leaders gathered at what the White House called the “Shield of the Americas” summit.

“We must recognize that the epicenter of cartel violence is Mexico,” where “cartels fuel and orchestrate much of the bloodshed and chaos in this hemisphere.”

Kristi Noem, who resigned as DHS secretary on Thursday, making her the first cabinet secretary to leave the second Trump administration, spoke later in the afternoon in her new role as U.S. special envoy to the coalition.

“This is a group working together to ensure that we defend our own sovereignty, that we each defend our own security and economic prosperity,” Noem said, adding that the organization would be “a powerful example to the rest of the world of what is possible.”

Noem made no mention of her rapid transfer of duties but highlighted her experience securing U.S. borders. “Now that America is safe and our borders are secure, we want to focus on our neighbors and help them with their borders and the challenges they face.”

Trump convened the summit of leaders from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago, just two months after a U.S. military operation to capture then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is awaiting trial on drug and weapons conspiracy charges in the United States.

Less than two weeks ago, U.S. law enforcement provided intelligence assistance during a raid in Jalisco, Mexico, to capture Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” the leader of the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) cartel and one of the world’s most wanted drug traffickers. El Mencho was injured in the shooting and died while being transported to Mexico City.

Trump praised Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who was not present at the meeting, but nonetheless argued that the cartels are “getting worse and taking over the country. The cartels are running Mexico. We can’t have that. Too close to us, too close to you.”

He also praised Delcy Rodríguez, interim president of Venezuela, who offered to “collaborate” with the Trump administration. “She does a great job working with us,” he said. Last week, the United States legally recognized the Venezuelan government.

Trump reiterated his prediction that Cuba, which had depended on Venezuelan oil, was now facing collapse. “We look forward to the great change that will soon take place in Cuba,” Trump said, saying the Caribbean nation was “on the line.”

“They have no money, they have no oil, they have a bad philosophy and a bad regime,” the US president said, but he also said the regime wanted to negotiate with the United States. “Cuba is in its last moments of life as before, but it will have a wonderful new life.”

Trump has proposed what could be the political guideline for US policy towards its neighbors, also known as the “Donroe Doctrine”, in favor of regional cooperation and to counter Chinese economic and political interests. “We will not allow hostile foreign influence to gain a foothold in this hemisphere that includes the Panama Canal,” he said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked Trump for making the Western Hemisphere a priority and praised regional leaders as not only allies but friends. In what was a criticism of the UK for its weak response in supporting US strikes in Iran, Rubio said:

“In a time where we have learned that an ally, when you need one, may not be there for you, these are countries that have been there for us,” he said, adding: “We want you to see that when you are a friend and an ally of the United States, that is a good thing and it goes the other way.” »

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States has for too long focused on borders in faraway places “and not on our own borders, our own Western Hemisphere.”