(SeaPRwire) –   FIRST ON FOX: The United States is pushing forward a broad hemispheric security strategy aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organizations and countering the expanding influence of geopolitical rivals across Latin America, according to Joseph M. Humire, acting assistant secretary of War for Homeland Defense and Americas Security Affairs.

Central to this effort is the “Shield of the Americas,” a multi-layered initiative designed to integrate military, intelligence, and law enforcement capabilities across partner nations in the Western Hemisphere.

“Shield of the Americas is a presidential framework to form an alliance in the Western Hemisphere. The Americas Counter Cartel Coalition is part of it, though not the only component. The coalition now has 18 members, and the Shield includes 13 countries,” Humire said.

“The proclamation President Trump signed on March 7 focused on the coalition, which centers on having Latin American partner nations lead deterrence-focused operations against cartel infrastructure and targets within their sovereign territory—both on land and in maritime areas.”

Humire said, “Previously, we provided training, capacity building, and various support to partners so they could go after cartels. What sets this administration apart is that we now accompany partners in addressing shared threats. In some cases, we’ve secured permission to do this, such as in Ecuador, where President Daniel Noboa has allowed us not only to advise and assist his military in counter-narcotic terrorist operations but also to accompany his forces during these operations.”

Humire added, “A second difference from prior administrations is our emphasis on deterrence-focused operations, meaning we encourage partners to use hard power to send a message to cartels, complementing interdiction efforts. We still seize narcotics and arrest major cartel members, but we now also destroy cartel infrastructure and, in some instances, neutralize cartel members—this is new.”

“Mexico is not a coalition member. We are encouraged by Mexico’s recent operation against El Mencho, an offensive action targeting a high-value individual tied to a major cartel. We hope Mexico will join the coalition in the future. Our military relationship with Mexico is strong; we’ve conducted extensive training and capacity building with them. However, as of now, U.S. forces are not accompanying Mexican forces within Mexico’s sovereign territory,” he said.

“Mexico, like many countries, observed events in Venezuela and now recognizes that the preferred partner in the Western Hemisphere—and globally—is the United States, not China, Russia, or Iran.”

Pentagon actions under this framework include deploying additional surveillance assets, enhancing maritime patrol operations, and integrating cyber capabilities to track and disrupt illicit networks. It has also prioritized capacity-building to strengthen partner nations’ ability to sustain long-term counter-cartel operations.

Humire continued, “This marks a historic effort to elevate the Western Hemisphere as a top regional priority for U.S. national security in unprecedented ways. President Trump has made a monumental shift in U.S. foreign policy and national security.”

Beyond countering cartels, the initiative reflects growing concern over the influence of China, Russia, and Iran in the region.

Key threats to regional stability include expanding Chinese infrastructure investments with dual-use potential, Iranian-linked networks involved in illicit finance and proxy activities, and Russian disinformation campaigns.

To counter these, the Pentagon has increased intelligence cooperation with allied governments, expanded joint cybersecurity initiatives, and supported efforts to protect critical infrastructure from foreign control or exploitation. Military-to-military engagements have also been scaled up to reinforce alignment with U.S. strategic priorities.

“Since Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Rubio visited Panama last year, China’s influence in the country has diminished significantly. They lost port access and are no longer advancing investments,” Humire said.

“China once held substantial influence over the Panamanian government, but that influence is gone. Panama has withdrawn from the Belt and Road Initiative, becoming the first Latin American country to do so. Through the Department of War, we’ve partnered with Panama to establish a lasting presence on the Panama Canal, including a jungle operations school on the Atlantic side and a joint security operations group on the Pacific side—all to enhance the canal’s security.”

Humire continued, “Stabilization efforts in Venezuela are progressing well. Despite Maduro’s close ties to Iran, China, and Russia, these relationships were insufficient to protect him. Following Operation Absolute Resolve, tensions have emerged among these external actors, as while they cooperated to some extent, their interests are not fully aligned.”

“This is evident in the fact that before, during, and after Operation Absolute Resolve, Russia, China, Iran, and even Cuba failed to keep Nicolás Maduro in power. They may have sent some equipment and arms, but these did not shield Maduro from the operation, nor did the Cuban security forces with him. Russia, China, Iran, or Cuba could not halt a highly successful U.S. military action in support of U.S. law enforcement.”

“The message to all countries in Latin America—and indeed the world—is that partnering with Russia, China, or Iran warrants careful reconsideration, as such partnerships yield little results,” Humire said.

As part of its broader hemispheric strategy, the administration is also adjusting its policy toward Cuba, viewing the island as a persistent security concern due to its ties with U.S. adversaries.

“The White House is leading discussions with Cuba in the wake of developments in Venezuela. Cuba relied on subsidized oil from Venezuela in exchange for security services, but those services proved ineffective when Venezuela needed them most. I believe this has created some friction between the Cuban and Venezuelan governments,” he said.

“The Western Hemisphere is our neighborhood, intricately linked to U.S. homeland defense. Hemispheric defense has always been a cornerstone of U.S. homeland defense. Acknowledging this is why the Western Hemisphere is now a top priority for the Trump administration—particularly for the Department of War—as reflected in the 2025 National Security Strategy and 2026 National Defense Strategy,” Humire told Digital.