U.S. Military Expansion Targets Drug Trafficking Networks in Latin America

The U.S. military is deploying several hundred Army soldiers to Latin America to train and engage in joint exercises with regional forces, as part of an expanded effort by the Trump administration aimed at combating drug-trafficking networks.

Soldiers from the Army’s 10th Mountain Division, stationed at Fort Drum, New York, are set to deploy with the first group of approximately 600 soldiers heading to Panama. This information was first reported by The New York Times and confirmed by Fox News.

According to a senior U.S. official, the troops will be forward-staged under U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which will make final deployment decisions. Initially, the soldiers will train at a new jungle training facility in Panama before collaborating with local forces in Colombia and Honduras.

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The deployment might also involve supporting U.S. special operations personnel who are assisting local forces in conducting raids against suspected drug traffickers, according to reports. Additionally, the 10th Mountain Division soldiers will contribute to staffing a newly established Western Hemisphere military command in Miami.

These movements coincide with ongoing Pentagon operations against suspected drug traffickers across Latin America and the Caribbean. U.S. SOUTHCOM has directed the USS Fort Lauderdale and USS Billings to Venezuela to assist State Department-led relief operations.

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Since the campaign’s launch over a year ago, U.S. forces have executed numerous strikes, resulting in more than 235 fatalities. Gen. Francis Donovan, commander of SOUTHCOM, indicated that land-based operations might be considered against trafficking networks, including strikes, arrests, or even increasing cargo scanner use at border checkpoints.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently introduced Operation Southern Spear, aiming to dismantle narco-terror networks in the region. Agreements with allied nations may permit expanded military operations on land in various Latin American countries.

During a visit to Panama in August, Secretary Hegseth noted agreements for joint military operations with Colombia, Guatemala, and Honduras against criminal groups, although Guatemala denied reaching such an accord.