Pentagon Sends 600 Soldiers Into Latin America as Trump Turns Up Heat on Cartels
A U.S. military battalion from the 10th Mountain Division has begun deploying troops to Latin America, primarily to support efforts against drug trafficking. The deployment includes training at a jungle warfare facility in Panama and collaborating with forces in Colombia and Honduras, with potential involvement in advising on raids targeting traffickers. Additionally, several hundred soldiers are staffing a new command in Miami to bolster regional operations. This escalation reflects the pentagon’s increased focus on combating organized crime and drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere, moving beyond decades of limited engagement in the region. Recently,U.S. forces have enhanced their counter-drug actions, including partnerships with Ecuadorian law enforcement and increased troop and drone deployments, amid concerns over China’s growing influence and organized crime’s proliferation in Latin America.
A 600-troop battalion stationed at Fort Drum, New York has begun deploying to Latin America.
This battalion from the 10th Mountain Division is deploying as part of the Pentagon’s increased efforts to combat drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere, the New York Times reported Wednesday.
The troops will begin with training at a new jungle warfare facility in Panama, then eventually training partner forces in Columbia and Honduras.
They also may assist special operations forces in advising militaries conducting raids against suspected drug traffickers.
In addition to this deployment, several hundred soldiers from the 10th mountain division will assist in staffing a new command supporting western hemisphere in Miami, an anonymous military official told the outlet.
“We do not disclose details or comment on U.S. personnel deployment or operational movements due to operational security concerns,” United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) media relations officer Steven McLoud told the DCNF when asked for confirmation of the deployment.
Over the past several months, the Pentagon has drastically increased its counter-cartel actions in the Western Hemisphere. American special forces partnered with Ecuadorian law enforcement to take down a drug trafficking ring with ties to Mexican cartels on Sept. 24.
Five hundred troops were deployed to the Rio Grande Valley on the US-Mexico border on Oct. 2. Most recently, Reaper drones previously used to target jihadi terrorists were redeployed from Africa to South America.
For decades, Latin America has not been a primary focus of the United States Military. Meanwhile, China has gained economic dominance with its Belt and Road Initiative and transnational organized crime has run rampant.
“We have ceded economic dominance in the region to an adversary, and that is a fact … we are fighting now to retake terrain — maritime and land, human terrain, cognitive terrain — in many cases that we’ve given up previously,” the Army’s Western Hemisphere Command leader, General Joseph A. Ryan remarked at the Association of the United States Army’s (AUSA) October annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
