Trump Launches Anti-Cartel Coalition at Americas Summit

President Donald Trump hosted leaders from more than a dozen Latin American nations at the Shield of the Americas summit on Saturday at his Trump National Doral Miami resort in Florida, launching a new coalition aimed at combating drug cartels through military cooperation and reinforcing U.S. security interests in the Western Hemisphere.

The gathering, which included presidents and representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago, focused on dismantling organized crime networks and addressing illegal immigration. Trump described the initiative as a pledge among the participating governments to employ decisive measures against narcoterrorism and other threats. "The only way to defeat these enemies is by unleashing the power of our militaries," Trump said during the event. "We have to use our military. You have to use your military."

Trump drew parallels to the U.S.-led coalition that targeted the Islamic State group in the Middle East, calling for similar action to eradicate cartels in the Americas. He offered U.S. support, including potential missile strikes on...