US expands anti-drug strikes to Latin America land

The United States, under President Donald Trump, has escalated its military campaign against drug trafficking in Latin America. After launching air strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific in September 2025, which have killed over 200 people, the administration is now expanding operations to land. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Colombia, Guatemala, and Honduras have agreed to allow joint U.S. military operations on their soil, following Ecuador's earlier cooperation. Colombia's newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella has authorized joint operations and joined the Shield of the Americas and Shield of the Americas. The U.S. has pledged $1 billion in security assistance to Colombia. The campaign has drawn criticism from rights groups and legal experts who question its legality and risk of civilian casualties. Hegseth has urged coalition members to withdraw from the International — International Criminal Court, which critics say could investigate the strikes as war crimes. The expansion reflects a broader U.S. push to assert influence in the region, including the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and pressure on Panama over the canal ports.