Hegseth Calls for Uniting Against Cartels

0:00On March 5, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hagueceth called on Latin American allies to join a stronger offensive against drug cartels, warning that the Trump administration might act alone if needed. He made the push during a conference in Miami hosted by U.S. Southern Command, focused on countering cartels ahead of 2026. The Avenger representatives from 16 countries in the region, including Argentina, Ecuador, and El Salvador, but key players like Mexico. Colombia and Brazil stayed away. This comes amid growing U.S. military moves, such as the recent capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in the first ground attack on a South. American Nation plus strikes on cartel boats. Critics questioned whether ramping up force will work, pointing out that despite billions in past U.S. aid, cocaine production has hit record highs and, drug prices remain low worldwide. Americans argue a pure military strategy overlooks the complex networks behind trafficking

1:00and has failed in places like Mexico for decades. White House advisers Steven Miller, backed the tough line, insisting cartels demand military defeat like terrorist groups. Meanwhile, earlier this week, the U.S. and Ecuador kicked off joint operations against traffickers, building on longstanding American advisory roles in. The area Hagueceth tied the effort to protecting shared borders and heritage from threats like migration and radical influences, urging a united front to finally turn the tide, the inside inside inside inside in