Hegseth Says Colombia Authorized Joint Military Operations With the US

Colombia · Security Key Facts New member Hegseth said Colombia would join the US-led Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition — nicknamed the Shield of the Americas (Escudo de las Américas) — as its 19th member, announced 12 August 2026. Joint ops Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Colombia authorized “joint military operati

Colombia follows Peru in joining the so-called “Shield of the Americas”.

Colombia's newly elected President Abelardo de la Espriella plans to forge a military alliance with the United States and Israel to aid his war on guerrillas. Last September, the US military launched a campaign of airstrikes targeting alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean that have kil

Colombia's newly elected President Abelardo de la Espriella plans to forge a military alliance with the United States and Israel to aid his war on guerrillas. Last September, the US military launched a campaign of airstrikes targeting alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean that have kil

War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that newly inaugurated Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has authorized joint military operations with the United States to target drug cartels in the country. Colombia, he said, became the 19th member of the recently established Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition, which m

Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella asked the US Government for joint military operations “to destroy terrorists and terror networks,” said US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Wednesday. At an event of the so-called Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (ACCC) in Panama, Hegseth said that “Colombia will join the

Colombia’s new conservative government is partnering with the US to fight drug gangs in its territory, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.