El Salvador took a prominent role at the Shield of the Americas Summit in Miami, where leaders announced the creation of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, a new regional military partnership aimed at dismantling powerful criminal cartels operating throughout the Western Hemisphere.
The initiative was unveiled by the President of the United States alongside leaders from Latin America. “All of the nations in this room share the same priorities: security, prosperity, free commerce, and the rule of law,” he said. “That’s why together we’re also forming the Shield of the Americas.”
The coalition’s central objective is to coordinate international efforts to confront cartel networks and other organized criminal groups that operate across borders. The U.S. president emphasized the seriousness of the initiative, stating that member nations are committed to decisive action against these organizations.
According to officials, the framework behind the initiative began taking shape months ago through discussions involving the governments of El Salvador and Costa Rica. The collaboration reflects a growing interest in strengthening regional security cooperation to address shared threats posed by transnational crime.
During the summit, the U.S. president also praised Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele while recalling their earlier meetings. “When I first saw him, I said he’s too young,” he said. “Then I saw the job he’s done, I guess he’s not too young.”