World News
US expands military role in Latin America through counter-cartel coalition
A regional coalition launched in March includes 17 partner nations, Al Jazeera reports.
The short version
- President Donald Trump launched the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition in March alongside 17 Latin American and Caribbean nations.[Al Jazeera]
- US Southern Command established the Western Hemisphere Joint Task Force on August 4 to coordinate operations.[Al Jazeera]
- Operations under Southern Spear have resulted in at least 220 deaths to date without verified drug trafficking ties for all victims.[Al Jazeera]
Key facts
- President Donald Trump established the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition in March.[Al Jazeera]
- The coalition comprises the United States and 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries.[Al Jazeera]
- US Southern Command announced the formation of the Western Hemisphere Joint Task Force on August 4.[Al Jazeera]
- At least 220 individuals have been killed under the Southern Spear operation.[Al Jazeera]
- Plan Colombia operated between 2000 and 2015 with $10 billion in funding from the US.[Al Jazeera]
What remains uncertain
- It remains uninvestigated whether all 220 individuals killed in the Southern Spear operation were actually involved in drug trafficking.[Al Jazeera]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.