Hegseth says Colombia’s new president has requested US collaboration in anti-drug efforts
Summary
Colombia’s new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has asked the United States to work together in joint military missions to fight drug-related terrorism. This cooperation is part of a regional effort called the "Shield of the Americas" that aims to stop drug cartels in Latin America.Key Facts
- Colombia’s new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, took office recently and is nicknamed “El Tigre.”
- He has requested U.S. military help to fight narco-terrorism in Colombia. Narco-terrorism means violence connected to illegal drug trafficking.
- Colombia joined the “Shield of the Americas” initiative, which has 19 member countries working against drug cartels.
- This initiative started after a meeting with President Donald Trump and Latin American leaders in March 2026.
- The previous Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, was not invited to that meeting.
- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth encouraged Latin American countries to reject the International Criminal Court (ICC).
- The U.S. government under President Trump has conducted military strikes against suspected drug traffickers in the region.
- The Trump administration opposes the ICC because of its investigations into some countries and U.S. forces.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
