At the “Shield of the Americas” summit held at the Trump National Doral golf club in Miami, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the days of Cuba’s current political system are numbered and that negotiations with the island nation are underway. At the same time, Trump announced a military alliance involving 17 countries to combat cartels and organised crime in the Western Hemisphere.
The “Shield of the Americas” initiative brings together several right-wing and centre-right Latin American leaders and focuses on closer security cooperation and potential joint military action against drug cartels.
Participants include Argentina’s President Javier Milei, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele and Chile’s president-elect José Antonio Kast, as well as the leaders of Ecuador, Paraguay, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. Mexico was not invited after rejecting U.S. assistance in its fight against cartels. Trump said the coalition would represent a commitment to use “lethal military force” against cartels and terrorist networks.
Trump devoted much of his remarks to the situation in Cuba, saying the country is “in its final days.” According to him, the Cuban government is facing severe economic difficulties, including shortages of money and oil, and is showing a willingness to negotiate with Washington through Cuban-born Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He said the island’s crisis has worsened after the loss of previous support from Venezuela.
Trump also spoke about the official recognition of Venezuela led by Delcy Rodriguez and that he would not allow “hostile foreign influence” in the Panama Canal.
