Trump Deploys 600 Soldiers To Latin America For Drug War

Roughly 600 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division are being dispatched by The Pentagon to Latin America for training and potential combat support. These troops will train in Panama before possibly helping U.S. special forces raid drug trafficking networks on land. Fox News reported the deployment involves a full battalion moving to the region to bolster counter-drug efforts. The first units are expected to arrive soon at a new jungle training facility in Panama.

Soldiers will eventually work with local forces in Colombia and Honduras to fight cartels. They may also help guard helicopters or assist U.S. special operations teams if those advisors face trouble. The Daily Wire noted that these soldiers could support raids but might not carry out the attacks themselves. This move marks a significant shift from sea-based strikes to operations on solid ground.

Land Strikes Are Now an Option

General Francis Donovan, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, confirmed that military planners are looking at land targets. He told The Wall Street Journal, “Do I see land strikes as options? Yes. We want all options at the table.” Donovan explained that these actions could include arrests or taking down safe houses used by traffickers. “Those actions might be strikes, arrests, or the takedown of a safe house,” he added.

Over the past year, The Pentagon has already executed dozens of strikes targeting vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Since the campaign started more than a year ago, these operations have resulted in the deaths of more than 235 people. Breitbart reported that U.S. troops also worked alongside Ecuadorian forces in September to dismantle a cartel cell. The military is now moving MQ-9 Reaper drones to Colombia and Ecuador to support these expanded efforts.

Conflicting Reports on Numbers and Location

Although the U.S. Army reportedly deployed 600 soldiers from Fort Drum, New York, the U.S. Embassy in Panama provided a contrasting version of events. The embassy challenged reports of a full battalion, stating only 120 soldiers were participating in a two-week course. They said these troops would return to their home units after the training ended. The Daily Caller noted that the U.S. government has not officially confirmed the full 600-soldier deployment figure.

Steven McLoud, a media relations officer for SOUTHCOM, declined to give specific details on the troop movements. Citing operational security concerns, he informed the outlet, “We do not disclose details or comment on U.S.” personnel deployment or operational movementsSeveral hundred of these soldiers are also anticipated to assist in staffing a new Western Hemisphere military command located in Miami. This new command will oversee operations across the region.

Political Friction and New Command Goals

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has championed this effort through the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition. At an August gathering in Panama, he described the coalition’s motto with a direct message. Hegseth stated, “We do bad things to bad people,” according to the Daily Wire. The initiative faces strong opposition from left-leaning governments in Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico has explicitly refused to accept the presence of U.S. troops within her nation.

The deployment matches a growing U.S. presence aimed at the Shield of the Americas initiative. Left-leaning leaders in the region argue this presence threatens their sovereignty.