Today, the Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted defense and security leaders from 17 countries across the Western Hemisphere in Doral, Florida, for the Americas Counter-Cartel Conference. By bringing together defense ministers, senior officials, and security leaders from across the region, this conference advances President Trump's commitment to peace through strength and to working with partners to confront cartel networks and malign actors that threaten the safety and security of our nations.
Participating countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to peace, sovereignty, and stability in our shared neighborhood. Recognizing the growing threat posed by transnational criminal organizations, partner nations committed to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation and deepening collaboration on key security priorities, including border security, countering narco-terrorism and trafficking, and protecting critical infrastructure.
The Department of War values the strong partnerships that make collective action possible to prevent external powers from interfering in our neighborhood and confronting shared threats. We look forward to working with these committed nations to support efforts that strengthen regional cooperation and advance a safe, secure, and prosperous Western Hemisphere.
