The US military has been conducting bombing raids against boats suspected of carrying drugs off the coasts of Latin America, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people. Now, the Trump administration is seeking to expand this campaign to land, with plans to conduct joint military operations with allied nations in the region.

Joint Operations

According to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Colombia, Guatemala, and Honduras have agreed to allow the US to carry out joint military operations against criminal groups on their soil. However, Guatemala has denied reaching such an agreement.

The expansion of the US military campaign in Latin America has raised concerns about the potential for civilian casualties and the impact on national sovereignty. Critics argue that the campaign is an attempt to impose US dominance over the region and that it may not be effective in reducing drug trafficking.

Background

The US has a long history of military involvement in Latin America, with a focus on combating drug trafficking and supporting allied governments. However, the current campaign has been marked by a more aggressive approach, with the US designating 20 Latin American criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations and conducting military operations in several countries.

The US military has also been involved in training and supporting local security forces in the region, with the goal of building their capacity to combat drug traffickers and other criminal groups. However, some critics argue that this approach has not been effective and that it may be undermining the sovereignty of local governments.

Original reporting: NBC Connecticut (Hartford) — read the source article.