War on Cartels and Latin American Military Campaigns

Trump stated in his inaugural address that he intends to take back the Panama Canal, calling it a "foolish gift" that should never have been made. Panama subsequently filed a letter to the United Nations citing articles of the U.N. charter that prohibit member states from using threats and force.

The U.S. designated six Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations as part of Trump's plan to wage war on drug trafficking to address the fentanyl crisis.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that she declined Trump's offer to deploy U.S. troops to target Mexican drug cartels, maintaining Mexico's sovereignty over military operations within its borders.

Trump confirmed he had asked Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum to allow U.S. military forces to enter Mexico to combat drug cartels. Sheinbaum rejected the offer, and her administration emphasized that communication with Trump remained 'very good.'

Mexico extradited 26 high-ranking cartel figures to the U.S. as part of an enforcement deal with the Trump administration aimed at cracking down on drug trafficking networks.

The Trump administration is questioning Colombia's efforts to combat cocaine production, with millions in military and development aid hanging in the balance pending Washington's assessment of the country's drug war performance.

The Trump administration claims the War Powers Law does not apply to its boat strike campaigns, arguing that a Vietnam-era law requiring congressional authorization to end deployments into hostilities after 60 days does not apply to airstrike operations.

A boat strike in the Caribbean Sea killed three people in the 15th announced strike by the administration in its campaign against vessels allegedly smuggling drugs, according to Defense Secretary Hegseth.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum denied reports that the U.S. will send troops to Mexico, stating she has repeatedly rejected such offers from Trump for the U.S. to confront Mexico's drug cartels.

The US designated Colombia's Gulf Clan, the country's largest drug cartel and a militia present in at least 20 Colombian departments, as a terrorist organization. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the organization as 'violent and powerful' in the designation.

Trump told Mexico to 'step up' its efforts to combat cartels even after a military operation killed drug cartel boss Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as 'El Mencho,' triggering waves of violent retaliatory attacks across Mexico.

Trump assembled a coalition of Latin American and Caribbean nations at his Florida summit to combat armed drug trafficking groups, asking leaders to help the US military 'eradicate' cartels. Bolivia's president made a notable political realignment toward Washington.

The U.S. boat strike campaign in Colombian and Ecuadorian waters has killed over 200 people, with residents of coastal communities expressing concerns about the impact on livelihoods and ocean-based work.

Ismael Zambada García, the co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel known as 'El Mayo,' was sentenced to life in US prison after admitting to sending vast amounts of cocaine and other drugs to the United States. The sentencing concluded a major narcotics trafficking case in federal court.

Former Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernández, sentenced to 45 years in the US on drug trafficking charges, returned home after receiving a pardon from Trump.

The US announced $1 billion in security aid to Colombia as Trump-aligned president Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in, pledging an 'all-out war' on narco-terrorism. De la Espriella replaces leftist Gustavo Petro and continues Latin America's rightward political shift.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that the International Criminal Court may investigate US boat strikes conducted in Latin America as part of the anti-cartel campaign. Hegseth stated Colombia has joined a regional military coalition and vowed to continue cartel operations.

The US military carried out a drone strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two people alleged to be drug smugglers. The strike marks the latest in an ongoing campaign of boat strikes that has killed at least 223 people over nearly a year.