U.S. Army Deploys Soldiers to Latin America
The U.S. Army is sending hundreds of soldiers to Latin America as part of an initiative aimed at training local forces and potentially conducting operations against terrorist drug cartels. This deployment occurs amid Mexico’s ongoing reluctance to fully cooperate with the U.S. in combating these organizations, particularly as the nation grapples with rampant cartel violence.
Despite claims of upholding national sovereignty, Mexico often demands proof of wrongdoing when political figures connected to the ruling party are targeted.
According to reports, approximately 600 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum in New York, are heading to the region. This initiative aligns with the expanding U.S. military presence in Latin America focused on enhancing the Shield of the Americas project, which aims to tackle drug cartels. Though official confirmation from the U.S. government is still pending, this reported troop movement fits well with the current strategy.
Recent actions have included joint military operations, such as a raid in Ecuador last September where U.S. forces collaborated with local military to apprehend members of the Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) operating in the area. Officials claimed these cartel members were remarkably disconnected from local gangs but were attempting to facilitate drug trafficking from other nations into Mexico and further into the U.S.
The Shield of the Americas originally included 13 countries, with the U.S. among them. Since its inception, other nations have joined. However, several left-leaning governments, particularly those in Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, are vocal critics of the initiative.
Specific to Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum has openly opposed having U.S. troops stationed in the country, citing a breach of national sovereignty. Oddly enough, her administration has allowed the head of security, Omar Garcia Harfuch, to engage in intelligence sharing and coordinate operations involving Mexican troops.
Despite the success of some operations, tensions between the U.S. and Mexico continue to escalate, especially considering Mexico’s hesitance to take action against individuals connected to the ruling Morena party.
A notable instance occurred earlier this year when the U.S. Department of Justice indicted Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha Moya on drug trafficking and weapons charges. Instead of cooperating on arrests and extraditions, Sheinbaum’s government has sided with Rocha Moya, claiming that the U.S. has not provided sufficient evidence of his alleged offenses.
