The creation of a dedicated organized-crime task force by U.S. Southern Command represents the latest manifestation of the Monroe Doctrine, reflecting the administration’s persistent interventionist—critics argue imperialist—strategy toward Latin America. However, this move may also indicate a growing emphasis on collaboration with regional partners, or alternatively, an intention to deepen operational presence within their borders.
Operation Southern Spear, launched last year, marked a renewed commitment to active U.S. foreign policy in the region. Initially targeting alleged drug-trafficking vessels via U.S. Navy strikes, the initiative has since escalated to include the controversial abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier this year, followed by renewed economic and military pressure on Cuba.
Beyond direct interventions, SOUTHCOM has prioritized integrating U.S. forces into local security frameworks and expanding operational control over partner nations’ security apparatuses. In March, the U.S.-led Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C) was established to synchronize regional efforts against transnational organized crime. That same month, SOUTHCOM deployed personnel to assist Ecuadorian authorities in dismantling a suspected criminal network within the country. Recently, the formation of the Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) on August 4 underscores Washington’s intent to streamline coordination of military and partner-state operations against organized crime.
The emergence of JTF-WHEM and A3C signals SOUTHCOM’s strategic push for multilateral collaboration. While several Latin American governments have adopted stricter anti-crime measures and broadly supported Maduro’s removal, the contentious nature of Southern Spear’s naval strikes and the Maduro operation have reignited regional sensitivities toward U.S. interventionism. Historical tensions linger as nations grapple with balancing sovereignty against external security pressures.
These initiatives serve as platforms for U.S. and SOUTHCOM leaders to cultivate strategic alignment, direct operational planning, resolve inter-member conflicts, and shape non-member-state behavior. U.S. diplomats and SOUTHCOM officials have pursued regional consensus through political and material incentives, aiming to secure at least tacit approval for expanded roles—including potential formal deployments of U.S. troops within partner territories. Increasingly, security and economic aid is being contingent upon regional cooperation in areas prioritized by Washington.
JTF-WHEM is poised for immediate activation. On August 12, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that Colombia, Honduras, and Guatemala had consented to U.S. participation in joint operations targeting criminal networks.