Colombia formally joined [7] the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C) on Aug. 12, a US-led regional initiative under the rubric of the so-called "Shield of the Americas [8]." US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced [9] that new far-right President Abelardo de la Espriella [10] had authorized [11] joint counter-terrorism operations, a move that opens the door [12] to US-led strikes on Colombian territory, which Hegseth said has already been discussed [13]. De la Espriella's granting of permission to US troops to operate on Colombian soil is likely unconstitutional—the transit and operation of foreign troops on Colombian soil requires Congressional approval [14]. The agreement was formalized in Panama [15], where Hegseth spent two days [16] meeting with the A3C's 19 partner members, deepening ties, and rallying opposition [17] to the International Criminal Court, which he accused [18] of launching a "lawless power grab" for potentially investigating US strikes in the region, a step it has not yet taken. (NACLA Update [20])
See our last report on the Shield of the Americas [21].
