Colombia formally joined [10] 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 [11]." US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced [12] that new far-right President Abelardo de la Espriella [13] had authorized [14] joint "counter-terrorism" operations, a move that opens the door [15] to US-led strikes on Colombian territory, which Hegseth said has already been discussed [16]. De la Espriella's granting of permission to US troops to operate within Colombia is likely unconstitutional—the transit and operation of foreign troops on Colombian soil requires Congressional approval [17]. The agreement was formalized in Panama [18], where Hegseth spent two days [19] meeting with the A3C's 19 partner members, deepening ties, and rallying opposition [20] to the International Criminal Court, which he accused [21] of launching a "lawless power grab" by potentially investigating US strikes in the region [23], a step it has not yet taken. (NACLA Update [24])
See our last report on the Shield of the Americas [25].
