Colombia formally joined [11] 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 [12]." US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced [13] that new far-right President Abelardo de la Espriella [14] had authorized [15] joint "counter-terrorism" operations, a move that opens the door [16] to US-led strikes on Colombian territory, which Hegseth said has already been discussed [17]. 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 [18]. The agreement was formalized in Panama [19], where Hegseth spent two days [20] meeting with the A3C's 19 partner members, deepening ties, and rallying opposition [21] to the International Criminal Court, which he accused [22] of launching a "lawless power grab" by potentially investigating US strikes in the region [24], a step it has not yet taken. (NACLA Update [25])
See our last report on the Shield of the Americas [26].
