US maritime strikes in Latin America have already killed more than 200 alleged drug traffickers since January 2025, and the Pentagon now plans to extend the lethal campaign from the high seas onto land, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed. The shift, which would see joint US-backed assaults inside Colombia, Honduras and Guatemala, marks a significant escalation in President Donald Trump's regional security strategy.
Speaking during a military exercise in Panama, Hegseth said Washington had secured, or was seeking, agreements to conduct joint strikes on the territory of those three countries. The move follows more than 60 attacks on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific since Trump returned to office in January 2025. Rights groups and regional analysts have questioned the legality of these strikes, noting a lack of public evidence and thin rules of engagement.
