Washington, March 07 (QNA) – US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday the launch of the “Shield of the Americas,” an alliance that aims to strengthen coordination and cooperation between the US, and Central and Latin American countries to confront drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations classified by the Trump administration as terrorist organizations.

The announcement came during a summit held in Miami, Florida, attended by the presidents of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago, along with officials from other countries.

The summit witnessed the signing of the declaration launching the alliance and the appointment of Kristi Noem as its special envoy, after she had previously served as Secretary of Homeland Security before being dismissed last week.

President Trump noted that drug cartels are the primary reason for the intensified US involvement in the region, and that the alliance’s goal is to dismantle criminal gangs and enhance stability in partner countries.

He called for the use of military force against cartels, with the possibility of US support through missile strikes, drawing on the experience of combating ISIS in the Middle East.

The US President said that the alliance will operate in accordance with applicable laws to deprive gangs of control over territory, funding, and resources needed to carry out their violent activities, while training and deploying the military forces of partner countries to ensure the highest level of combat effectiveness and prevent the export of violence and the imposition of influence through organized intimidation.

Trump added that the alliance will also work to counter external threats, with particular focus on the Panama Canal, noting that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is working on an agreement with Cuba to ensure that no hostile foreign influence spreads in the region. (QNA)