Trump urges Latin American allies to boost sanctions on drug cartels

The United States‑led “Shield of the Americas” coalition announced on Tuesday that it will move forward with a new round of sanctions targeting transnational criminal organizations operating in the Western Hemisphere. The decision follows remarks by former President Donald Trump, who called for “tougher, more aggressive” measures against drug cartels, gangs and money‑laundering networks that threaten regional security. The coalition, which includes the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia and several Caribbean nations, said the sanctions will freeze assets, restrict financial transactions and prohibit U.S. persons from doing business with designated entities and individuals linked to narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and illicit mining.

The sanctions package, slated for implementation within the next 30 days, expands on earlier efforts by adding more than 150 new names to the watch list, including high‑ranking cartel leaders and front companies used to launder proceeds. Officials emphasized that the measures are coordinated with the Financial Action Task Force and will be enforced through existing Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control mechanisms. By leveraging multilateral cooperation, the coalition aims to disrupt the financial infrastructure of criminal groups and bolster law‑enforcement operations across the region. The announcement marks the most extensive coordinated sanctions effort in the hemisphere since the 2020 “Operation Pacific” initiative.