US sends hundreds of troops to Latin America in drug fight

The United States is sending several hundred Army soldiers to Latin America to train and run exercises with local forces, a new step in the Pentagon's campaign against drug trafficking in the region, The New York Times reported on Wednesday, October 14, citing US military officials. The first troops from a 600-soldier battalion of the 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, New York, have started deploying to a new jungle training facility in Panama, O Globo reported, citing the Times.nytimes.com+1

Officials said the deployments had not been reported before. Together with the recent transfer of several MQ-9 Reaper drones from Africa to Colombia and Ecuador, the Times said, they widen the Defense Department's fight against traffickers in the region.nytimes.com

From Panama to Colombia and Honduras

After jungle exercises in Panama, the soldiers will move to Colombia for an exercise called Southern Vanguard, which is scheduled to begin later this month. Other groups will go to Honduras to train with local partners. Officials said some troops could also guard US helicopters and support Special Operations forces that are advising local militaries on raids against suspected traffickers. The assignments are temporary for now but could become a more permanent presence.oglobo.globo.com+1

Separately, several hundred more 10th Mountain soldiers are expected to help staff a new command for Western Hemisphere operations in Miami. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also recently created a Pentagon office to oversee the military's counter-cartel work.nytimes.com

The Panama site revives the Army's Jungle Operations Training Course, which closed in 1999. Panamanian service members now help teach the 18-day course.yahoo.com

A Widening Campaign

The deployment adds to a campaign that started with strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific more than a year ago. In recent weeks, US special forces have also begun joining Ecuadorian authorities on raids. As of October 5, the administration had disclosed 71 boat strikes that killed at least 213 people, according to a Military Times tally.thehill.com+1

In August, Hegseth said Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras had agreed to allow joint US military operations against criminal groups on their territory. Speaking to reporters last weekend, he said some US forces could move from Europe to the Western Hemisphere.ctc.westpoint.edu

"We're definitely expanding our presence and our footprint in Central and South America with partners," Hegseth said. "So we're going to posture and base as necessary to ensure that we have our foot on the pedal and are taking the fight to those ISIS and Al Qaeda of our hemisphere".thehill.com

The Times noted that the plans call to mind Washington's long and bloody history of intervention in the region.nytimes.com