What the US militarisation of Latin America could look like

What the report says

Al Jazeera published an opinion analysis on Sept. 6, 2026, arguing that a new phase of US military activity in Latin America could deepen security problems and weaken democratic institutions. The piece focuses on the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition (ACCC), launched by President Donald Trump in March, and on expanding cooperation between US officials and militaries across the region. It says the coalition includes 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries, while Venezuela is described as having informal participation through territory used for US operations.

The article links the ACCC to broader US efforts to project power in the Western Hemisphere, including a new Western Hemisphere Joint Task Force announced by US Southern Command on Aug. 4. It also cites reported operations in Venezuela, Colombia and at sea, including strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels, as examples of what closer US involvement could look like. The author argues that this approach resembles a revived Monroe Doctrine and is not limited to anti-narcotics work, but also reflects concern about outside influences such as China.

The analysis says the likely costs would fall on Latin American societies through higher defence spending, less room for health care, education and social services, and greater pressure on sovereignty and accountability. It uses the historical example of Plan Colombia to suggest that US-backed security campaigns can fuel violence even when they weaken armed groups. More broadly, the article warns that deeper militarisation could intensify authoritarian tendencies and social instability rather than improve public safety.