Source: Fortune
Summary
President Donald Trump hosted the “Shield of the Americas” summit at his Miami-area golf club, where he encouraged Latin American leaders to take military action against drug trafficking cartels and transnational gangs. Trump said the US will use its military to combat these threats, citing the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group as an example. The summit aimed to turn attention to the Western Hemisphere and reassert US dominance in the region. Trump also mentioned plans to address Cuba after the war with Iran and suggested a deal with Havana. The summit was attended by leaders from 12 Latin American countries, but notable absences included Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia.
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The numbers tell one story.
Trump’s “America First” foreign policy takes center stage in the Western Hemisphere. The “Shield of the Americas” summit was a show of force against drug cartels and transnational gangs. Trump’s message to Latin American leaders: use your military. The US will use its military too. The war with Iran looms large, but Trump is turning attention to the region. Cuba is next on the list. The question is, what’s the price of this new era of cooperation?
Author: Evan Null
