US Secretary of Defense announces shift to ground-based military operations against cartels in Latin America

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has signaled a transition from maritime interdiction to land-based military operations against drug cartels in Latin America. This shift follows a large-scale joint military exercise in Panama, marking a significant escalation in US regional security posture. The operational scope and specific host-nation agreements remain unclear, raising questions regarding sovereignty and the potential for regional instability.