US deploys 600-soldier battalion to Latin America as anti-cartel campaign widens

Mixed · 2The US is deploying several hundred soldiers to Latin America to train with regional forces as the Pentagon expands its campaign against drug-trafficking groups, according to a New York Times report citing anonymous US military officials. 1 2 Mixed · 2The soldiers belong to a roughly 600-soldier battalion of the 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, New York; its first elements have begun moving into a new jungle training facility in Panama. 1 2 Mixed · 2The unit is expected later to train with forces in Colombia and Honduras and could support US special operations troops advising partner militaries on raids against suspected traffickers. 1 2

Right · 1A senior US official told Fox News the troops are being forward-staged under US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which will decide where they are ultimately deployed. 2 Mixed · 2Other 10th Mountain soldiers are to staff a new Western Hemisphere operations command in Miami. 1 2 Centre · 1Anadolu, relaying the Times, said the soldiers are due to take part later this month in a Colombia exercise called Southern Vanguard, and that the rotations are temporary but could become a more permanent US presence, officials said. 1

Centre · 1The move follows the transfer of several MQ-9 Reaper drones from Africa to Colombia and Ecuador and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's creation of an office to oversee counter-cartel operations. 1 Centre · 1Adam Isacson of the Washington Office on Latin America said he could not recall a US deployment in the region of that size outside of invasions or disaster response. 1 Mixed · 2The military has so far carried out boat strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific; Anadolu reports 71 strikes killing at least 239 people, while Fox says dozens of strikes have killed more than 235 since the campaign began over a year ago. 1 2

Mixed · 2SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis Donovan has said operations will expand to land targets; he told the Wall Street Journal that options include strikes, arrests or taking down a safe house, and that the aim is "total systemic friction" for the cartels. 2 1 Centre · 1Anadolu says the boat-strike victims were alleged to be traffickers without evidence being presented, legal experts have called the strikes unlawful, and rights groups warn land strikes could raise civilian casualty risks. 1 Mixed · 2Only a handful of countries, including Colombia and Honduras, have formally agreed to joint operations; Fox adds that Hegseth said in August that Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras had agreed, though Guatemala denied it. 1 2

Centre · 1According to the Times, some senior US officials worry the administration has not set a clear objective, and one warned an attack on US troops could prompt escalation and draw strained forces into another conflict. 1