福克斯独家首发：据美国国防部国土防御和美洲安全事务代理助理部长约瑟夫·M·休迈尔（Joseph M. Humire）称，美国正在推进一项全面的半球安全战略，旨在摧毁跨国犯罪组织，并应对拉丁美洲日益增长的地缘政治对手影响力。
这项努力的核心是“美洲之盾”（Shield of the Americas），这是一项多层次倡议，旨在整合西半球伙伴国的军事、情报和执法能力。
“‘美洲之盾’是总统提出的在西半球组建联盟的框架。美洲反卡特尔联盟（Americas Counter Cartel Coalition）属于其中一部分，但并不限于此。我们现在有18个联盟成员，而‘美洲之盾’涉及13个国家，”休迈尔表示。
[卡特尔因特朗普时代压力重塑策略而恐惧美国报复：“他们害怕美国”]
2026年3月7日，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普在佛罗里达州迈阿密的特朗普多拉度假村主持“美洲之盾”峰会时发表讲话。(索尔·勒布/法新社通过盖蒂图片社)
“特朗普总统于3月7日签署的宣言以联盟为核心，而联盟的核心是让拉丁美洲的伙伴国开始以伙伴主导、以威慑为重点，打击其主权领土（包括陆地和海洋）内的卡特尔基础设施和目标。”
休迈尔称：“过去，我们会向伙伴国提供培训、能力建设和其他支持，以便他们打击卡特尔。本届政府的不同之处在于，我们现在与伙伴国一同应对共同威胁。在某些情况下，我们已获得行动许可，例如在厄瓜多尔，总统丹尼尔·诺沃亚允许我们不仅为其军队提供咨询和协助，以开展反麻醉品反恐行动，还能在其军队执行这些行动时随行。”
2026年2月22日，墨西哥米却肯州科因西奥市，一名士兵在一辆被烧毁的车辆旁站岗。此前，哈利斯科新一代卡特尔组织头目内梅西奥·鲁文·奥塞古埃拉·塞万提斯（绰号“El Mencho”）被打死。(美联社照片/阿曼多·索利斯)
休迈尔表示：“与前几届政府的第二个不同之处在于，我们更侧重于以威慑为重点的行动，这意味着我们鼓励伙伴国动用硬实力向卡特尔发出信号，以补充拦截行动。我们仍在查缉毒品，仍在逮捕主要卡特尔成员。现在我们还在摧毁卡特尔基础设施，在某些情况下还会打击卡特尔成员，这是新举措。”
墨西哥
“墨西哥不是联盟成员。我们对墨西哥近期针对‘El Mencho’的行动表示赞赏，这是一次针对与主要卡特尔有关的高价值人物的进攻行动。我们期待墨西哥未来成为联盟成员。我们与墨西哥的军事关系非常密切，我们已为其开展大量培训和能力建设工作。但截至目前，我们仍未在墨西哥主权领土内派驻美军随行行动。”
“墨西哥和许多国家一样，看到了委内瑞拉发生的情况，现在明白在西半球乃至全球，美国才是优先合作伙伴，而非中国、俄罗斯或伊朗。”
五角大楼在此框架下的行动包括部署更多监视资产、加强海上巡逻行动，以及整合网络能力以追踪和破坏非法网络。此外，还优先开展能力建设工作，以增强伙伴国长期打击卡特尔行动的持续能力。
[克鲁兹警告墨西哥官员“特朗普总统会采取行动”如果他们不打击卡特尔]
2025年12月5日，在华盛顿肯尼迪中心举行的2026年世界杯抽签仪式上，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普、墨西哥总统克劳迪娅·谢因鲍姆和加拿大总理马克·卡尼手持本国卡片。(斯蒂芬妮·斯卡布罗/美联社照片)
休迈尔继续说道：“这是一次历史性的努力，将西半球作为美国国家安全的区域首要任务，这是我们前所未有的做法。特朗普总统对美国外交政策和国家安全做出了重大转变。”
除卡特尔活动外，该倡议还反映出美国对中国、俄罗斯和伊朗在该地区影响力的日益担忧。
具有双重用途潜力的中国基础设施投资扩张、与非法金融和代理活动相关的伊朗网络，以及俄罗斯的虚假信息运动，都是对区域稳定的关键威胁。
2025年12月15日，美国国务卿马尔科·卢比奥（中右）在华盛顿国务院会见巴拉圭外交部长鲁文·拉米雷斯·莱佐卡诺（中左），巴拉圭国防部长奥斯卡·路易斯·冈萨雷斯·卡内特将军（左）和美洲安全事务副助理国防部长约瑟夫·休迈尔（右）在一旁观注。(吉姆·沃森/法新社通过盖蒂图片社)
为应对这些努力，五角大楼增加了与盟友政府的情报合作，扩大了联合网络安全倡议，并支持确保关键基础设施免受外国控制或利用的工作。军事间互动也有所加强，以强化与美国战略优先事项的协调。
巴拿马
“自去年赫尔格塞斯部长和卢比奥部长访问巴拿马以来，中国在该国的影响力大幅下降。他们失去了港口的准入权，也不再推进投资。”休迈尔表示。
2025年4月8日，美国陆军部长彼得·赫尔格塞斯、巴拿马运河管理局局长里卡多·巴斯克斯和美国南方司令部司令阿尔文·霍尔西海军上将在巴拿马城米拉弗洛雷斯船闸参观时合影。(阿里斯·马丁内斯/路透社)
“中国曾对巴拿马政府产生很大影响，现在这种影响力已不复存在。巴拿马已退出‘一带一路’倡议，成为拉丁美洲第一个退出该倡议的国家。从国防部来看，我们与巴拿马合作，在巴拿马运河建立持久存在，包括在大西洋一侧建立丛林作战学校，在太平洋一侧建立联合安全行动小组，所有这些都是为了提升巴拿马运河的安全。”
[卡罗琳·莱维特警告卡特尔“不要碰美国人，否则将付出‘严重后果’”]
委内瑞拉
休迈尔继续说道：“委内瑞拉的稳定努力进展顺利。尽管马杜罗与伊朗、中国和俄罗斯关系极为密切，但这不足以保护他。在‘绝对决心行动’（Operation Absolute Resolve）之后，我们看到这些外部势力之间出现了紧张关系，因为尽管他们有一定程度的合作，但利益并不完全一致。”
2026年1月5日，被捕的委内瑞拉领导人尼古拉斯·马杜罗及其妻子西莉亚·弗洛雷斯在纽约联邦法院出庭受审，其律师巴里·波拉克和马克·唐纳利在场。(简·罗森伯格)
“这一点从‘绝对决心行动’之前、期间和之后都能得到印证：俄罗斯、中国、伊朗，甚至古巴，都无法采取任何行动来维持尼古拉斯·马杜罗的政权。他们可能运送了一些设备和武器，但这并未帮助马杜罗抵御那次行动，而且随行的古巴安全人员也未能保护他。俄罗斯、中国、伊朗或古巴都无法阻止美国为支持本国执法部门而采取的成功军事行动。”
“向拉丁美洲所有国家，乃至全世界发出的信息是：当它们与俄罗斯、中国或伊朗合作时，需要三思而后行，因为这种合作不会带来成果。”休迈尔表示。
古巴
作为其更广泛的半球战略的一部分，特朗普政府还在重新调整对古巴的政策，视该岛为由于与美国对手存在联系而持续存在的安全关切。
2026年，古巴莫罗市共产党总部外，抗议者聚集，街道上发生火灾。福克斯新闻数字版获得的视频显示，在与广泛停电相关的抗议活动中，示威者试图纵火焚烧该建筑。(路透社)
“在委内瑞拉局势之后，白宫正主导与古巴的对话。古巴过去依赖委内瑞拉的补贴石油，以换取安全服务。但在关键时刻，这些安全服务并未对委内瑞拉起到有效作用，因此我认为古巴和委内瑞拉政府之间存在一些摩擦。”
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“西半球是我们的‘后院’，与美国国土防御息息相关。半球防御一直是美国国土防御的关键部分。正是因为认识到这一点，西半球现在成为特朗普政府，尤其是国防部的首要任务，这一点在2025年《国家安全战略》和2026年《国防战略》的官方政策中得到了体现。”休迈尔告诉福克斯新闻数字版。
阿曼多·雷吉尔报道墨西哥和拉丁美洲新闻。你可以在推特上关注他@armando_regil。
US official says China, Russia and Iran are losing ground in Latin America | Fox News
FIRST ON FOX: The United States is advancing a sweeping hemispheric security strategy aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organizations and countering the growing footprint of geopolitical rivals across Latin America, according to Joseph M. Humire, acting assistant secretary of war for homeland defense and Americas security affairs.
At the center of this effort is the “Shield of the Americas,” a multi-layered initiative designed to integrate military, intelligence, and law enforcement capabilities across partner nations in the Western Hemisphere.
“Shield of the Americas is a presidential framing to form an alliance in the Western Hemisphere. The Americas Counter Cartel Coalition fits within it, but it’s not exclusive to it. We now have 18 members in the coalition. And in the Shield, there are 13 countries,” Humire said.
[CARTELS FEAR US RETALIATION AS TRUMP-ERA PRESSURE RESHAPES STRATEGY: ‘THEY FEAR THE UNITED STATES’]
US President Donald Trump speaks during the “Shield of the Americas” Summit at Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida, March 7, 2026.(SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images)
“The proclamation that President Trump signed on March 7, was centered around the coalition, and the coalition is centered around having partner nations in Latin America start looking at partner-led, deterrence-focused operations against cartel infrastructure and targets inside their sovereign territory, both on land and in the maritime territory.”
Humire said, “In the past, we would provide training, capacity building and a bunch of different things to our partners so that they could go after the cartels. What is different in this administration is we are now accompanying our partners to go after the shared threats. In some cases, we’ve already gotten permission to do that, like in Ecuador, where we have permission from President Daniel Noboa to not just advise and assist his military as they engage in counter-narcotic terrorist operations, but also accompany his military forces when they engage in those operations.”
A soldier stands guard by a charred vehicle after it was set on fire in Cointzio, Michoacán state, Mexico, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, after the death of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.” (AP Photo/Armando Solis)(AP Photo/Armando Solis)
Humire says, “The second difference to previous administrations is that we are leaning in on deterrence-focused operations, which means we are encouraging our partners to use hard power to send a signal to the cartels to complement interdiction. We are still seizing narcotics. We’re still arresting major cartel members. We are also now destroying cartel infrastructure and, in some cases, taking out cartel members. That’s something that is new.”
Mexico
“Mexico is not a member of the coalition. We are encouraged by Mexico’s recent operation against El Mencho. That was an offensive operation against a high-value individual tied to a major cartel. We look forward to Mexico becoming a member in the future. Our relationship with Mexico is very strong military-wise. We have done a lot of training and capacity building with Mexico. But as of today, we still don’t have U.S. forces accompanying Mexico inside the sovereign territory of the country,” he said.
“Mexico, like many countries, saw what happened in Venezuela and now understand that there’s a partner of preference inside the Western Hemisphere and in the world, which is the United States, not China, Russia or Iran.”
Pentagon actions under this framework include the deployment of additional surveillance assets, enhanced maritime patrol operations, and the integration of cyber capabilities to track and disrupt illicit networks. It has also prioritized capacity-building efforts to strengthen partner nations’ ability to sustain long-term counter-cartel operations.
[CRUZ WARNED MEXICO OFFICIALS ‘PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS GOING TO’ ACT IF THEY DIDN’T FIGHT CARTELS]
President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney hold their countries’ cards during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington on Dec. 5, 2025.(Stephanie Scarbrough, Pool/AP Photo)
Humire continued, “This is a historic effort to put the Western Hemisphere as a top regional priority for U.S. national security in ways we have never done before. President Trump has made a monumental shift in U.S. foreign policy and national security.”
Beyond cartel activity, the initiative reflects growing concern over the influence of China, russia and Iran in the region.
Expanding Chinese infrastructure investments with dual-use potential, Iranian-linked networks tied to illicit finance and proxy activities and Russian disinformation campaigns are key threats to regional stability.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Center-R) meets with Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano (Center-L) at the State Department in Washington, DC on Dec. 15, 2025 as, Paraguay’s Minister of Defense General Óscar Luís González Cañete (L) and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Americas Security Affairs Joseph Humire (R) look on.(Jim Watson/ AFP via Getty Images)
To counter these efforts, the Pentagon has increased intelligence cooperation with allied governments, expanded joint cybersecurity initiatives, and supported efforts to secure critical infrastructure from foreign control or exploitation. Military-to-military engagements have also been scaled up to reinforce alignment with U.S. strategic priorities.
Panama
“Since Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Rubio went to Panama last year, China has had significantly less influence inside that country. They lost access to the ports and are no longer advancing their investments” Humire said.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Panama Canal Authority Administrator Ricaurte Vasquez, and Commander of the U.S. Southern Command Adm. Alvin Holsey pose during a tour of the Miraflores locks, in Panama City, Panama April 8, 2025.(Aris Martinez/Reuters)
“China also had a lot of influence over the Panamanian government. That influence is no more. Panama has withdrawn from the Belt and Road Initiative, becoming the first country in Latin America to do so. From the Department of War, we have partnered with Panama to build up an enduring presence on the Panama Canal which includes a jungle operations school on the Atlantic side, and a joint security operation group on the Pacific side. This is all to advance security of the Panama Canal.”
[KAROLINE LEAVITT WARNS CARTELS TO ‘NOT LAY A FINGER’ ON AMERICANS OR PAY ‘SEVERE CONSEQUENCES’]
Venezuela
Humire continued, “The stabilization efforts in Venezuela are going well. Despite Maduro’s very close relationship with Iran, China and Russia, this was not enough to defend him. In the aftermath of Operation Absolute Resolve, we have seen tension among these different external actors, because while they had levels of cooperation, they don’t have the same exact interests.”
Captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appear with their attorneys Barry Pollack and Mark Donnelly at their arraignment in a federal court in New York City on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.(Jane Rosenberg)
“This is evidenced by the fact that before, during and after Operation Absolute Resolve, neither Russia, China, or Iran, or even Cuba for that matter, were able to do anything to keep Nicolas Maduro in power. They might have sent some equipment and armament, but that didn’t defend Maduro from that operation, and the Cuban security that was with him wasn’t able to defend him. Russia, China, Iran or Cuba could not stop a very successful U.S. military action in support of U.S. law enforcement.”
“The message to all the countries in Latin America, and frankly the world, is that they need to think twice when they partner with Russia, China or Iran because that partnership does not produce results,” Humire said.
Cuba
As part of its broader hemispheric strategy, the administration is also recalibrating its policy toward Cuba, viewing the island as a persistent security concern due to its ties with U.S. adversaries.
Protesters gather outside a Communist Party headquarters in Morón, Cuba, as a fire burns in the street during overnight unrest. Video obtained by Fox News Digital appeared to show demonstrators attempting to set fire to the building amid protests linked to widespread blackouts.(Reuters)
“The White House is leading conversations with Cuba in the aftermath of Venezuela. Cuba was reliant on subsidized oil from Venezuela, in exchange for security services. But those security services didn’t do much for Venezuela when it mattered, so I believe there is a bit of a friction between the Cuban and Venezuelan governments” he said.
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“The Western Hemisphere is our neighborhood; it is intricately tied to U.S. homeland defense. Hemispheric defense is and always has been a key part of U.S. homeland defense. Acknowledging this is why the Western Hemisphere is now a top priority for the Trump administration and especially for the Department of War, as reflected by official policy in the 2025 National Security Strategy and 2026 National Defense Strategy.” Humire told Fox News Digital.
Armando Regil reports on Mexico and Latin America. You can follow Armando on Twitter @armando_regil