Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hosted defense and security leaders from 17 Western Hemisphere countries at the Americas Counter-Cartel Conference in Doral, Florida, on March 5.
Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell issued a statement detailing the event, which gathered defense ministers and senior officials to advance President Trump’s commitment to peace through strength.
Participants focused on confronting cartel networks and malign actors threatening regional safety and security. The countries reaffirmed their commitment to peace, sovereignty, and stability while addressing threats posed by transnational criminal organizations.
Partner nations pledged to boost bilateral and multilateral cooperation, with emphasis on border security, countering narco-terrorism and trafficking, and safeguarding critical infrastructure.
The Department of War highlighted the value of these partnerships in blocking external interference and tackling common dangers. Officials expressed intent to collaborate further for enhanced regional ties and a safer, more prosperous Western Hemisphere.
The signed Joint Security Declaration is available here. Hegseth signed it on behalf of the United States and on behalf of the representatives of Argentina, the Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Secretary Hegseth’s remarks are available here.
