U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth highlighted regional border security cooperation and signed a joint security declaration with representatives from 17 Western Hemisphere countries at the inaugural Americas Counter Cartel Conference held at U.S. Southern Command headquarters in Doral, Florida.
The conference brought together defense and security leaders to coordinate regional responses to cartel activity and cross-border crime.
The operational conference took place at U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) headquarters and convened security leaders from the Caribbean, Central America and South America alongside U.S. officials. The event focused on strengthening coordination against transnational criminal organisations affecting regional security.
Inaugural Americas Counter Cartel Conference convenes at SOUTHCOM
The inaugural Americas Counter Cartel Conference was hosted at U.S. Southern Command headquarters in Doral, Florida. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the event gathered regional defense and security leaders from across the Western Hemisphere to coordinate responses to cartel activity and transnational crime.
Meanwhile, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth opened the conference by emphasising shared regional responsibility for security cooperation.
Additionally, representatives from 17 partner countries participated alongside U.S. officials, reflecting a multilateral approach to addressing criminal networks operating across borders.
Joint security declaration signed by regional partners
During the conference, Secretary Hegseth and representatives from participating countries signed a joint security declaration. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the declaration reaffirmed commitments to sovereignty, regional stability and cooperation against organised criminal groups.
Additionally, the declaration emphasised coordination among partner countries in the Western Hemisphere. The signing demonstrates a formal commitment by participating governments to strengthen security cooperation across borders.
Hegseth emphasises border security and regional coordination
Secretary Hegseth told participants that border security must be prioritised across the Western Hemisphere. According to the U.S. Department of Defense transcript of his remarks, he cited the rapid expansion of human smuggling operations as a major security concern.
Meanwhile, the Department of Defense said human smuggling revenue increased from roughly $500 million in 2018 to about $13 billion by 2022. The scale of that growth reflects expanding criminal networks affecting migration routes and regional law enforcement coordination.
Security trends referenced in the conference remarks
| Indicator | Recent Movement | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Human smuggling revenue | $500 million in 2018 to $13 billion in 2022 | Secretary Hegseth cited these figures during remarks published by the U.S. Department of Defense. |
| Regional crime distribution | Western Hemisphere hosts one-third of global violent crime | The statistic was referenced in the Department of Defense summary of the conference remarks. |
| Fentanyl flow to the United States | Down 56 percent | According to remarks released by the Department of Defense, the reduction reflects recent counter-narcotics enforcement trends. |
Strategic framing referencing the Monroe Doctrine
Secretary Hegseth referenced the Monroe Doctrine of 1823 when describing regional security priorities. According to the Department of Defense record of the speech, he said the doctrine historically framed the Western Hemisphere as a region where outside interference would be viewed as a hostile act.
However, he used the reference to emphasise regional sovereignty and cooperation rather than unilateral action. The remarks framed the conference as part of broader efforts to strengthen security partnerships across the hemisphere.
Regional cooperation and burden sharing among partners
Secretary Hegseth also called for stronger regional burden sharing among partner nations. According to the Department of Defense transcript, he said cooperation among neighboring countries is essential for confronting cross-border criminal networks.
Meanwhile, the remarks emphasised shared geographic and security interests across the hemisphere. The conference framework positioned coordinated regional action as the most effective approach for countering transnational criminal organisations.
- Regional responsibility: Secretary Hegseth stated during Department of Defense remarks that border security should be prioritised across Western Hemisphere countries.
- Partnership model: The Department of Defense said the conference encouraged joint operational cooperation among regional partners.
- Collective security approach: The remarks highlighted coordinated action among allies as the preferred strategy for addressing cartel threats.
Stakeholder Comments
Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of War, said;
“This conference is not called the ‘America’s Counter Cartel Conference’; it’s the ‘Americas Counter Cartel Conference’.”
In Conclusion
The inaugural Americas Counter Cartel Conference brought together defense and security leaders from across the Western Hemisphere to strengthen cooperation against transnational criminal organisations.
The joint declaration signed at SOUTHCOM reflects a shared commitment among participating nations to coordinate border security and counter-cartel efforts.
The conference also highlighted the role of multilateral coordination in addressing cross-border crime. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, ongoing regional collaboration remains central to improving security across the hemisphere.
Sources: U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Southern Command, The White House.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organization delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analyzed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
